Author Topic: Firetrace....  (Read 14226 times)

Offline Allen Higginson

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Firetrace....
« on: January 24, 2010, 01:53:23 AM »
....anyone used it as I see it as the only solution for a cabinet protection job I am working on?

Offline Tom Sutton

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #1 on: January 24, 2010, 10:49:49 AM »
It’s a concept that has been around sometime around about 72 they fitted a similar system to storage tanks on my patch which had a floating roof with a neoprene seal around the edge. The detection tube was fitted above the seal and used methyl bromide as an extinguishing agent. Fortunately we never had any operational experience but the concept seemed acceptable.

There was also a system developed, using the same principles, for TV sets which was a sealed plastic tube pressurised with an extinguishing agent. It was never commercialised possible the reason was because of premature ejaculation sorry I mean actuation.
All my responses only apply to England and Wales and they are an overview of the subject, hopefully it will point you in the right direction and always treat with caution.

Offline Wiz

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #2 on: January 24, 2010, 02:36:53 PM »

...There was also a system developed, using the same principles, for TV sets which was a sealed plastic tube pressurised with an extinguishing agent. It was never commercialised possible the reason was because of premature ejaculation sorry I mean actuation.


Produced also for racing car engine compartments.

Offline AnthonyB

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #3 on: January 24, 2010, 04:39:19 PM »
That sounds like the Pyrene system for floating tank roofs that used BCF - I have the literature in my museum archive - they also did a small version connected to an E-BCF extinguishing system that was very similar to Firetrace despite pre-dating it by several years and intended for marine engine compartment, vehicles, etc.

Having seen Firetrace's videos and the original demonstration many many years ago on Tomorrow's World it appears to be effective and is available with a wide choice of agents.

However accurate design and installation is critical to ensure that it will work well and a poor install could reduce efficacy.



 
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Offline Allen Higginson

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #4 on: January 24, 2010, 06:36:15 PM »
Im looking at using it in conjunction with automatic detection,with CO2 as the extinguishing agent.
Going to work out less hassle than installing a central bottle with electric direction valves!

Offline kurnal

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #5 on: January 24, 2010, 06:45:21 PM »
What are you doing by way of detection Buzz? How will you strike a balance between early detection and unwanted discharges?
And is CO2 wise if its IT equipment? Would inergen or similar be a better bet?
Will you interface to the power supply if it discharges? Otherwise the ignition source will remain?
If I recall correctly didnt the firetrace have fusible pipes that melted and discharged the media?
Where I have looked at this in the past for a specific job we decided that early detection using HSSD equipment in the cabinet followed by manual intervention was the best balance in our case.

Offline Allen Higginson

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #6 on: January 25, 2010, 12:47:26 AM »
What are you doing by way of detection Buzz? How will you strike a balance between early detection and unwanted discharges?
And is CO2 wise if its IT equipment? Would inergen or similar be a better bet?
Will you interface to the power supply if it discharges? Otherwise the ignition source will remain?
If I recall correctly didnt the firetrace have fusible pipes that melted and discharged the media?
Where I have looked at this in the past for a specific job we decided that early detection using HSSD equipment in the cabinet followed by manual intervention was the best balance in our case.
Having looked at the cabinets originally and taking into consideration their size (their volume is less than 2m3) it was hard to achieve an extinguishing system for such a small quantity of the agent (due to available cyllinder size etc.), which includes Inergen.
I had then came up with the solution that you have indicated using an aspirating system for early detection,with the decision then left to those investigating to discharge a portable into the risk if necessary.This wasn't acceptible to the client as his insurers have asked for an extinguishing system to protect the cabs.
The client doesn't want to use FM200 for reasons which we know and prefers to use CO2 or a nitrogen based extinguishant (Inergen is installed elsewhere along with CO2).
As far as unwanted discharge prevention goes,if I do use smoke detection as another or sole means of activation then it will be a double knock as per normal procedure.
http://www.firetrace.com/images/pdf/en-electrical.pdf
http://www.firetrace.com/index.php?lang=en

Offline Goodsparks

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #7 on: January 25, 2010, 02:45:54 PM »
The Gloria rack mounted system (2kg CO2 i think ?) is still manufactured, just not marketed very well. I did look into using it in our data centre last year but opted for water mist in the end.

Offline David Rooney

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #8 on: January 25, 2010, 03:44:30 PM »
....anyone used it as I see it as the only solution for a cabinet protection job I am working on?

Speak to Trevor Saunders at Detection Supplies, he used to distrbute it, think he still does.

He demonstrated it to me once and it was quite impressive, don't know why it hasn't really caught on....
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Offline AnthonyB

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #9 on: January 25, 2010, 06:45:16 PM »
The Gloria rack system does indeed use CO2. Thermal shock is a risk in very sensitive equipment, but on a lot of stuff isn't as much an issue as it once was.
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Offline Allen Higginson

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #10 on: January 26, 2010, 12:23:45 AM »
....anyone used it as I see it as the only solution for a cabinet protection job I am working on?

Speak to Trevor Saunders at Detection Supplies, he used to distrbute it, think he still does.

He demonstrated it to me once and it was quite impressive, don't know why it hasn't really caught on....
Ta Mr Rooney,are they in the yella pages??

Offline David Rooney

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #11 on: January 26, 2010, 05:20:37 PM »
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Offline Psuedonym

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #12 on: February 05, 2010, 05:50:51 PM »
I have installed within an Amerex Kitchen Fire Protection system and seen it around for years with other applications including the Gloria cabinet system, if memory serves. There is one side note to be aware of though - the flexible tube needs replacing every 3 years within the Amerex systems so would advise having a chat with Firetrace regarding longevity  ;)
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Offline Allen Higginson

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #13 on: February 05, 2010, 07:03:32 PM »
I have installed within an Amerex Kitchen Fire Protection system and seen it around for years with other applications including the Gloria cabinet system, if memory serves. There is one side note to be aware of though - the flexible tube needs replacing every 3 years within the Amerex systems so would advise having a chat with Firetrace regarding longevity  ;)
Ta fer dat!!

Offline Allen Higginson

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Re: Firetrace....
« Reply #14 on: March 08, 2010, 10:10:52 PM »
Okay,I put forward a solution of three parts to the client using the Firetrace system (the third being activation via a double knock smoke detection arrangement which would be the most costly option).
Their insurers have knocked back both the options of using solely Firetrace and the latter electrical variation.They are insisting that the cabinets be covered by an aspirating system that activates the extinguishing system - prudency or just another example of someone who thinks they know?