The future of fire safety is green
The rise in environmental awareness and the burden of creating sustainable and renewable solutions across all industries includes fire safety in the quest for green status. Many manufacturers are leading the way with the technological innovation of their environmental extinguishers and sustainable suppression systems. The clear message from buyers is it has to be green or it’s no good.
Mean, green, and clean agents
The use of ‘clean agents’, such as fluoroketone (FK), completely safe with zero ozone depletion potential (ODP), and non-plastic, epoxy lining instead of the UK-standard plastic coating, makes fire safety of the future both ‘earth kind’ and effective against blazes. Amazingly, FK extinguishers leave no residue after use making them the perfect choice for electronic equipment and in an increasingly tech dependent world, this is the way forward.
No longer is it acceptable to fight fire with corrosives and explosives, hazardous materials and harmful products, or with haphazard, wasteful practices. The fallout must be contained. The single-use product, depleting the earth’s resources, and polluting our planet are no longer appropriate practices in society’s world-view, so it all must stop. The present must be sustainable or the future won’t be.
How it’s being done now
The message now and for the future is eco-friendly, reusable, sustainable, and renewable. You’ve probably heard green is the new black, so how can fire safety companies reduce the overuse of the world’s most valuable resource, water, and protect the environment while fighting fire and what do they need to ask of manufacturers?
Trusted fire safety brands and organisations like Fire Protection Association (FPA), are working together to test and explore new technological advances as they come. But there are two types of ‘clean agent’ suppression systems that provide greener alternatives to the sprinkler system.
These clean agent suppression system innovations are:
- Water mist suppression systems
- Epoxy-lined, spray-coated fire extinguishers.
But there are several options and configurations to choose from within these two delivery system types.
- Green-foam mist
- Foam mist
- Water mist
Water mist suppression systems:
- Self-activating instant flooding system
- Auto-quell systems (indoor, transformer, and generator).
Statistically, water mist systems can reduce the water use of a normal sprinkler system to fight a home fire by up to 90% to that of its counterpart, saving hundreds of litres at a time. The special nozzle disperses microdroplets, creating the effect of a mist blanket that can cover an area of 10 feet with just one nozzle.
How to choose a system
Ultimately, the type of suppression system you’ll choose will be determined by the classification of fire you will most likely have. And this is based on the premises potential hazards.
There are six fire classifications: classes A, B, C, D, F, and Electrical. While there is no legislation to enforce an existing home to have fire suppression systems or at the least, a fire extinguisher for the kitchen, it is smart practice to have at least one on hand. Flats, maisonettes are subject to the RRO [The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005], so these options can and should be available for private residence and for places of business.
Darren Barnes, Sales Manager at Ceasefire UK, a manufacturer of fire safety solutions that include ‘green’ options, believes that many are seeking ‘do it all’ products.
“We are seeing lots of interest in our GreenMist fire extinguisher because it covers you for Class A, B, C, F, and electrical fires. The only fire class it doesn’t fight against is D – combustible metals.
GreenMist gets the gold star for innovation and the green medal for its environmental friendliness for no chemicals or synthetics, no mess, and no damage other than to the fire. Many clients are looking to ensure that they have eco friendly credentials in every area of their business, and fire safety is no different. We think there is a real opportunity now for the fire trade to be educating on the benefits of greener fire safety. With the world constantly under threat of total resource depletion and eventual extinction, sustainability and planet preservation have to be at the heart of every industry’s agenda, both now and later.
The fire safety sector also must fight for the environmental cause, and it is doing so now with clean agent fire suppression technology that exponentially saves water and utilizes a non-hazardous, winning formula.”
