Firefighting foam market to reach $889 million in 2028

by Breaking NewsFire Suppression

tratview Research, a market research firm has launched a report on the Firefighting Foam Market which provides an in-depth analysis of the market dynamics, current and emerging trends, industry forecast, and competitive landscape.

The Firefighting Foam Market is expected to reach US$ 889.33 Million in 2028, growing at a CAGR of 3.84% during 2022-2028, according to the report.

Based on the type, the market is segmented as aqueous film forming foam (AFFF), alcohol resistant aqueous film forming foam (AR-AFFF), protein foam, synthetic detergent foam (High & Mid Expansion Foam), and others.

The demand for AFFF was highest in 2021 thanks to extensive usage by the oil and gas industry, which is due to the huge risk of fires from flammable liquids. AFFF is favored as it owns such fires effectively and bears a longer shelf life.

Asia-Pacific is the largest and fastest-growing market for firefighting foam and is estimated to maintain its dominance during the forecast period driven by various countries adopting downstream activities, such as refining and processing because of the increasing demand for oil and gas in the region.

The investments by various national oil companies in the region are boosting the growth of the oil and gas industry and hence, these factors are underpinning the demand for firefighting foam in the Asia-Pacific region. North America and Europe are also expected to offer substantial growth opportunities in the coming five years.

‘We can do better, we can do more’: NFSA responds to child fire fatalities

by Featured NewsFire Suppression

The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) has responded to media-reported child fire fatalities since the beginning of 2022 calling for improved fire protection measures.

The Association has logged news articles that report 217 children as victims of fatal fires since January. These fires occurred in apartments, town homes, single family residences and condominiums. NFSA said that although the residences varied, one thing did not; none were equipped with fire sprinklers.

“We can do better, and we can do more,” said NFSA President Shane Ray. “Losing children in fires underscores the importance of fire protection, and there’s no better prevention technology than fire sprinklers. This also reminds us that fire risks increase during the holidays.”  

He continued: “We represent the most effective means of buying you time to escape a fire and for the fire department to arrive. We also represent the only product in residences that is singled out in 26 state laws as prohibited in the code adoption process. Shame on these states.

“The deaths of these children and the thousands of others that die in fire in the future are on the hands of those who work to exclude fire sprinklers.” 

NFSA collects information from across the country on when fire sprinklers save lives and property. Over 37,000 people have died in building fires since 2010 without fire sprinklers. In the same time period, only 68 people have died in building fires with fire sprinklers.  

“It doesn’t matter how old the residence is, it’s the contents that kill people and causes cancer to firefighters,” Ray added. “According to the United States Fire Administration there has been a 24% increase in fire deaths. This will only continue to get worse as more houses are built with more and more unregulated contents that are brought into this country.”  

Suppression: Alternative fuel for the fire

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionIFSJ ExclusivesProducts
Paul Trew, the newly appointed Alternative Fuels Co-ordinator at the Institution of Fire Engineers and former head of safety at London Fire Brigade, discusses his new role and explains the implications and potential risks alternative fuels pose for the fire industry

Whilst I joined Institution of Fire Engineers (IFE) as the technical support manager at the start of this year, I more recently took on the additional responsibility as the new dedicated alternative fuels coordinator. This comes at a crucial time with the world changing at a faster pace than ever before driven by the challenges raised by climate change and sustainability.

The adoption of alternative fuels has wide ranging implications for the fire industry including new and existing buildings, engineering and firefighting to name a few.  As the international professional body for those in the fire sector, I will work to help assess these changes, identify their impacts and educate our members.

Working with IFE members, volunteers and branches from around the world as well as external partners, my focus is on creating a valuable pool of knowledge to help members and the sector better understand the impact of alternative fuels and energy storage systems including hydrogen, electric vehicles, and lithium-ion batteries on fire safety and engineering.

The new resource will give members rapid access to the latest guidance and advice via technical updates and ensure IFE is at the forefront of consultations for the new standards and regulations needed to keep pace with change.

