Rhino brings high-performance fire door to market

by Featured NewsPassive

UK manufacturer of engineered doors, Rhino Doors has completed all necessary fire tests on its high-performance integrity and insulation-rated fire door, following recent successful tests conducted on its single leaf variants.

The doors, which are available in both single and double leaf variants, with or without vision panels, are rated at 90 minutes duration for both insulation and integrity when tested in accordance with EN1634-1.

At only 63mm thick, the doors are designed to be architecturally attractive and technically proficient for use in high-visibility commercial environments.

The results of Rhino’s recent tests saw the radiated heat level (measured at 1,000mm), being 50% lower than the results achieved by the current market leading El door.

As a result, with the launch of Rhino’s new El rated fire door to market, it will offer the best possible protection against radiated heat than any other fire door available whilst still maintaining a useful, traditional integrity rating of 90 minutes.

Commenting on the results of the tests, and the potential industry-wide implications, Group Engineering Director, Dr Chris Norris, said: “It is relatively easy to design and produce an integrity and insulation resisting fire door at 90 minutes or more, if the client is unconcerned with the appearance of the final product.

“For example, the appearance of cross passage escape fire doors along the length of an active rail or road tunnel is often relatively unimportant (because they are not on view) and hence easier to engineer when you are not restricted by how the final door looks.

“Designing a high-performance, insulated fire door to provide >90 minutes protection, whilst still maintaining the appearance and profile of a traditional commercial steel door, is a far greater challenge.

“We’re delighted to have completed this development project, which has allowed us to launch this product to market and, as a result, significantly improve the protection offered to users, compared to traditional, integrity-only fire doors.”

Rhino’s new El-rated insulated steel fire door is expected to go into production this summer.

Sprinkler systems: How watertight are they?

by Breaking NewsFire SuppressionProducts

This year, the UK government reduced the height threshold for new residential buildings requiring sprinkler systems, in a bid to make housing safer. But how effective are sprinklers really? Ian King, COO, Zeroignition explains in this exclusive article.

With the anniversary of Grenfell back in media headlines, the construction industry is once again thinking about fire safety. Sadly, since the tragedy, not enough has been done to safeguard high-rise buildings, yet the introduction of the Building Safety Act, offers hope of change. It’s an important time for the sector – making the right changes now could create safer structures for generations. Get it wrong, and we could have another disaster on our hands. 

Yet as it stands fire safety in construction is still falling short of the mark. Protocols around safety checks are lacking and knowledge about products and systems is far from satisfactory.

An obvious example are sprinkler systems – well known for their effectiveness in suppressing fire when deployed correctly, yet evidence suggests that inspection processes lack a robust enough framework to ensure their reliability.

According to the FPA, by law, in the UK only 20 sprinkler heads out of every 5,000 are required to be examined yet an estimated 40 million sprinklers are fitted worldwide each year. By comparison, in the U.S., all sprinkler heads have to be checked annually with additional monthly inspections.

In short, we have no idea exactly how many will work in the event of an emergency, presenting an unacceptable threat to life.

Seeing the bigger picture

This isn’t to say that sprinkler systems aren’t an effective method of fire protection – we know that when deployed correctly, they’re one of the best forms of defence. In fact, Fire Safety Advice Centre statistics show that not a single person has died in the UK where a working sprinkler system has been present in a building. What’s more, research by The National Fire Chiefs Council (NFCC) shows that sprinklers are effective almost 100% of the time when helping to extinguish or control fires as well as prevent further damage. So long as they work.

However, we’d be wise to avoid using them as a one-size-fits-all protection strategy. Instead, we should view and include them a part of a diverse mix of passive and active fire protection options – think fire-resistant walls and floors (passive) and fire blankets and extinguishers (active). Especially given the UK’s track record for safety checks and evaluation. The NFCC for example, reported over 1,000 ‘failures to operate’ in a corporate context from 2011 to 2016 and a recent U.S. study by the NFPA reported that 10% of sprinkler failures result from a lack of maintenance.

Understanding the bottom line

The hard truth is that we know construction industry thinking is strongly driven by profit margins, and sprinkler systems initially come with a hefty price tag. Taking into account the cost of setup, supplying and maintaining high water pressures and energy for a functional system, prices can quickly escalate. That’s not accounting for the costs to maintain and check systems in-person. Of course, money shouldn’t be a factor when risk to life is involved but there’s no denying that cost implications can sway the level of safety within a build.

