Why it’s time to put fire-suppression strategies on the menu 

Choosing the right fire-suppression system for the right site can mean the difference between disaster and saving lives and buildings.  

To the uninitiated, all fires look similar. However, different classes of fire have dramatically different characteristics and require their own unique fire-suppression systems or strategies to bring them under control. A restaurant blaze, for example, is likely to ignite for different reasons to a data centre fire. The former typically occurs when oils and greases flare up during the cooking process, whereas the latter could start courtesy of an electrical short or perhaps an accident with gas storage. From Class A fires (involving solid materials such as wood, paper or cloth) to Class B (flammable liquids such as fuel and paints) Class K (cooking oils and grease),), Class E (electrical) and Class D (metals in industrial areas), each environment requires a flexible but informed approach to prevent or extinguish a fire.  

Water systems

Traditional sprinklers in buildings are one of the most common fire-suppression systems. They simply wet surrounding surfaces that come under threat during a fire and, if they are effective, douse the blaze.  Sprinklers and water can make a mess, however, and in some circumstances they are not the best option if a site has irreplaceable or expensive items or equipment. Water systems also do not work well in the event of electrical or grease fires. 

Foam fortification

Foam suppression systems are often used in conjunction with a wet system and can provide an extra level of protection if a fire breaks out. As such, they have become an integral part of modern fire suppression. 

The foam systems mix a foam concentrate at specific proportions with water to, in essence, create a foam blanket that is designed to smother a fire and cut off its supply of oxygen and separate the fuel from the heat source. They are usually delivered through a special open sprinkler, nozzle or foam generator and are renowned for working well in, for example, petrochemical plants where large quantities of flammable product is stored. 

An extensive array of firefighting foam concentrates exist that are suitable for a wide variety of fire risks, including hydrocarbon-based liquids, wildfires, aviation and marine fires. 

Gaseous agents
Special hazard fire-suppression systems use clean agents such as halocarbon (Novec 1230 and FM200) and inerts (IG-55 and IG-541), a colourless and environmentally friendly agent that is electrically non-conductive and safe for humans. 

These agents work  in direct ways includingcooling and lowering the oxygen to a level fire can’t sustain a fire.

Clean agents are especially suited to combatting electrical fires, such as those in a data centre, and are unlikely to damage sensitive electronic equipment such as servers, telecommunications equipment or control panels. This means there is likely to be minimal interruption to a business if a fire event occurs. 

Seek advice from qualified suppliers

Building owners and site managers should be conscious that there is often no perfect option for fighting fires, but there is no doubt that some solutions are better suited to certain environments. 

For that reason, it is essential to carefully assess all options and seek the assistance of experienced fire-suppression experts to assess a site and determine the best possible solution. This risk-management approach can protect the lives of staff and customers of at-risk buildings and help management protect assets and minimise costly downtime.

To be forewarned is to be forearmed. 

Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial fire-suppression systems that safeguard many of the country’s premier restaurants, businesses and industrial sites. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.

Under certain circumstances in unoccupied spaces, condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems can be a highly effective means of safeguarding commercial and industrial buildings.

Fighting fires in commercial and industrial environments rarely involves one all-encompassing solution.

Typical fire-extinguishing systems include water-based sprinklers and foam and gaseous suppression options. What may work in one setting, however, could be ineffective or even damaging in another. In short, it is crucial to deploy systems that are appropriate for any given site.

In unoccupied areas, for example, condensed aerosol fire-suppression systems have proven to be extremely effective. Experts note that they can potentially reduce collateral damage from a blaze compared with traditional suppression systems. They are suitable for fire hazards involving combustible materials such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber and many plastics, along with flammable combustible liquids or energised electrical equipment.

Likely sites for effective use of condensed aerosols include telecommunication facilities, data centres, electrical cabinets, storage vaults and engine rooms.

How they work

Fires need four elements to burn: heat, fuel, an oxidising agent such as oxygen and a chemical chain reaction.

Condensed aerosols are usually activated by a smoke or heat-detection system, or manually via a pull station. They are especially good at disrupting chain reactions, without which there is insufficient heat to maintain the fire. The aerosols generate solid particles and inert gases and distribute them through enclosed areas such as a room, cabinet or compartment. At the right densities, they are very effective extinguishants and can also prevent reignition of the blaze.