The IFE is committed to working with its members and other partners to help raise standards and ensure continued safety. With a dedicated resource in place to focus on alternative fuels, the IFE will provide a flow of knowledge which is critical to our sector and in turn will enable members to advance their knowledge, improve their competence and raise standards across the industry.

Alternative fuels

Our world is changing and innovations are constantly being introduced as we strive for a more sustainable future. With new investments in hydrogen infrastructure, renewable energy and other green technologies, come new risks. The rapid adoption of EVs around the world means it is critical for us to understand how to mitigate, manage and deal with lithium-ion battery fires.

Lithium-ion batteries are a popular technology for electric vehicles because they store a huge amount of energy in a very small space. However, if the battery is exposed to excessive heat, or there is a penetration in the battery case, then an internal short circuit causes heat that triggers a chemical reaction and a process called thermal runway which can lead to ignition, or in some cases even explosion. This impacts on where energy storage batteries are located in buildings, where EVs should be parked at home as well as multi story car parks and how first responders should deal with the additional risks.

For heavy vehicles and high heat demand in industry, hydrogen is becoming a major part of the decarbonisation roadmap for many countries. In Sweden they have already introduced hydrogen powered refuse trucks, Mercedes Benz has demonstrated how hydrogen can be used as an alternative to diesel to power HGVs and Japan and Australia are already collaborating on liquid hydrogen supply chain projects.

In the UK, JCB has announced plans to fuel heavy plant and equipment that is poorly suited to battery power, by hydrogen.  Mining giant Anglo American is also looking at powering its giant 220 tonne trucks with hydrogen.

Indeed, hydrogen is primarily being trialled as an alternative to diesel for buses and heavyweight trucks and this includes fire trucks.  This means changes to operational considerations when they become involved in fire.

Under the Transition to Zero Emission programme, Innovate UK  is funding HySPERT (HYdrogen Special Purpose Electric vehicle platform for Refuse collection and fire Trucks), which sees Liverpool-based ULEMCo, a specialist in the conversion of commercial vehicles to hydrogen power, working in partnership with Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) and its fire and rescue service (FRS) to develop a design for a zero-emissions fire truck that can operate continuously for up to 40 hours.

On the domestic front, hydrogen is also being lined up as part of the future energy mix for household boilers. Boiler manufacturers are working on a new ‘hydrogen-ready’ standard which will mean the UK can switch as easily as possible to 100% hydrogen much further down the line. The important thing to realise is that ‘hydrogen-ready’ boilers are still in development, whereas ‘hydrogen-blend ready’ boilers are widely available.

In May last year, IOSH  provided an overview of the risk of hydrogen fuel cells in vehicles that concluded that the two main hazards from fuel cell and hydrogen-powered vehicles are electrical shock and fuel flammability. Some fuel cell vehicle motors run on voltages exceeding 350V. With such high currents, the danger of electric shock is great, with 50V being high enough to stop the human heart.

Fuel flammability

Flammability is also an issue. Hydrogen has a flammability range between 4% to 75% in air, which is very wide compared with other fuels (gasoline is to 7.6%). Under the optimal combustion condition (a 29% hydrogen-to-air volume ratio), the energy required to initiate hydrogen combustion is much lower than that required for other common fuels (for example, a small spark will ignite it). However, hydrogen is about 57 times lighter than gasoline vapour and 14 times lighter than air. This means that if it is released in an open environment, it will typically rise and disperse rapidly. This is a safety advantage in an outside environment. Hydrogen also burns with an almost invisible flame, making it less noticeable and harder to firefight.

So, leakage can be a concern, especially when vehicles are stored in enclosed spaces as hydrogen can build up in roof spaces. Due to its small molecular size, hydrogen disperses quickly at normal atmospheric pressure. Therefore, it needs to be maintained at higher pressures (up to 10,000 pounds of force per square inch). The rupture of a pressure tank can cause high concentrations of hydrogen to form in the vicinity of the vehicle, as the turbulent flow rate of hydrogen is extremely high. Even though hydrogen disperses quickly, this emission will cause a combustible mix to form for a short period in the open.