Relying on sprinkler systems can also side line other fire safety options, allowing housebuilders to treat fire safety as a ‘tick this box exercise’ rather than treat it with the holistic approach it needs. For example, we know that good passive protection reduces or removes the need for active fire suppression – with broader considerations, we can ensure multiple safeguards.

We’ve also seen uncertainty around fire safety terminology, which needs to improve if we’re to make future structures safe and highlights the need for legislation that benchmarks industry best practice.

For example, in one of our research studies, we found that just over half of all architects couldn’t give an accurate definition of passive fire protection – ‘built-in’ fire protection. What’s more, 58% of architects were unable to explain what ‘reaction to fire’ is – a measure of flammability. Almost three-quarters (71%) were unable to define fire resistance – the ability of products and technologies to resist and prevent the spread of fire.

Encouraging innovation

Relying on a one-system approach to fire safety also stifles innovation. Without room to introduce new strategies, the industry could be missing out on more effective, less expensive options. It isn’t about abandoning sprinkler systems entirely – we know that they work and, when properly maintained, have been proven to save lives. However, in order to move forward, we need to see them considered as part of a more well-rounded approach to fire safety – one that brings both passive and active solutions into the mix.

By doing so, occupants will receive improved levels of safety in the properties they purchase. Beyond this, for contractors and developers, it shows that they are doing all they can to invest properly in fire safety – which is exactly where the industry needs to be.

TBA Firefly’s Apollo Lite provides half hour fire protection at Surrey research building

by Featured NewsProjects

A specialist contractor undertaking all of the fireproofing within a new medical research building in Surrey has made use of two flexible fire barrier products from the TBA FIREFLY’s range to provide 30 minutes protection within the majority of the ceiling voids throughout the four-storey structure.

Dartford based CLM Fireproofing has employed APOLLO Lite and the Collaroll product in tandem to protect the ceiling voids. The spaces which typically house pipework, power cables and air conditioning units above the suspended ceiling grid, are provided with 30 minutes integrity and insulation through the installation of the flexible APOLLO Lite barrier.

The Site Agent for CLM Fireproofing, Virginjus Pasvenkas, commented: “We are carrying out all of the fire-proofing work within this new facility on behalf of the main contractor, ISG, employing a wide variety of fully certified products. In the case of the APOLLO Lite, it is one of the systems specified by the fire engineer for the project as part of the fire strategy and FIREFLY provided us with detail drawings in order to suit this application – forming a cavity barrier in the void above the ceiling.

“A number of our operatives have also received training in the past from the manufacturer; though the system is quite straightforward to install. We are also using the Collaroll for protection around where pipes, cable trays and trunking penetrate the barriers. Work is progressing well, and we expect to complete on schedule this December.”

The APOLLO Lite 30/30 has been developed for use in vertical separation or compartmentation situations, offering both 30 minutes integrity and insulation, thereby exceeding the minimum requirements of the Building Regulations. It is widely specified to form fire barriers within roof voids in many different property types, including healthcare, commercial and social housing.

The flexible woven material is easy to cut and fix and is chemically treated to improve its cooling properties, and therefore prevent temperatures rising in adjoining areas. The system has been fully tested to BS 476 Parts 6.7, 20 & 22 and is third party certified by IFCC.

Six metre long rolls of APOLLO Lite 30:30 have a minimum thickness of 6mm and are installed using stainless steel staples as well as high temperature adhesive. Collaroll comes in a roll which unwraps to 10m long x 300mm wide with a sewn in skirt. The skirt can be moulded to shape to seal it neatly to the upright barrier which is usually at 90 degrees to the Collaroll and fixed into place using the high temperature adhesive.

Exclusive: TLX Technologies talk adding value to suppression systems

by Featured NewsFire SuppressionProducts

With an approach towards product development to add value to suppression systems, TLX Technologies highlights some key innovations from the firm

As the fire protection industry gathers this summer for Interschutz 2022 in Germany, it is interesting to look back on how much has changed since the last event was held seven years ago.

While there has been development and growth across all aspects of the industry, TLX Fire & Security, a division of TLX Technologies, has been focused on the changes in standards as well as the adoption of better security features on fire suppression systems worldwide.

In January 2016, shortly after the last Interschutz show, NFPA 2001: Sec. 4.3.4.1 (a standard for supervision on actuation devices for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems) went to effect. The goal behind the introduction of this standard was to provide a means for ensuring that the actuating device would be correctly installed on the system, at both initial installation and also after periodic maintenance, by providing a visible and audible signal at the fire panel when the actuator was either disconnected or not installed properly.   

