Vehicle fires can be incredibly vicious when they break out, spreading rapidly, and when combined with fuels, they can have devastating consequences. The combination of heat, flammable liquids, turbochargers, hot exhausts, and electrical components in an enclosed engine compartment make for ideal conditions for a fire to break out. This is compounded with the addition dust and debris.
The impact of a fire can be devastating, and have a severe impact on continuity of a business’s operations. The costs go beyond repairing or replacing a vehicle, people lives can be placed at risk when dealing with a fire outbreak on a piece of heavy equipment.
The successful management of fire risk can be found in an independently tested and approved automatic fire suppression system; one of the most advanced and reliable systems in the world. This of course, is the Reacton indirect automatic fire suppression system.
What is indirect automatic fire suppression?
The concept of indirect automatic fire suppression is to detect the fire in its area of origin and to manage the identified risk to prevent conflagration, therefore effectively suppressing the fire and limiting the probability of re-ignition.
The use of fire detection and suppression equipment is particularly common in engine compartments, enclosed spaces with various areas and components that must be protected. With this enclosed space, it is nearly impossible to tackle the fire using traditional fire-protection methods.
Traditional indirect automatic fire suppression systems consist of a detection component and a discharge network. In the case of the Reacton system, the detection process uses pneumatic tube pressurised by nitrogen which bursts when it impacted by fire or elevated temperature.
Reacton’s primary detection and activation method do not require any integration with any electrical system. This ensures that whatever the condition of electrical components on the vehicle, the system will react to a fire when one occurs. With just one monitored moving part they are the most reliable systems in the world.
The extinguishing agent (Dry Chemical Powder or Wet Chemical Agent or a combination of the two) is released from the indirect cylinder(s) through the discharge network to a series of strategically placed nozzles. For example, the turbos will be targeted by nozzles, as would the engine block itself, so if a fire is detected in the engine compartment, these high risk areas are the first to be managed leading to successful suppression of the fire.
Reacton’s indirect fire suppression system is available in three configurations:
- Dry Chemical Powder
- Wet Chemical Agent
- Dual Agent (Dry Chemical & Wet Chemical Discharge)
What’s a Dual Agent system?
The most effective solution combines both Dry Chemical and Wet Chemical agents in what is known as ‘Dual Agent’ system. A Dual Agent system provides delivery of Dry Chemical Powder and Wet Chemical agents separately but into the same area. The Dry Chemical Powder rapidly knocks down the fire and the Wet Chemical cools the super-heated surfaces.
In Australia, the Reacton Indirect Suppression System has been independently tested and approved to AS 5062; the Australian Standard for fire protection for mobile and transportable equipment. AS 5062 specifies minimum requirements for the design, installation, commissioning and maintenance of vehicle fire suppression systems. It is intended to be applied to new equipment and can also be applied to existing equipment for maintenance activities.
Aside from the AS 5062 approval, Reacton’s vehicle fire suppression systems are also certified to P-Mark SPCR183 & P-Mark SPCR199, designed and tested to meet the most demanding environment around the globe. Recent updates to SP Method 4912 now shows system performance as a score from A+ to E, and it’s no surprise that Reacton’s P-Marked systems are all A+.
Reacton’s vehicle fire suppression solutions allow a vast range of equipment and vehicles to be fitted with automatic fire suppression. This specialised range of vehicle fire safety systems protects agricultural vehicles, airport vehicles and our applications for our vehicle fire systems range from road vehicles such as buses and coaches to more significant equipment such as plant and machinery including heavy plant.
For more information contact Kidde Australia