All vehicles must be manufactured to minimum safety requirements, either nationally or internationally. The United Nations World Forum for Harmonization of Vehicle Regulations sets safety standards for motor vehicles. Standards for electrical safety, such as IEC 60664-1:2020 Insulation coordination for equipment within low-voltage supply systems – Part 1: Principles, requirements and tests, and ISO 19881:2018 Gaseous hydrogen – Land vehicle fuel containers, give minimum requirements for design specifications of components for electrical and fire safety.

H2Tools.org produced a paper based on the safety of hydrogen fuel cell cars. Researchers tested the electrical safety measures and leakage of hydrogen, both in use and post-crash. The electrical isolation and electrical continuity met the requirements in use and post-crash and no leakages from the tank were identified.

One of our largest special interest groups has a working group specifically looking at hydrogen vehicle infrastructure and transport. Legislation and regulations are piecemeal around the world and the aim is to bring learnings together to help shape a consistent approach that not only informs fire engineering professionals but can also help Governments, regulators and legislators develop statutory guidance that can keep everyone safe in a fast-changing world.

We have also been looking at the fire risks of solar panels, especially in relation to the fact that they remain live for as long as light reaches the panels, even when disconnected. Ultimately, the decarbonisation journey has been a catalyst for innovation and as fire engineers, we need to keep pace with the rapid technological and material changes that are being adopted around the world in transport, business and domestic settings.

The IFE’s strategy is focused on professional competency and sustainability, and we bring regular updates and technical articles to members through our journal, newsletters and CPD events. Our branches around the world are contributing to our knowledge base which will be hosted on our website. Our priority is to give members the tools and professional standards they need to navigate a more sustainable future.

Climate change events and the geopolitical landscape are both accelerating demand for alternative fuels with adaption happening at a rapid pace, in some cases more quickly than regulation so fire engineers have to adapt by staying at the forefront of knowledge, initiating research and sharing best practice.

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Sentry Doors partners with Door Data Systems for Golden Thread solution

by Featured NewsFire DoorsProducts

Supplier of fire safety doorsets, Sentry Doors, has partnered with the leader in fire door traceability, Door Data Systems, to implement a data tagging solution.

This will allow open access to fire door manufacture, installation, and maintenance records, meeting the requirements of establishing a Golden Thread of information.

Manufacturers records will now be accessible and viewed for free via the Door Data Pin, linked to an app, in every Sentry fire door.

The Door Data Pin, which is embedded into a Sentry door during manufacture, will allow those responsible to record all processes of a door. The easily accessible system can be utilised at any stage of the doors lifecycle, providing a flexible and comprehensive location to securely store assets such as certification records, installation guides and warranties.

Also known as ‘The National Fire Door Register’, Data Door Systems’ compliance software application brings together all trades involved in the lifecycle of fire doors and provides Building Safety Managers, duty holders and those responsible with a true ‘Golden Thread’ of critical information.

Ty Aziz, Managing Director of Sentry Doors, said: “We are thrilled to have an open access solution powered by the leader in fire door traceability.

“The Golden Thread means making information on every aspect of a fire door’s compliance easy to access. Our Golden Thread solution means that data is available via a simple app with no manufacturer’s restrictions. That means better safety for our customers and increased efficiency for everyone in the fire safety industry.”

Jim Kerr, Director of Door Data Systems, said: “We have long been the leader in open access door data systems. No one should own the data that keeps customers safe – and our easy app means that it is available throughout the lifetime of the door. We are thrilled to be working with Sentry, with its history of leading fire door safety compliance to power its Golden Thread solution.”