The advantages

One of the key benefits of such automatic fire-suppression systems is that they require no pipework or nozzles, which means they take up a fraction of the space of alternative gaseous options that need cylinders, pipes and other fixtures to operate. 

Aerosol fire-extinguisher units are placed directly on or in the at-risk area, making installation a simple and cost-effective process. This type of suppressant has similar characteristics to gases, but unlike gases the aerosol can stay in suspension for up to an hour, which heightens the effectiveness of the fire suppression. Maintenance of the aerosol units is also relatively easy.  

Potential risks

While aerosols have their place as a fire-suppression option, they may not be suitable in all instances. There have been concerns, for instance, that such a product can cause corrosion damage to sensitive electronic equipment. In addition, the protected area should ideally not be occupied because of the risk of eye irritation and reduced visibility during and after discharge. Toxic gases can also be generated, so people should not enter the site after a system discharge and until the aerosol agent has settled.

Condensed aerosol agents should also not be used in deep-seated fires or with reactive metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, uranium and plutonium. 

Seek advice

These risks highlight the importance of drawing from the experience and advice of fire-suppression experts when implementing such condensed aerosol solutions. Before installation, contact an expert to discuss the most appropriate aerosol fire-extinguishing systems for your site, and get them to outline the potential adverse effects of agent particulate residue on sensitive equipment. It is also important to install the aerosol units in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations. 

Managed professionally, these condensed aerosol systems can be an important part of your fire-suppression arsenal. 

Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial and industrial fire-suppression systems. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.

The Project

Bell Bay Aluminium is situated on the Tamar River, approximately 45 kilometres from Launceston, the smelter produces around 190,000 of aluminium each year and operates 24 hours a day, 365 days per year.

After some recent machinery fires, Bell Bay Aluminium needed their vehicles to be fitted with tailored fire protection systems to protect both their vehicles and their drivers.

The scope of work

Delta Fire needed to provide a highly workable and reliable system that incorporated the most up-to-date technology available. The system needed to be scalable for a range of machines ranging from small forklifts to large earth moving machines. The wheels and cabins of their entire range of vehicles needed protection in the event of a fire.

How We Went About It

Delta Fire worked in consultation withBell Bay Aluminiumand Fire Solutions to provide a tailored heavy vehicle fire protection system that complied with international codes and standards. The system also needed to comply with BellBell Bay Aluminium's OHS and risk assessment standards.

Results

Delta Fire provided the technical support for the initial 15 Amerex Dry Chemical Powder systems that we installed in their vehicles. The system provided utilises the Amerex SA2Z Panel with the ability for the system to be adjusted to suit should there be any requirements in the future dependent on the plant and/or the risks with the Amerex system facilitating a range of cylinder sizes.

What the client says

“We are very pleased with our vehicle fire suppression systems. They enable us to protect both our property and our people. We appreciate the professionalism displayed by Delta Fire and its representatives. Most importantly, we are impressed with their tremendous degree of safety precaution and expertise.”

David Cuthbertson, Director of Fire Solutions Tasmania

Taking shortcuts with fire protection in commercial kitchens can endanger lives and lead to downtime that threatens the viability of restaurants, cafés and catering businesses.

Running a successful and profitable restaurant or café is tough enough at the best of times.

So the prospect of an out-of-control kitchen fire shutting down an eatery for weeks or months is hard to stomach for restaurateurs. With careful planning and the right fire-suppression equipment, however, businesses can safeguard their properties and their people. Here are five ways to get it right.

1.     Design with safety in mind

Factoring in fire safety right from the start of the design and planning phase is essential for any commercial building, and especially kitchens.

Industry professionals can survey a site and come up with an appropriate fire-suppression solution before any installations take place. This process can save time and money, and negates the prospect of having to do expensive retrofits down the track.

During this consultation phase, restaurant owners or managers need to clearly communicate their fire-safety requirements and engage with a supplier who is prepared to listen and respond to their specific needs. Likewise, they should not be afraid to grill a supplier on all the relevant building codes and regulations and how they will adhere to those rules. If suppliers show signs of wanting to cut corners, alarm bells should ring.

2.     Identify the main risk areas

Restaurant fires typically start in the kitchen, where deep-fat fryers, cooking ranges and cooking grills are the three big dangers. Highly-flammable cooking oil or grease can build up in hoods and ducts of fryers and spark a blaze.