TLX showcased its first product that met this new standard for supervision at Interschutz 2015. Since that time, system manufacturers across the globe have been adopting this standard for their actuating devices to ensure proper installation, especially for those systems that would be sold into areas where the NFPA guidelines are observed. Additionally, other regions have seen the benefit of updating their own standards in like manner. For example, later this year the European standard (EN 15004) will be changing to require supervision of actuating devices to better align with the NFPA standard that has been in effect for the last six years. While the initial NFPA standard was designated specifically for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems, NFPA recently expanded that standard to water systems with the update to standard NFPA 13: Sec. 8.3.1.2.1 that went into effect in January of last year.

Although TLX has been designing and producing actuation devices for fixed gaseous fire suppression systems for over 20 years, they have seen marked growth since developing their first product that met NFPA standards for supervision. They expect that growth to continue in the coming years as regulatory standards further align globally across the fire suppression industry.

Since their first product introduction, TLX has added several additional actuators to their portfolio to meet the requirements of suppression systems with higher operating pressures. They also added manual actuation and reset options for their actuators along with a pneumatic actuator that pairs with their electric actuators to provide customers with a full system solution. All their electric actuators are UL 864 Recognized and meet the NFPA requirements for supervision. 

New Products Showcased

TLX approaches product development with the goal of giving system manufacturers access to solutions that will add value to their suppression systems. This year TLX Fire & Security will be showcasing their new patented Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision and their Liquid Level Sensor at both the NFPA and Interschutz shows in June. 

Fire suppression systems for hazardous environments typically rely on an actuation device and additional tubing between the actuation device and the storage tank to route discharge pressure through the system. This creates the potential for a number of leak points. Additionally, such systems require an enclosure so that if flammable gas were to make its way into the actuation device and ignite, any fire would be contained within the enclosure and would not cause combustion of any flammable substances in the atmosphere.

TLX had received numerous inquiries about possible solutions that would satisfy safety requirements for hazardous locations. Their team decided to develop a top-mounted linear actuator that acted as its own enclosure. The result was the Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision, which is UL HazLoc, ATEX, and IECEx certified for use in hazardous locations and meets NFPA requirements for supervision.

The actuator’s top-mounted design means that it does not act as a pressure vessel on the discharge valve. This eliminates the extra connections that other solutions rely on to connect the actuator to the storage tank and route discharge pressure through the system. As a result, the only potential leak point at the tank is at the top of the discharge valve. Additionally, special design features and material grade selection allow the actuator to act as its own enclosure. All potential flame paths are specifically designed to prevent flame egress in the event a spark were to ignite any gas found in the actuator.

Because every system is unique, the actuator can be customized to fit any system. The internal components can be configured during production to match any operating pressure up to 300 bar. The interface can also be fully customized: mounting thread, connection type (male or female), firing pin stick out, and firing pin geometry can all be configured according to the customer’s specifications.

The Explosion Proof Actuator with Supervision provides an all-in-one solution for hazardous locations that simplifies installation and maintenance and helps improve system reliability.

While TLX has long specialized in producing the most innovative actuation devices, they have taken their technological expertise and applied it to integrated sensing to satisfy other needs in the fire suppression industry. Most recently, they developed a liquid level measuring device that offers a better alternative to current methods of determining the level of extinguishing agent in a system’s storage tanks.

Most solutions for measuring the level of extinguishing agent require a technician to take a manual reading and calculate the weight using a conversion table. Accurately calculating the weight of the extinguishing agent is crucial for keeping the system operating, and manually calculating conversion table data creates the potential for errors.

TLX Fire & Security developed a solution that would eliminate the potential for human error that is inherent in many of the methods currently being used. The Liquid Level Sensor automatically provides a thermally compensated weight reading of the extinguishing agent in the fire suppression system’s storage tanks. The sensor is comprised of a sealed tube with a magnetic float mounted on the outside of the tube. This tube is installed in each tank prior to being filled with the extinguishing agent. There is another magnetic float inside the tube that interlocks with the float outside the tube, providing an accurate measurement of the fluid level inside the tank. At the end of the tube at the top of the tank is a sensor that sends float position and temperature data to a microcontroller that is preprogrammed with a conversion table for that specific tank and extinguishing agent configuration. The microcontroller then automatically calculates the weight of the extinguishing agent inside the storage tank.

The weight of the extinguishing agent can be displayed directly at the tank on a digital display or transmitted to the fire control panel via hardwired or wireless connection. Data can also be accessed remotely or downloaded using a USB connection. Additionally, a simple GO/NO-GO status can be displayed with a green/red LED to indicate the status of the storage tank.