Exclusive: Fire protection systems for alternative fuels

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionIndustry SectorsPorts & MaritimeProducts
Rafal Kolodziejski, Survitec’s Head of Product Support and Development, discusses fire suppression for alternative fuels as the shipping industry moves away from diesel

When it comes to fuel, there are several reasons why alternative fuels are increasingly being used in the marine market. For one thing, everyone wants to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions as a result of greenhouse gas emission reduction programmes. Diesel fuel is no longer seen as a long-term energy source due to its negative impact on the environment, especially as other, more sustainable alternatives have been identified.

One of the main drivers is fuel energy density: if we pay X amount of money for X amount of fuel, how much energy will we get out from this fuel? Another is fuel availability. This is a critical factor. Ship managers and operators need to consider fuel availability in all the different ports where their ships will be trading.

Other factors in the selection process include transportation of the fuel from the place of production to the ship, storage, handling, usage of and, importantly, fire safety risks.

There are four major types of alternative fuels which are currently on the radar for ship owners: gas-based fuels, alcohol-based fuels, hydrogen and ammonia. In addition, battery power is increasingly being used. Batteries are used for energy propulsion systems but are considered high risk when it comes to the technology being implemented in the market.

For ship owners, when selecting an alternative fuel, they have to consider ship design and operation as fuels with different volumetric energy densities might require more space than others. Comparing diesel fuel with either ammonia or hydrogen for example, there is roughly a double space requirement for the alternative, cleaner fuels to enable the ship to cover the same distance from Port A to Port B.

Gas- and alcohol-based fuels

There are two groups of well-established alternative fuel products. The first are LNG (liquefied natural gas) and LPG (liquified petroleum gas). We call these gas-based fuels. The other well-known group of fuels are methanol and ethanol – alcohol-based fuels. Both types have been carried by ships as cargo for years so the fire protection and safety procedures for these kinds of substances are well known and well regulated by the marine industry.

When loading and storing these types of fuel onboard the ship for use, there are several different locations to consider with regards to potential hazards and fire safety. These are: the bunkering station, the fuel storage space, the tank connection space, the fuel preparation room and the machinery room. All of these spaces have to be protected against the risk of fire. There is a wide range of existing fire suppression systems that have been adopted for use with gas- and alcohol-based fuels, the main ones being: CO2, DCP, clean agents, foam and water mist.

For bunkering stations, DCP and N2 will offer the best protection against potential fires caused by LNG/LPG fuels, while Foam and N2 will offer the best protection against fire caused by Methanol/Ethanol fuels.

In the fuel storage tank, it is important to keep the temperature at a reasonable level in safe atmospheric conditions so a water mist cooling system needs to be in place. For the LNG fuel tank isolation safety barrier, N2 gas can be used to exclude oxygen from the environment.  

For the tank connection and fuel preparation room you can use foam, CO2, water mist or a clean agent. Finally, for the machinery space, you are looking at applications which could be a water mist total flooding system, CO2, a clean agent or a foam system to eliminate risk and extinguish potential fire.

Hydrogen fuel

Hydrogen has the characteristic of high potential risk of leakage during storage in the fuel tank. Gas detection systems are critical in terms of fire prevention at this stage. If and when a fire occurs, the next stage is fire protection and then firefighting systems which can be proposed for these applications.

In the bunkering station for hydrogen, the most suitable extinguishing solution agent is dry chemical powder (DCP) which can be combined with nitrogen deployment. In the fuel storage tank, having a cooling effect is critical and so a water mist system is recommended. For the tank connection space and fuel preparation room, where the hydrogen is being prepared for delivery to the main engine, maintaining a stable temperature is once again critical and so water mist systems can provide a cooling effect in the event of fire.

In the engine room, CO2 as a gas might be most effective in extinguishing fire, or a clean agent, but it should be noted that a higher concentration of extinguishing agent – higher than is used in traditional marine gas oil fire protection – should be considered. Water mist would be provided as a passive system meaning it could create a cooling effect whilst the CO2 and clean agent would be dedicated for  firefighting.

Ammonia

Ammonia is a toxic fuel and can create a corrosive environment in the space where the ammonia is evaporating, and so it is less preferable as a fuel option for the time being. From an energy density point of view it is slightly better than hydrogen which is why it is still on ship owner fuel selection lists.

