EXTINGUISHING FIRES FLEXIBLY: A LARGE VOLUME FLOW OF EXTINGUISHING WATER AND A CONSTANT PROPORTIONING RATE ARE A MUST

The results of the extinguishing system statistics of the Bundesverbandes Technischer Brandschutz e.V. (bvfa) for the year 2023 prove once again: Stationary extinguishing systems with automatic activation are highly effective and offer a decisive time advantage when fighting incipient fires. In order to be able to react flexibly to fires, a large extinguishing water volume flow of the proportioning system with a constant proportioning rate is crucial.

According to the bvfa's 2023 extinguishing system statistics (https://www.bvfa.de/33/aktuelles/statistiken/loescherfolge/, in German), IT systems, electrical switchgear and machine tools have the highest fire risk. In terms of sectors, the metalworking industry is the most affected. The statistics are based on 85 reports from operators, installers and manufacturers of stationary extinguishing systems. 

According to this survey, the extinguishing success of sprinkler systems on incipient fires is high. 59% of extinguishing successes with sprinkler systems were achieved with just one or two sprinklers. The fire is contained at an early stage so that personal injury and property damage are minimised.

In almost all reported cases, 98% of the extinguishing processes, the stationary extinguishing systems were triggered automatically. 88% of the fires occurred during working hours. Compared to manual activation, this time advantage can be decisive for the timely escape of employees and the success of the extinguishing process. If the fire occurs outside working hours, stationary extinguishing systems are the only effective solution for alerting the fire brigade and fighting the fire at the same time.

According to the bvfa, the highest fire risk is in electricity- and machine-intensive sectors such as metal processing or the automotive industry. Very high temperatures are generated in the event of a fault. Lubricating oils and highly flammable coolants are also used. These spread as mist in the machines and can lead to a deflagration under certain circumstances, e.g. due to tool breakage.

FireDos has been developing stationary foam proportioning systems for extinguishing systems since 1995. The purely mechanical concept consisting of a water motor and piston pump offers absolute functional reliability. Driven by the extinguishing water flow, electricity and emergency power supply are not required. All types of foam agents, including highly viscous foam agents, can be added. 

The devices are designed for small and large extinguishing water flows of 70 to 25,000 l/min. A constant proportioning rate over a wide operating range guarantees automatic adaptation to variable extinguishing scenarios. Due to the wide operating ranges, the use in any foam extinguishing system, such as sprinkler and deluge systems, wet and dry systems, is possible. Incipient fires that only require one or two sprinklers to be opened can be extinguished at an early stage. But even in the case of spreading fires, the extinguishing process can be flexibly adapted to operate several sprinklers.

Extinguishing systems must be tested regularly to ensure that they function properly in the event of a fire. This also applies to the proportioning system. The foam concentrate can be fed back into the foam concentrate tank under real operating conditions via the return connection and its volume recorded. The proportioning rate is calculated from this and from the simultaneously determined extinguishing water volume, without premix or extinguishing foam being produced. This saves costs and protects the environment.

This is how easy it is to test the proportioning rate:

• The test circuit can be activated via the 'recirculation / proportioning' ball valve.
• The volume flow is measured while the extinguishing water circulates.
• The water motor drives the foam concentrate pump in direct proportion.
• Foam concentrate is circulated and measured using a flow meter.
• The proportioning rate can be calculated.