While the Liquid Level Sensor is an ideal solution for many fire suppression systems, some systems require the tanks to be weighed. For such systems, TLX is currently developing the Hanging Weight Sensor and Platform Weighing Sensor. These sensors will feature continuous monitoring, high accuracy (100 g resolution), and 500 kg maximum capacity. These weighing sensors are scheduled to be available to the market in the second half of 2022. 

The Future of the Industry

Data collection and the Internet of Things (IoT) has revolutionized the way businesses operate in nearly every industry. Everything from warehouses to manufacturing has used this technology to add value and improve efficiency. Warehouses have dramatically improved inventory accuracy and pick and ship times. Data can be collected and analyzed on manufacturing equipment for predictive and preventative maintenance, minimizing downtime.

However, the fire suppression industry has been slow to explore the ways that data collection and remote monitoring can improve safety and efficiency and bring value to their fire suppression systems. The changes brought to the world by the COVID-19 pandemic, often resulting in fewer people on-site and the explosion of remote work, has caused the industry to more seriously consider how IoT can be best used.

Data collection and IoT can make fire suppression systems safer and more efficient than they have ever been. Typically, fire suppression systems are only inspected biannually. If there is a fault in the system, it may not be detected until one of these inspections. But with remote monitoring, system faults can be detected almost immediately and addressed in the most efficient manner possible. This makes for a safer, more valuable system.

This technology promises to bring considerable value to all stakeholders. It is critical that the industry begins considering how data collection and IoT can be deployed. As customers begin to realize how this technology is benefitting other systems they rely on, they will look to the fire suppression industry for similar solutions for their fire suppression systems. If the industry fails to seize the opportunity to utilize this technology, another industry may step in and fill the void. The HVAC industry is already using this technology, and they may begin to include fire suppression data collection in their monitoring systems. By investing in this technology, the fire suppression industry can take an important step to ensure its growth and profitability.

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

Telgian announces appointment of Keith Butler as Regional Practice Leader

by People

Telgian Engineering & Consulting, LLC (TEC) has confirmed the addition of Keith Butler as Regional Practice Leader, Fire Protection Engineering for the Southeast region. In this position, Butler will be responsible for the implementation of innovative fire protection solutions and strategies serving TEC clients.

“Keith has a proven track record as an exceptional and respected leader,” says TEC President Leonard Ramo. “His success in creating client focused solutions, as well as leading and growing a diverse team, are essential as he will oversee our rapidly growing fire protection engineering practice in the Southeast (US).”

With more than 13 years of experience, Butler specialises in fire protection engineering for the oil and gas sectors. In addition, he has led large projects for heavy industrial clients focusing on fire and life safety system analysis, design development, construction management and commissioning, as well as hazardous materials review and analysis. His experience also includes project management for high hazard industrial occupancies including refineries, bulk plants, tank farms, power plants, aircraft hangars, storage facilities, warehousing and transportation facilities.

Previously, Butler was with the engineering firm Jensen Hughes, holding positions of increasing responsibility from Vice President, Practice Leader – Industrial and Forensics, to most recently, Vice President, South Region. There he was responsible for delivering organic growth, overall strategy and business development for a team of 300+ engineers and consultants.

Butler earned a Bachelor of Science in Fire Protection and Safety Technology from Oklahoma State University and is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) and US Green Building Council (USGBC). A LEED® Accredited Professional since 2008, he is also a recipient of the Consulting Specifying Engineer magazine – 40 under 40 Award.

Ultra Fog’s water mist systems

by Passive

Ultra Fog water mist fire extinguishing systems provide robust, effective, quality engineered solutions for applications which require optimal fire suppression while minimising the volume of water consumed and deployed. High pressure pumps force water through the stainless steel Ultra Fog water mist nozzles, discharging the water in the form of millions of tiny droplets – typically 30 – 200 µm diameter.

An activated system will create a blanket of water mist droplets which maximise heat absorption from the fire, and subsequently displacing oxygen upon evaporation and expansion of the water mist as it converts to steam. Water mist systems are differentiated from sprinkler systems by mist’s unique ability to present a much greater water surface area (enabling rapid heat absorption), combined with the mist’s ability to remain suspended in the air for a much longer duration – thereby creating more exposure time for the heat absorption to take effect. This enables water mist systems to cool and suppress fire using considerably less water than sprinkler systems.

www.ultrafog.com/