However, we are in an evaluation stage where fire protection solutions for ammonia are concerned. There are no regulations as yet, so it is difficult to say which fire suppression system would be most effective for spaces with ammonia present. As with Hydrogen, the concentration of the extinguishing agent will need to be higher compared with traditional fuels.

Batteries

Batteries are a significant new area that are high risk due to the extremely high temperatures and uncontrolled ignition effect generated in the event of a fire. Ship propulsion solutions based on battery power are focused on short-sea vessels. For deep-sea shipping with large ocean-going ships, other fuels such as gas- or alcohol-based fuels would be more applicable. Currently, battery power would be for ships such as ferries with journeys of around 2-3 hours between ports where electrical propulsion would be suitable. This is where the battery market is growing in the marine fuel industry.

Electric cars and batteries create very high temperatures when they are on fire. There are no rules today on how to address these fires, particularly the internal fires inside batteries. There are recommendations for ship owners to install firefighting systems, but there will be a lot of development to come for the rules for transporting batteries on ships.

What we can see and what we can propose is that the compartments where battery modules are installed can be well protected by total flooding applications. These are mainly based on water mist systems but could also be clean agent and foam systems.

Going through the different tests, water mist system is the best system to cool down the batteries and actually stop fire propagation. However, this is not enough because even though you can stop fire propagation, the high temperature and internal fire process, called thermal runaway, can still cause  reignition and a fire may occur multiple times on the same object.

There is discussion in the rules and regulation forums that gas suppression systems need to be calculated to have at least two if not three shots in the case of fire to tackle reignition. This is a new trend in development.

These are all the alternative fuels that we see as potential fuels for the future for the shipping industry. Hydrogen and ammonia are new for the market, so we will see a lot of development around them before ship owners are more confident in selecting them. In our opinion there will be no one ‘winner’ that all ship owners will go for, there might be at least that would be two that are most popular but we cannot say at this stage.

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Perimeter Solutions protects low-income housing complex against wildfire

by Featured NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire

Perimeter Solutions has announced that it is working with the Confederated Tribes of the Colville Reservation to protect a low income housing complex from wildfire.

Perimeter Solutions is treating the land with PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY long-term fire retardant, a ground-based, highly durable fire retardant that is applied on flammable vegetation and cellulosic material one time early in the fire season before a wildfire approaches to provide ongoing protection that remains effective until a significant rain event occurs.

The Colville Reservation covers almost 1.4 million acres. Nearly two-thirds of that are categorised as Forest. Another third is classified as Open Rangeland and Forest Rangeland. The Tribe depends on the geographical diversity of the area to provide a broad range of cultural, social, and economic benefits to the tribal membership.

Cody Desautel, Executive Director for the Colville Tribes, said: “With a recognition of our wildfire history on the Colville Reservation and a focus on innovative options to confront the threat of wildland fire, applying PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY will help this housing development prepare for the 2022 wildfire season.

“This trial application of durable, long-term fire retardant will help provide protection to our residents and give our limited fire suppression resources an increased probability of saving homes and keeping our communities and firefighters safe.”

The USDA Forest Service has used PHOS-CHEK long-term fire retardant for nearly 60 years to suppress and prevent the spread of active wildfires. PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY builds on the proven retardant effectiveness of PHOS-CHEK and is designed to not only provide enhanced durability to weathering, but stronger adherence to vegetation.

The retardant changes the molecular structure of vegetation and other fuel sources where it is applied, so that they are no longer combustible. Unlike retardant dropped from aircraft, which is colored to help pilots track where the retardant is dropped during active wildfires, PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY is uncolored and precision applied from the ground.

Jeff Emery, President of Global Fire Safety at Perimeter Solutions, commented: “Our mission at Perimeter Solutions is to help save lives and protect property. As wildfire season continues to grow in length and intensity, it is becoming increasingly important to take a proactive approach to protecting communities from wildfire, and we are proud to support the Colville Tribe with their efforts by providing PHOS-CHEK FORTIFY.”

