Fire prevention technology is moving at breakneck speed – with the Therminus systems emerging from Europe highlighting the dramatic gains that have been made in recent years.
Sounding more like something from an Arnold Schwarzenegger film, the Therminus XYZ fire-fighting system uses thermal camera detection technology to quickly identify the location of a fire or heat source and stop it in its tracks. The technology ‘triangulates’ the heat source down to a single coordinate (hence the XYZ reference), with the monitors then triggering water jets or other suppression agents that zero in on the source until it is extinguished or cooled down below a set temperature.s
Such a targeted suppression approach ensures efficiency and minimises water damage on a site in the event of a fire. Traditional approaches to fire suppression often resulted in an area being flooded, or ‘drowned’, with water or foam, causing higher levels of damage and longer clean-up and recovery periods.
Sophisticated fire protection
Delivered by Incendium Fire System Solutions and available in Australia through Delta Fire, the Therminus system is an example of how the latest technology can be used to provide an advanced layer of protection for sites such as waste bunkers where large piles of rubbish present a genuine fire threat.
In a waste bunker, for example, the system typically features a pre-alarm and a fire alarm on which the operator can act. The pre-alarm identifies the coordinate of a heated source and notifies the operator. At this stage, the operator can use monitors to cool a certain area. If a set heat level is reached, the monitors can automatically or semi-automatically start the suppression of the heated area.
The chief advantage that such automated systems have over traditional fire-fighting measures is that they allow around-the-clock monitoring of sites and avoid the need for someone to physically see a fire and then start the intervention manually with water jets or other suppression methods.
Traditional fire-fighting systems are much more cumbersome, requiring the installation of self-oscillating monitors that must be moved either manually or electrically.
Smart and efficient
The real advantage of video and IR detection systems is that they can identify and supress a heat source before a fire has even started. This is true of the Therminus XYZ system, whereas traditional flame detectors require an actual flame to trigger a defence mechanism.
The camera systems are smart, too, being able to filter out known ‘hot objects’ on sites such as exhaust pipes that could otherwise set off fire water monitors. Oscillation parameters can also be customised to target a larger or smaller area of risk on a site, while the Therminus systems also have the capacity to recognise unique IR and ultraviolet signatures of flames.
Apart from waste bunkers and waste-sorting facilities, sites such as aircraft hangars and storage sites are also suitable for the systems. Increasingly, video and IR technology is being integrated to dramatically improve safety and fire-suppression efficiency in such environments.
IR cameras complement video detection by providing thermal imaging. They detect heat sources not visible to the naked eye, allowing for precise identification of hot spots and the exact location of a fire. The suppression system can then direct the suppression agent – whether water, foam, or another substance – right to the source of the fire.
One of the other big advantages with the video and IR detection systems is the use of advanced data analytics. This helps to identify patterns and improve future fire safety strategies. The data collected can also refine the placement and operation of suppression equipment, further enhancing the system’s effectiveness.
As major waste and industrial sites increasingly embrace these technological advancements, they are benefiting from a safer, more efficient and more reliable fire suppression environment.
For the best results – and the opportunity to customise fire firefighting solutions for the special needs of a site – it is advisable to seek the advice of fire safety experts. This combination of expertise and advanced technology can be a lifesaver.
The latest video and infra-red (IR) detection technology can prevent fires, save lives and ensure that major industrial sites stay up and running. Find out more.
Also read: Save lives and money by doing a fire risk assessment.