In such an environment, modern commercial kitchens rely on intelligent fire-suppression systems that incorporate the latest fire suppressant technology that literally starves a fire of air and/or cools. Strategically positioned discharge nozzles and heat detectors are other important safety elements.

3.     Select proven fire-suppression systems

Commercial kitchens need pre-engineered systems that meet the highest

international standards and codes and which automatically detect and suppress a fire before it has time to take hold. Two standout options are Amerex and Ansul restaurant fire-suppression systems, both of which have been installed successfully in hundreds of thousands of kitchens internationally. The former uses linear pneumatic detection technology and a fast-reaction, low-pH, wet chemical suppression agent that targets cooking fat and grease fires, while the latter uses a sophisticated suppression agent that has three vital characteristics: fast flame knockdown; vapour securement; and the ability to cool hot surfaces and cooking oils. Both systems automatically cut gas and electricity supplies when a fire is detected and meet all the relevant Australian and international standards.

4.     Go with an experienced installation team

After the design and fire-suppression selection phase, an efficient installation process is vital to minimise downtime, which can be a real budget killer. There is no room for inexperience given the highly flammable nature of commercial kitchens. A fire can quickly engulf a building, so poor installation of suppression systems will almost certainly have dire consequences.

5.     Insist on strong after-sales service

The commissioning and ongoing testing of fire-suppression systems after installation is a legal requirement designed to improve safety outcomes and ensure that all components of any new system are working properly.

Of course, some restaurateurs want naturally to cut costs with fire-suppression systems. However, the overall expense is miniscule when compared with the potential loss of revenue in the aftermath of a serious blaze, not to mention the risk to the lives of staff and diners.

Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial kitchen fire-suppression systems that safeguard many of the country’s premier restaurant kitchens. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.

Smart technology has changed the way lightning strikes are repelled on petrochemical sites – and that is great news for the safety of workers and businesses.

Devastating lightning storms are becoming more common and more damaging, with storage tanks on petrochemical sites being right in the firing line. The upshot is that workers on these important sites are potentially facing greater dangers from lightning, while downtime from the impact of fires when the plants are hit can be costly. In an effort to mitigate such risks, site operators are adapting their response to major storms.

Traditionally, lightning rods and what is commonly known as early streamer emission (ESE) technology have been used for lightning protection. In effect, they ‘collect’ a lightning strike, inviting it on to a site that owners are trying to protect.

Such devices are now being superseded by Charge Transfer Technology that actually deters the strike from hitting a site in the first place, avoiding any risks altogether.

World-class technology

American company Lightning Eliminators & Consultants (LEC) is a leading player in the lightning-strike avoidance space. Its lightning eliminators have proven successful for many years in lightning-prone areas, protecting storage tanks in the petrochemical sector, as well as telecommunications and power generation industries around the world. Delta Fire is the Australian and New Zealand distributor of LEC’s solutions.

The systems rely on grounding and earthing plus surge suppression to create an ‘isolation zone’ that inhibits direct strikes to a protected site and minimises the effects of any strikes nearby. Grounding is critical for personal safety, sustainability and uninterrupted operations, while the surge-protection is a safeguard against lightning that can damage or destroy sensitive electronics and IT equipment.

Significantly, LEC’s custom-engineered Dissipation Array Systems have already been installed on thousands of sites internationally, maintaining a success rate of more than 99 per cent.

Helping Australia

The lightning-strike avoidance technology has important implications for Australia, given that the Northern Territory is one of the most lightning-prone areas on earth, while other areas of the nation are also increasingly experiencing major lightning storms.

Petrochemical sites are among those turning to the smart solutions. Given that a single strike of lightning releases up to 500 million volts and generates a temperature of about 27,000ºC – three times hotter than the surface of the sun – it is obvious that petrochemical sites need to protect storage tanks from the potentially catastrophic (and expensive) consequences of lightning.

Experienced fire-protection specialists can advise site managers on the most appropriate lightning-avoidance solutions and guide them through the design, procurement and commissioning process. Companies should not entrust such an important business safeguard to anyone other than experts.

With the right ongoing and sustainable solutions, petrochemical companies can safeguard their facilities from lightning strikes and avoid the potential loss of millions of dollars from fire events.

