Engineers and designers attempting to find fire protection for hazards such as computer rooms, sub-floors, tape storage, switchgear, vaults, process equipment and all occupied or unoccupied areas where equipment is either very sensitive or irreplaceable, are faced with a difficult task. The fire protection needs to increase reliability while reducing the overall environmental impact. While many might consider water the logical choice, this particular solution presents a number of problems when used with electrically powered equipment.
A better solution
The solution is a mixture of two inert (oxygen diluting) gases: a mixture of 50% nitrogen and 50% argon - known as Pyroshield. As the Pyroshield agent is derived from gases present in the earth’s atmosphere, it exhibits no ozone depleting potential, does not contribute to global warming, and nor does it contribute unique chemical species with extended atmospheric lifetimes. The Pyroshield agent, composed of atmospheric gases, does not pose the problems of toxicity associated with the chemically derived halon alternative agents and is the number one choice for protecting high value electronic assets. Pyroshield’s production meets all the criteria set out in the Montreal and Kyoto protocols, thus it will never be phased out, unlike the halogenic gases.
Pyroshield gas extinguishes fire by lowering the oxygen content below the level that supports combustion. When the Pyroshield agent is discharged into a room, it introduces the proper mixture of gases that allow a human to breathe in a reduced oxygen atmosphere. The normal atmosphere in a room contains 21% oxygen, if the oxygen content is reduced below 15%, most ordinary combustibles will cease to burn. Pyroshield reduces the oxygen content to approximately 12,5% implementation.
Alien Systems & Technologies manufactures the Pyroshield Fire Suppression System, engineered using a fixed nozzle agent distribution network. The system is SABS approved (SABS 14520-1-14:2008) and was also the winner of the 2003 SABS Design Institute Award for Engineering. It is designed and installed in accordance with the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard 2001, ‘Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems’.
When properly designed, the Pyroshield system will extinguish surface burning fire in Class A, B and C hazards. The system can be actuated by detection and control equipment for automatic system operation along with providing local and remote manual operation as needed. Accessories are used to provide alarms, ventilation control, door closures, or other auxiliary shutdown functions.
The system is particularly useful for suppressing fires in hazards where an electrically non-conductive medium is essential or desirable; where clean-up of other agents present a problem; or where the hazard is normally occupied and requires a non-toxic agent.
Optimising the product design process Siemens South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
OPmobility is partnering with Siemens to adopt its Teamcenter X Product Lifecycle Management software. OPmobility’s increasingly complex products now include electronics and software, to create energy storage systems, which include battery and hydrogen electrification solutions and fuel tanks.
Read more...Smart milling for resilient, sustainable food production
IT in Manufacturing
As the global demand for food continues to rise due to increasing urbanisation, the milling industry faces the challenge of balancing efficiency with sustainability. Bühler is committed to making milling more energy-efficient while maintaining high operational performance. Its solutions allow mills to reduce energy costs and ensure long-term sustainability.
Read more...The evolving landscape of data centres in the age of AI Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
The data centre industry is undergoing a period of rapid transformation, driven primarily by the explosive growth of AI. It’s clear that the demands of AI are reshaping the very foundations of data infrastructure. This isn’t merely about incremental upgrades; it’s a fundamental shift in how we design, power and operate these critical facilities.
Read more...SA Food Review
IT in Manufacturing
Food Review is a monthly trade journal for South Africa’s food and beverage manufacturing industry, for industry professionals seeking detailed information on trends, technologies, best practices and innovations.
Read more...Keeping an eye on oil consumption with moneo ifm - South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Manufacturing companies in the metal industry need oils and other fluids that are consumed by their machines. To make this consumption transparent and to establish a link to the ERP system, Arnold Umformtechnik relies on the IIoT platform, moneo, in combination with the SAP-based software solution Shop Floor Integration (SFI) – both from ifm.
Read more...AI accelerates energy transformation RJ Connect
IT in Manufacturing
With the rapid expansion of generative AI applications, data centre power demand is reaching unprecedented levels.
Read more...Revolutionising mining operations with MineOptimize
IT in Manufacturing
Now more than ever, mining and mineral processing companies need to boost productivity, ensure safety, and protect the environment. ABB’s comprehensive electrification, automation and digital solutions portfolio is ideally positioned to meet these challenges across all mining processes, from mine to port, transforming performance in a digital world.
Read more...Buildings in Africa’s urban evolution Schneider Electric South Africa
IT in Manufacturing
Africa is now an urban continent. How does the continent mobilise to accommodate urban dwellers and maintain and implement critical infrastructure that allows for this expansion? Building management systems provide a tangible solution to optimise resource use, lower operations costs and ultimately contribute to a growing continent that also employs green practices.
Read more...TwinCAT Vision functionality extended Beckhoff Automation
IT in Manufacturing
The image processing and camera integration capabilities of Beckhoff’s TwinCAT 3 Vision software have been expanded.
Read more...Automation software to future-proof your operations Adroit Technologies
IT in Manufacturing
As the official partner of Mitsubishi Electric Factory Automation, Adroit Technologies empowers businesses with cutting-edge solutions that reduce costs, improve quality and increase productivity.
printer friendly version