Tribes and communities can apply for Community Wildfire Defense Grants (CWDG) to cover costs associated with reducing their risk of wildfire through October 7, 2022.

The Grants are funded through the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and are intended to help those communities within the wildland-urban interface to restore and maintain landscapes, create fire adapted communities, and improve wildfire response. Perimeter Solutions is offering to assist Tribes and communities in drafting and submitting their applications.

ROCKWOOL introduces insulation to improve fire resistance in industrial plants

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProducts

ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation has introduced its ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech insulation designed for pipework systems of various sizes to improve fire resistance in industrial plants.

The insulation technology provides proven fire resistance to a plant’s piping network, giving additional time to stop the spread of a fire and get to a safe location.

ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech is the latest offering in ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation’s line of ProRox stone wool insulation products. It works by slowing the transfer of a fire’s heat to steel pipework. The insulation adds critical time to a plant’s fire response and evacuation plans.

ProRox PS 680 was tested to the UL 1709 fire curve for optimized fire performance in 1- and 2-hour ratings on Schedule 40 and 80 pipe sections. It was also certified by internationally recognized organizations such as SWRI, Intertek, and SGH to deliver proven fire resistance for steam and pipe systems operating at high temperatures.

ProRox PS 680 is available as mandrel-wound, stone wool insulation pipe sections. The insulation sections are applied at typically half the thickness of conventional insulation materials and install easily, without the need for sealants or offsite cutting.

The insulation’s thinner application profile makes it easy to install around tight pipe bends and areas with limited clearance space. It is also removable and reusable and so the insulation optimises maintenance costs and allows for cost-effective, simplified inspection.

ProRox 680 with FR-Tech also incorporates ROCKWOOL’s proven WR-Tech technology, a revolutionary binder that coats each individual insulation fiber to combat corrosion under insulation (CUI). This gives the insulation an improved water repellency. The patented WR-Tech makes the insulation five times more water repellent (at 482°F/250°C) than standard EN-compliant stone wool, even after heating and aging.

Daniel Aiken, Business Unit Director of Americas for ROCKWOOL Technical Insulation, said: “When it comes to fires in an industrial plant, even mere seconds are critical to containing localized fire damage and preventing serious injuries.

“While it’s not possible to completely fireproof any plant, ProRox PS 680 with FR-Tech provides a cost-effective, proven solution to significantly increase your plant’s fire resistance. Plant operators are moving quickly to install this insulation solution on their piping systems, in less time, at lower costs, and with less effort than conventional insulation systems. And with the addition of WR-Tech for CUI mitigation, PS 680 helps extend plant operations and protect against two processing risks—fire and water.”

ProRox PS 680 is currently made in North America for North American customers who need proven passive fire protection for their plant piping systems.

Exclusive: Suppressing the spread of wildfire

by Breaking NewsIndustry SectorsWildland Fire
IFSJ sat down with Perimeter Solutions’ new President of Global Fire Safety, Jeff Emery, to discuss wildland fire suppression

Earlier this year Perimeter Solutions announced Jeff Emery as its President of Global Fire Safety, a newly created role which put him in charge of Fire Suppressant and Wildfire businesses at Perimeter Solutions. IFSJ sat down with Jeff to learn about his new role and talk about one of the biggest global issues in fire: wildland firefighting.

What drew you to the role of President of Global Fire Safety?

I have a long history in both aviation and the fire services, so when I looked at what Perimeter does and the focus on aerial and ground-based fire safety – it was a natural fit. We’re working in many cases with those airborne applications of retardants to help slow and stop the progress of wildfires and protect the firefighters on the ground.

The portfolio of Perimeter is terrific, but I really appreciated the service component. I think that’s a piece of Perimeter’s offering that oftentimes doesn’t get as noticed, but we have a large staff of dedicated employees that are working throughout wildfire season any time of the day any day of the week responding to the airbases with mixing and loading of our retardant onto the aircraft to keep them in operation and help our customers be as effective as they can be when fighting wildfire.