Delta Fire specialises in the fire protection of high-risk, high-hazard environments such as petrochemical and industrial sites. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.

Having the capacity to stop fires quickly before they spread should be part of the business planning of all restaurateurs who want to safeguard their diners, employees and business.

The blueprint for a successful restaurant seems straightforward – great chefs, great food and great service.

 While such elements are crucial, of course, many a restaurateur has come unstuck because of a failure to address risk-management aspects of the business. Things such as fires, floods and even fraudulent behaviour from staff and business partners.

The first of these factors – fires – is arguably the biggest threat to commercial eateries such as cafes and restaurants because of the use of deep-fat fryers, cooking ranges and cooking grills. Highly flammable grease build-ups can easily spark fires that destroy a restaurant and surrounding buildings and potentially lead to time-consuming and costly engagements with insurers and lawyers. Meantime, the restaurant is out of action and customers may be lost forever.

Play it safe

The positive news for building owners and restaurant operators is that pre-engineered restaurant fire-suppression systems are available that can quickly detect and suppress a kitchen fire before it has time to take hold. Such systems typically use a suppression agent that is specially designed for kitchen applications and has three vital characteristics: fast flame knock-down; vapour securement; and the ability to cool hot surfaces and cooking oils.

One of the most popular solutions is the Amerex KP-PRM restaurant fire-suppression system, which uses a linear pneumatic detection technology and a fast-reaction, low-pH, wet chemical suppression agent that targets cooking fat and grease fires. Tubing in exhaust hoods is designed to rupture when exposed to a fire at a temperature of 224 degrees Celsius, discharging the suppressant agent. This smart system also automatically interrupts the gas or electrical power to the cooking appliances.

Another option is the Ansul R-102 system, which has been used successfully around the world for many years. Many restaurateurs like this system because of its ability to quickly detect and put out a blaze, while any post-fire clean-up typically requires no more than flushing the affected area with water or steam. It meets all the relevant Australian and international standards and can be retrofitted to existing kitchens.

Insist on experience

When choosing a supplier of fire-suppression systems, make sure they offer quality products and a high level of service in the form of pre-installation guidance and assistance after the systems have been installed.

There is nothing worse for restaurateurs than having sophisticated equipment being installed, but then not being able to make contact with installers and suppliers if they have any questions or concerns at a later stage.

An experienced supplier can also talk you through the best options for mitigating fire risks. They will tell you, for example, that water-based systems are typically not an option for restaurants because grease fires spread when water is added. Likewise, they should be able to discuss the deployment of foam concentrates, gaseous suppression technology that literally starves a fire of air, and strategically positioned discharge nozzles and heat detectors.

Armed with knowledge about the best fire-suppression options, restaurateurs and their teams can get back to doing what they do best – serving fabulous food to ravenous diners.

Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial kitchen fire-suppression systems that safeguard many of the country’s premier restaurant kitchens. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.

The Challenge 

The wind farm about 100km north of Adelaide had 3 MW Vestas V90 turbines towers 80-metres above the ground each with a rotor diameter of 90 metres. With an Investment on this scale, safety issues, and the environmental impact of fire-damaged or destroyed turbines the windfarm was investigating options for effective fire detection and suppression. The windfarm operators were aware of the risk of sparks, embers or debris from a burning turbine fire falling to the ground and setting off a bushfire. Having conducted a detailed risk assessment they turned to Delta Fire for a dependable fire safety solution.

The Solution

A number of detection and suppression systems had been put forward as being suitable for the Protection of wind turbines, but most are simply not designed for the particular fire challenges found in wind turbines. 

The essential requirements are that the system needed to deliver around the-clock detection and suppression reliability and provide 24/7 unsupervised protection, respond to a fire with 100 percent reliability, and offer the certainty of false alarm-free operation. Equally important was the need to stop a fire precisely where it breaks out and before it has any opportunity to take hold. At the same time it has to contend with vibration, dust and debris, airflow through the nacelle and extreme temperature variations, be intrinsically safe and require no external electrical or other power that can fail and so put the system out of operation. 

Following extensive field trials undertaken in wind turbines at another wind farm, the Decision was taken to entrust the Waterloo wind farm turbine fire safety to the Firetrace system that is available throughout Australia via Delta Fire.

 Firetrace is a linear pneumatic, automatic fire detection and suppression system; one that Provides both fire detection and suppression in a single self - contained package.

