Firetrace stand-alone automatic fire detection and suppression systems for fume hoods and cabinets and hazardous material storage cabinets were showcased by ISO 9001:2008-certified Firetrace International at Pittcon 2010.
The Firetrace system overcomes one of the most serious drawbacks of traditional fume hood in-cabinet sprinkler-head detection and dispersal systems, where the design of the airflow can result in heat and flames not reaching the top-mounted detection device in time to avoid sever damage and possibly destruction of the cabinet.
Firetrace overcomes this critical shortcoming by positioning the detection and suppression in the path that heat and flame will follow—behind the baffles and across the exhaust duct openings. To do this it utilizes a leak-resistant polymer tubing that is linked to an extinguishing agent cylinder via a custom-engineered valve. This proprietary Firetrace Detection Tubing is a linear pneumatic heat and flame detector that ruptures anywhere along its length immediately a fire is detected and automatically releases the suppression agent.
There are two Firetrace systems. The Firetrace Direct System utilizes the Firetrace Detection Tubing as both the detection device and the suppressant delivery system, whereas the Firetrace Indirect System uses the Firetrace tube as a detection and system activation device, but not for the agent discharge. The rupturing of the tube results in a drop of pressure causing an indirect valve to activate. This diverts flow from the detection tube and the agent is discharged from the cylinder through diffuser nozzles, flooding the entire hood.
Suppressant options include CO2, AFFF foam, dry powder and the latest clean agents, such as 3M Novec 1230 Fire Suppression Fluid and DuPont FM-200; the choice being matched to the particular fire challenge. The systems activate only in the event of a fire, so there is no potential for false alarms or unwarranted suppression activation due to smoke or fumes.
Firetrace can also be used to protect hazardous material storage cabinets. In these applications the flexibility of the Firetrace Detection Tubing is such that it can be routed throughout the cabinet, ensuring that detection is at the very point where a fire might break out.
Firetrace International, www.firetrace.com
