FIRE SUPPRESSION WITH PYROGEN - Pyrogen Aerosol …

1 COVER STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYMINING REVIEW AFRICA ISSUE 2 20058yrogen, the sister company ofAlien Systems andTechnologies (AST), whichfirst established itself in the gaseoussystems arena, has since added theworld s first commercially availableaerosol fire SUPPRESSION system to itsrange of products. This system, theonly genuine Soyuz product in SouthAfrica, has helped to make Pyrogenone of the fastest growingbusinesses in this PYROGEN WORKSP yrogen employs a uniqueextinguishing action. Developedfrom solid rocket fuel technology, it isan inert, non toxic solid that remainsstable until it is electrically orthermally activated, whereupon itproduces fire SUPPRESSION micrometre-sized particles,comprised mainly of potassiumcarbonates and a gaseous mixtureof carbon dioxide, nitrogen andwater vapour, blend together to forma fire extinguishing Aerosol that isreleased into the protected area andeliminates any firewithin seconds.

2 Thehot Aerosol propelsitself through asolid chemicalcoolant, fire SUPPRESSION WITHPYROGENP yrogen fire detection and SUPPRESSION systems have been available to the South African market since2000 and, having taken it by storm, recently expanded into African markets, with activities in Ghana,Guinea and Mali mirroring those in South decomposes as it absorbs anyamount of heat, thereby ensuring asafe discharge and uniformdistribution of the is the high rate of aerosoldischarge that ensures success. Theagent is rapidly distributedthroughout the protected area, andthe Aerosol particles reach even themost hidden locations. The agentattacks the fire both chemically andphysically, and almostinstantaneously extinguishes it.

3 Overand above this, long holding timeshelp prevent fire identified a need to include atotal flooding clean agent halonalternative in its product range. ThusPyroShield, operated from a double-knock fire control system, isdesigned to protect occupied roomsof all shapes and sizes, includingcomputer rooms, control rooms,server rooms, ships engine roomsand UPS application, fully approved byBureau Veritas, has been tested onhumans, so its safety is emits no fogging when dischargedand has an added feature of adirectional valve system that allowsmultiple hazards to be protectedagainst at minimal BENEFITS OF PYROGENThe advantages of using Pyrogenare many and varied. To begin with,the applications are at least threetimes more effective than halonproducts.

4 This is because, at amaximum design concentration of100 g/m3, PYROGEN exhibits equal orbetter extinguishing properties thanhalon 1301 at 330 g/m3 (5% byvolume), as certified by ScientificServices Laboratory (Australia). Theproduct has the lowest extinguishingconcentration among commerciallyavailable agents, and has beendesigned as a safe and practicalalternative tohalon,halocarbons,chemical powdersand inert offers isits ability to beinstalled internallyin the compart-ments that are to be protected. Unitscan actually be fitted in the enginecompartments of vehicles andmachinery. This feature is achievedby the various methods of activation,as well as by the nature andcomposition of the elaborate, activation methodsvary according to the nature of thesite of the areas to be can be electrical, from aconventional fire panel, or thermal,from a thermal cord that is attachedto the Aerosol generator, initiated bya preset temperature being these two methods should fail dueto extraneous reasons, self-activation will occur.

5 The post-activation residue has a 24 kVinsulation property, which enablesthe immediate reuse of electricalequipment following thereplacement of the components thatcreated the fire and the replacementPyrogen fire detection andsuppression systems require largequantities of smoke and fire beforethey activate. Once activated, thesubstation is often flooded with thesuppression medium having noaccess to the switchgearcompartments. Naturally, this causesuntold collateral damage. ThePyrogen Aerosol generatorseliminate this problem by allowingfor the rapid localisation of the fire ,thereby minimising Starkey - amining STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYCOVER STORYMINING REVIEW AFRICA ISSUE 2 20059 PYROGEN units are self-contained,with zero pressure.

6 Because theycontain no pressurised cylinders orpipework they are extremely lightand safe to transport, and theycannot leak, burst or with space requirements up toone fortieth of inert gases, andweight penalties of often only 10%of competing systems, PYROGEN is inmany cases the only practical another advantage of Pyrogenapplications is their low toxicitygradient. They do not give offaggressive acids, such ashydrogen fluoride upon contact withhot surfaces, nor is chlorine orbromide produced at any stage ofits application. Additionally, theunits do not deplete oxygen tosuppress the is environmentally has been certified as having zeroozone depleting potential and zeroglobal warming potential, and isofficially listed by the USEnvironmental Protection Authorityunder its halon replacementsignificant new to all this is the fact thatPyrogen canisters are simple toinstall and commission.

7 Their easyplug-in wiring and connectors canreduce installation times by up to athird or less. New canisters can beinstalled within minutes, and thiseliminates the potentiallydangerous periods of non-activefire , but by no means least, PYROGEN is cost and CDs are also availableto make it even easier tounderstand the advantages ofPyrogen products and REVIEW FROM ALEADING GOLD PRODUCERA ngloGold Ashanti electricalmanager, Bernard Robinson says, I hereby wish to endorse thePyrogen fire suppressant canistersystem, as used on AngloGoldmines for application in electricalswitchgear and cabinets. Webelieve that this product, riskassessed by the International RiskConsultants Association for Marsh(SA), is a step forward insubstantially reducing riskexposure in high safety andproduction risk environments.

8 PYROGEN COVERS A BROADRANGE OF APPLICATIONSP yrogen is suitable for all classes offire. From combustible solids,flammable liquids and flammablegases to electrically energised firesand fires caused by fats andcooking oils, no flame canwithstand the effects of applications are thereforesuitable for almost South Africa PYROGEN s biggestcustomers are the large mining andsteel companies, and clientsinclude AngloGold, Anglo , the market for PYROGEN isexpanding rapidly, and the units areideal, for example, for data andPLC installations, mining vehicles,power distribution substations,power stations and SPECIFICATIONP yrogen s proven track recordsince inception four years ago hasresulted inPyrogen systemsbeing included intenders for newswitchgear.

9 Enabling Pyrogensystems to besupplied is in additionto Pyrogensystems beingretrofitted toexistingsubstationswith addition to itsother certifications,it has alsopassed thestringentrequirementsof the MineHealth andSafetyStandards TOPURCHASE PYROGENA call to PYROGEN Africa officesfrom a potential client is followedby a visit to site, where an inventoryof equipment to be protected ismade. The information is used toprepare a customer s proposal/quotation. A number of trained andqualified installation engineeringteams are available for completeinstallation and commissioning, orinitial tuition to enable clients toundertake their own PYROGEN A MININGVETERAN WITH OVER SIXDECADES EXPERIENCEP yrogen divisional projectmanager, Bill Starkey, who at 76years of age, remainsenthusiastically engaged inindustry related to the mining sectoramong others, has worked for oversix decades on three differentcontinents.

10 He first becameinvolved in the mining industry in1942 when he began working forthe UK s National Coal Board. Fromthe Derbyshire coalfields, and thenhe worked his way up the ranksuntil, in 1959, he was appointedchief engineer for the LodnaCollieries in Bengal, India. Heretained this position until immigrated to South Africain 1969, where he immediatelyestablished four companies thatdealt in electrical miningequipment. He then sought a newchallenge and became aconsultant, until he reached hiscurrent position at PYROGEN wherehe is responsible for product designand switchgear.