It comprises a cylinder that contained 3M Novec  1230 Fire Protection Fluid that is stored in containers as a low vapour pressure fluid. When discharged, it transmutes into a colourless and odourless gas. After discharge, the agent is dispersed through natural ventilation, leaving no residue to damage sensitive electrical equipment; it is also nonconductive and non-corrosive.

The Novec 1230-filled cylinder is attached to a purpose-designed, leak-resistant polymer tubing that is a heat and flame detector designed to deliver the desired temperature-sensitive detection and delivery characteristics. It is routed throughout the areas to be protected and, when the tubing is exposed to heat and radiant energy from a fire, it ruptures and instantly directs the suppression agent at the source of the fire.

The Outcome 

The Danish-manufactured turbines were delivered to Port Adelaide, where Delta Fire fitted the Firetrace systems before the turbines were transported by road to Clare Valley. The Firetrace installation in each turbine took 24 man-hours to complete, and the final commissioning of the systems took place once the turbines were erected on site.

Safeguarding commercial and industrial sites from the possible ravages of fire is one of the key tasks of engineers and site managers, so choosing the right fire-protection services is a must. Here are some key questions to ask:

  1.     What is your track record in the industry?

If you search for commercial fire-protection services, plenty of choices will pop up. So ask prospective providers to present comprehensive details about their offering, case studies of clients they have helped, and examples of how they have gone the extra mile to deliver. Fire safety is too important an issue – for the business, its employees and clients – to leave it in the hands of amateurs.

  2.     Do you offer comprehensive pre and post-sales service?

Some fire-suppression providers offer a low price, make a sale then move on to the next client. They can be hard to contact after the sale if things go wrong or follow-up service is required. Get a commitment from your preferred supplier that they will provide first-class product support during the installation and commissioning period – and if help is required in the future. Do not just take them at their word, though. Contact some of their previous clients and ask them about their experience with the provider.

  3.     What technical expertise do you bring to the table?

There is no substitute for experience in the fire-suppression business. Depending on the specific requirements of the site, ask your candidates about their specialist solutions and expertise in areas such as the protection of high-hazard environments; the supply of equipment and systems to firefighting organisations; and the supply of rescue equipment for those involved in rescues and accidents. This will provide an insight into the scope of their skills and knowledge.

  4.     Are your sales and customer service staff fire experts?

Some fire-protection services roll out their most knowledgeable experts when pitching for a contract – only for them to go missing after a sale is made. It is important for all sales and customer service staff to understand the intricacies of their products and services – and to be across their distributors and channel partners – so they can quickly assist customers. This adds value to the agreement and ensures a consistently high level of service.

  5.     How much experience do you have in project management?

Smaller, less-experienced firefighting companies may have an adequate range of fire-suppression equipment. What they often lack, however, is specialist engineering and project-management experience. Given that an increasing number of commercial and industrial buildings are adopting risk assessment-based fire safety, it is essential for the fire-suppression specialist to have access to personnel with a sound technical understanding of fire risks when devising solutions. They should be able to work with architects and mechanical services consultants, while also having the ability to develop fire-modelled strategies.

  6.     Are you up to date with all rules and regulations?

The firefighting sector is dynamic and rules can quickly change based on government decisions and industry trends. For this reason, it is important to commission a fire-suppression expert with a knowledge of long-term industry practices and the latest regulations. A timely recent example is the shakeup around foam firefighting systems in the aftermath of environmental and public health concerns relating to toxic foams containing the compounds perfluorooctane sulphate (PFOs) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOAs). The issue has led to the introduction of new environmental protection policies in some jurisdictions – and it is something about which the managers of high-hazard facilities such as airports, mines, ports and petrochemical sites will need expert advice to ensure their sites comply with new rules.

  7.     What range of fire-fighting systems can you quickly deploy?

The complexity of modern industrial and commercial sites is often daunting in a fire-protection sense. This demands having an arsenal of delivery systems, ranging from firefighting monitors, gaseous suppression systems and foam concentrates. Without partnerships with world-class suppliers of proven protection solutions, engineers and site managers could be exposed to significant delays and the risk of installing inadequate fire-suppression systems.

Delta Fire specialises in the fire protection of commercial and industrial sites and has a long history of deploying world-class fire-suppression products and systems to assist its clients. 

Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.