Tell me about the role Perimeter Solutions plays in Wildland firefighting?

Perimeter Solutions has nearly 60 years of history in wildland firefighting. We have a number of different solutions and each of them has a unique application, including aerial fire retardants, ground applied fire retardants, Class A foam and mobile foam and mixing equipment. They all play a part of the portfolio and the broader solutions that we provide for our customers on the wildfire protection side.

What are aerial fire retardants and their main applications?

The retardant products that we provide today are mostly ammonium phosphate-based. We have added components to that over the years and a lot of the innovation is to do with accurate deployment and product weight and viscosity.

Accuracy is important because the aircraft is going to want to hit the target whether it’s at 200 feet or 400 feet – you want as straight of a line and as accurate of a drop as possible. The idea is to get a solid and consistent perimeter around the fire with no line breaks that would allow a fire to escape through and you need to make sure it avoids and protects the firefighters on the ground.

When would ground applied fire retardants be used?

In certain cases when a fire is taking hold you will often have times where there are high winds and smoke and it is unsafe to fly the aircraft. In those cases, one of the best tools that are available to those on the ground are ground-based retardants. It’s essentially the same composition of product and works the same as the aerial retardants that would be dropped.

We have a service team that’s available to deploy to any situation. The McKinney Fire is the latest example where we’ve had teams on the ground since the beginning. You look over the first few days of that fire and there were some wet conditions and significant smoke and then some blowing occurred that made it impossible to fly in. Our teams on the ground played a part in that fight in those early days to slow the spread of the fire.

Another ground-based application would be the prevention and protection side of our business. For example, there are roadside applications where you have a history of vehicles overheating going through an uphill section of a highway causing ignitions at the side of the road. These areas we can treat through our ground[1]based technology to keep that area protected throughout the fire season. This same approach can be taken around railroads, utilities infrastructure, or even personal homes, to prevent ignitions or protect those areas from existing fires.

What are the differences between retardants and Class A foams?

The idea of Class A foam is that it is water dependent. It is mixed with foam and effectively makes that water more effective at penetrating, holding, and prohibiting evaporation to allow water to seep in, doing its job more effectively for a longer period of time. Foam is strictly a suppressant. It’s used to put on the fire to help seep into the fuel to help the water do its job better.

Retardants are mixed with water predominantly to help the distribution and application of the product, but even after that the water has evaporated out the product is still doing its job to be able to provide that retardant capability. Typically, about half of the retardant is put into the fire line to suppress it and half outside to keep the fire from spreading

You’re quite involved in the firefighting process beyond foam production, what else do you offer firefighters?

To support our Class A & B foam products, we do produce bladder tanks, equipment to produce, dilute and distribute that foam, making sure its diluted to the right ratios and applied in a way that’s going to be most effective to get that water to do its job.

In the US we supply about 45 full services bases where we supply perimeter employees, equipment and product for those aircrafts and their missions every day. We also supply equipment to a lot of customer staffed bases, which we maintain over time to keep those in good working order to make sure that they are getting the servicing and maintenance they need to remain effective.

Can you tell me about any recent developments in your wildland firefighting solutions?

Europe has seen an unprecedented wildfire season this year and you have a lot of countries that historically did not have the aircraft assets or the history of using retardants in their operations. We are investing in countries across the region in helping to fight that fight. France has been at the forefront with more progressive applications and coordination of wildfire mitigation over the years.

We’ve seen that model now replicated across the region with many countries now conducting trials and putting their aircraft to use with retardants. We also see a lot of work happening in some of these emerging areas like Greece, Portugal, and Croatia. We’re working hand in hand with governments in those countries to enhance their capabilities.

The second piece we’re focusing on is our prevention and protection business which is why we acquired a company called LaderaTech. Prevention is an under-tapped portion of the portfolio and can truly help communities in preventing a small ignition from becoming a large mega fire.

