Automatic fire extinguishing.
Modern automatic fire protection systems currently actively use water, foam, gas, powder and aerosol fire extinguishing systems.
There are a significant number of companies on the market that produce the necessary equipment.
For example, equipment for water (sprinkler) fire extinguishing — «Spetsavtomatika» (Biysk), «Gefest» (St. Petersburg).
Foam extinguishing – Egida PTV and Gerda (Moscow), Tomzel (Omsk), Pozhneftehim (Saint Petersburg).
Gaseous fire extinguishing – Artsok (Moscow), PAS (Moscow), Spetsavtomatika (Moscow).
Powder fire extinguishing – Eternis (Moscow), Epotos (Moscow).
Aerosol extinguishing – Kaskad (Saint Petersburg), Intertekhnologiya (Saint Petersburg).
Aggregate extinguishing systems with finely misted water – Gorpozhbezopasnost (Moscow), Gefest (Saint Petersburg), NITs S i PB (Saint Petersburg).
Modular water mist extinguishing systems – NPF Bezopasnost (Saint Petersburg), NPK
Fire safety systems and technologies (Saint Petersburg), NTO Plamya (Reutov, Moscow region).
More than 500 names of fire detectors, alarms, control panels and fire control devices have been registered.
Nevertheless, the problem of choosing a fire alarm, notification, type of extinguishing agent, design of the fire extinguishing system (aggregate or modular) is quite relevant. Until recently, the main criterion for choosing automatic fire extinguishing systems was often as follows: cheaper, but so that everything complies with the standards.
That is, automatic fire extinguishing systems were transformed from a means of fire protection into, in fact, a means of protection from regulatory authorities.
Moreover, there are known cases when accidental activation of fire extinguishing systems resulted in deaths, damage to property, and even fires to protected objects. This state of affairs cannot be tolerated indefinitely.
A serious barrier to ineffective technical fire safety equipment at the present stage is the requirements of the Federal Law of July 22, 2008 No. 123-FZ «Technical Regulations on Fire Safety Requirements» (hereinafter referred to as the Technical Regulations).
In addition to the Technical Regulations, the requirements of 12 sets of rules on fire safety and several dozen national standards came into force on May 1, 2009.
Thus, almost the entire regulatory framework has changed.
Let's consider, for example, the requirements of new regulatory documents for automatic fire extinguishing systems.
At the legislative level, the goal of creating fire protection systems is defined as protecting people and property from dangerous fire factors and (or) limiting its consequences.
It should be noted that the false goal — strict compliance with regulatory documents — has actually been eliminated. The codes of practice, updated and issued by analogy with the previously existing fire safety standards (FSS), are declared as documents of voluntary application.
For the first time, the requirements of the law prescribe mandatory equipment with automatic fire extinguishing systems in cases where the detected source cannot be extinguished by primary fire extinguishing means, as well as in cases where the service personnel are not in the protected buildings, structures and buildings around the clock.
In fact, the list of buildings, structures, premises and equipment subject to protection by automatic fire extinguishing and fire alarm systems, given in Appendix A of the set of rules SP5.13130.2009 «Automatic fire alarm and fire extinguishing systems.
Standards and rules for designing» (hereinafter referred to as SP5), becomes an auxiliary table, allowing in some cases to justify the sufficiency of using only a fire alarm.
The specific purpose of automatic fire extinguishing systems is defined as mandatory elimination of a fire. If this purpose is not achieved, then such a system is classified by law as an automatic fire containment system.
In fact, fire extinguishing systems must ensure reliable operation even during a fire, have a minimally harmful effect on the protected equipment and not have a hazardous effect on humans and the environment that exceeds the accepted permissible standards.
In addition to these requirements, SP5 has restrictions on the use of automatic aerosol, powder and carbon dioxide fire extinguishing systems in areas with a large number of people (50 people or more) and in areas that cannot be left before work begins.
In light of the tragic events on the Nerpa submarine, where the gas fire extinguishing system caused the death of people, the requirements for the toxic hazard of fire extinguishing agents could not but be reflected in the law.
If we take into account that most freons can still have an unacceptable toxic effect on people, and automatic foam extinguishing systems have historically been used only to extinguish flammable liquids, then the most optimal way to protect public buildings and structures, warehouses, parking lots, etc. is to use automatic water fire extinguishing systems.
It would seem that the circle has closed and Russia is returning to the 19th century. This is true, but our country is by no means alone in this path.
The widespread use of water fire extinguishing systems is quite consistent with global trends.
The European Union has decided to switch to environmentally friendly extinguishing agents, mainly water, by 2010.
American insurance companies highly value water extinguishing systems.
Their efficiency in response to fires reaches 92% (the remaining 8% of ineffective responses are usually explained by the human factor).
The insurance risk from spilled water is easy to calculate. In most cases, a pragmatic approach to protecting even computer equipment with water fire extinguishing systems is justified. The most valuable thing is information. A hard drive is not afraid of water, and the information on it is completely restored, which cannot be done in the case of exposure to flame.
In conditions of water shortage due to the weakness of water supply systems in our country, fire extinguishing systems with finely atomized water (TWA) are of particular interest. Their efficiency in some cases is significantly higher than that of conventional large-droplet systems, but their implementation requires significantly less water consumption and supply.
When designing these systems, in addition to general standards, it is necessary to be guided by the technical conditions or design recommendations of the manufacturer.
First of all, the use of modular TWA fire extinguishing systems is very attractive for protecting small areas.
They do not require a pumping station. The extinguishing agent and its displacement means are in cylinders.
It should be borne in mind that in most cases a chemical solution that reduces the surface tension of water is used as an extinguishing agent.
To prevent corrosion of steel cylinders, in some cases orthophosphoric acid or other anti-corrosion compounds are added.
When choosing the type of modular system, you must request this information from the manufacturer.
Modular TRV systems can also be used to protect large-area buildings and structures.
It should also be noted that modular systems have restrictions on the height of the protected premises (usually no more than 9 m).
At the same time, the requirements of SP5, declaring the required duration of the supply of fire extinguishing agent until the moment of combustion of the load located in the «dead zones», limit the possibility of using modular TRV systems.
Thus, an analysis of the modern regulatory framework, strict legal requirements and recommendations of other regulatory documents shows that modular automatic water fire extinguishing systems have potential for use.
In Russia, equipment for sprinkler systems is mainly produced by two companies: Spetsavtomatika (Biysk) and Gefest (Saint Petersburg). The world leaders in the production of water fire extinguishing systems remain the Grinnel company (part of the Taiko company) and the Viking company.
And, of course, one cannot ignore the actively developing Chinese industry.
Sprinklers for TRV systems in Russia are mainly produced by two competing companies: Gorpozhbezopasnost (Moscow) and Gefest (Saint Petersburg).
A number of companies have certified TRV sprinklers of their own design, which allow combining such important qualities as reliability of operation and duration of fire extinguishing agent supply with low water consumption and high extinguishing efficiency.
If a few years ago only foreign-made TRV sprinklers (Aqua-Mist, HI-FOG, Softex) were presented on the market, now serial production of domestic TRV sprinklers «Aqua-Master», «Aqua-Gefest», «Maxtop» has been mastered.
Domestic sprinklers are similar in appearance, but differ in the subtleties of the technical design and some technical characteristics. For example, for rooms of groups 1–2, the maximum installation height of “Aqua-Gefest” is 20 m, “Aqua-Master” – 15 m, “Maxtop” – up to 20 m. There are recommendations for the use of sprinklers for other groups of rooms and high-rise warehouses.
A historically significant event in the more than hundred-year history of sprinkler system development was the serial development of sprinklers with forced start «Progress» («Gorpozhbezopasnost») and sprinklers with forced start and response control «Aqua-Gefest» («Gefest»). In combination with an addressable alarm system, any sprinkler or group of sprinklers (in one go) can be activated.
The efficiency of extinguishing increases many times over, since the sprinkler system does not «catch up» with the fire source, but works ahead of the curve.
Of particular interest may be TRV systems with forced start. Little water is consumed, and the extinguishing efficiency is high.
The possibility of using such systems is described in SP5, but it is obvious that they should be designed according to the specifications developed by the manufacturers (they can be considered as compensating measures when the standard area is exceeded, simplify the implementation of evacuation routes, reduce fire resistance requirements, etc.).
Theoretically, a remote extinguishing system (even via the GLONASS system) or preventive suppression of a lighter flame in a place where smoking is not permitted can be created based on controlled sprinklers.
Thus, an analysis of the historical development of technical means of fire protection, the requirements of the modern regulatory framework (subject to their implementation) allows us to make a forecast for the intensification of the use of water fire extinguishing systems and the possibility of creating new combined systems that meet the requirements of the Technical Regulations.