Finally, can you tell me about Perimeter Solutions’ recent contact with San Diego County Board of Supervisors for Roadside Vegetation Management?

 We worked with them on some trials last year on an area stretch from Wildcat Canyon just outside the city of San Diego. The stretch of road is a strong uphill drive that’s seen a history of vehicles overheating, or brake pads coming off and igniting roadside vegetation. When you look at options to prevent that, one method is clearing the vegetation and giving a defensible space and spraying it down with herbicide to keep that regrowth in check. Our application is more efficient and sustainable, where a truck travels up the road and sprays our product to provide lasting protection.

We’ve worked on the area for a couple of years and after the trial year saw multiple ignitions, which were all put out within a matter of square feet. This year we’re extending that mileage, working hand in hand with San Diego country and their Cal Fire units and water tenders to be able to apply our retardant across a broader swath of that highway to protect those communities.

This article was originally published in the September edition of IFSJ. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.

Geofire celebrates 50th anniversary

by Featured NewsFire DoorsProducts

Fire door holder and closer manufacturer Geofire has marked a significant milestone with the celebration of 50 years in business showing its commitment to innovation in the fire safety industry.

Originally established as an electromagnetic brake and clutch manufacturer in the north east of England in 1972, the company has grown significantly into a leading specialist in electromagnetic fire door safety solutions and its products are exported globally.

In 2013, the company moved to a purpose built manufacturing facility in County Durham, to meet the existing and future capacity demands of the business and ensure the capability for small or large volume orders.

Keith Thompson, Production Scheduler at Geofire, and the company’s longest serving employee, said that the business has changed massively since he started 39 years ago: “We were originally a team of 10 with two central lathes and only one CNC lath machine! I love being part of a larger team that achieves and exceeds. I have seen the company continually improve standards of manufacturing to supply some of the world’s leading projects. We receive new enquiries from global equipment manufacturers every day.”

Andy Collinson, CEO, Geofire added: “It’s the people, our processes and the continuous innovation that make this company, and we are delighted to be marking half a century of engineering expertise.  We have a wealth of experience and product knowledge coupled with investments in our in-house manufacturing facility and workforce to execute our progression. I am confident that with the support of our management team and the British Engines Group, we will continue to flourish.”

Sentry Doors expands with Knowles acquisition

by Featured NewsFire DoorsProducts

Sentry Doors Limited has announced the acquisition of E. & S. W. Knowles & Company Limited in a bid to accelerate its growth and become the UK’s leader in timber fire safety and security doorsets.

This acquisition will add new products complementing Sentry Doors’ product range, focused on the specialist fire doorset requirements of the social housing, public sector, commercial and residential markets.

Established in 1923, E. & S. W. Knowles manufactures specialist timber internal doorsets with fire rated, acoustic and PAS 24 security certification. Knowles employs approximately 100 people and in 2021, achieved revenue of £10m.

Both companies are set to benefit from the possibilities offered by their new market sectors and an expanded range of products and finishes. The enlarged business continues to be headquartered in Doncaster.

Ty Aziz, Sentry’s Chief Executive, said: “I am delighted to welcome Knowles to Sentry Doors – they have a fantastic manufacturing heritage, an exceptional team and a superb product range so we can learn a lot from one another.

“This partnership will help us to respond to the surge in demand for our products, as well as providing our customers with a fully comprehensive range of fire safety and security solutions, and a greater choice of features and finishes. It marks a key milestone in the growth strategy for our businesses and advances our collective ambition to be UK leaders in this sector.”

Martin Wright, majority owner of Knowles, added: “Next year Knowles celebrates its centenary and while I am extremely proud of all that we have achieved in the last 99 years, I know that the company has the capability to achieve much more in the future.

“I believe that this is the natural point for me to pass the company to new, trusted custodians who can deliver on its future potential. Knowles has a perfect partner in Sentry and together, the companies should achieve great things.”