Local Application Fire Fighting Systems for Machinery Spaces "HYPER MIST" and "HYPER-LP" New IMO Requirements

s The IMO requires all ships constructed on and after July 1, 2002 to install water-based local fire extinguishing systems in machinery spaces accommodating machinery with a particularly high risk of fire (main engine, D/G engine, boiler, incinerator, F.O. purifier and I.G.G.) with the aim of extinguishing or suppressing fires in their early stages. This new rule was established in recognition of the importance of extinguishing or suppressing fires while they were still small, after analyzing many on-board fire incidents from all over the world. This idea arose in response to situations in which prompt operation was difficult with previous systems (especially CO2 fire extinguishing systems), because the crews' safety had to be confirmed before discharging the extinguishant, which enabled fires to expand.

Characteristics of the Systems These systems were developed to satisfy the requirement that a chemical/gas-free water-based fire fighting system that "does not affect the crew's safety or operation of the vessels" be installed. Accordingly, a "water mist fire extinguishing system," that uses water mist rather than a traditional water sprinkling system to extinguish oil fires without adversely affecting the crew, was adopted for these systems.

"HYPER MIST","HYPER-LP" Having demonstrated in large-scale impact assessment tests that not only is freshwater micro particle mist safe for crews, but also that it causes no damage whatsoever during continuous operation of equipment such as diesel engines, generators and electrical control panels located in protected areas, Both "HYPER MIST" and "HYPER-LP" have been approved by major classification societies, and obtained CE Marking (M.E.D). "HYPER MIST" and "HYPER-LP" have already been installed on many vessels. The "HYPER MIST" employs specially developed nozzles operating at high pressure (approx. 5MPa) to generate super fine particles of mist ranging from 30 to 80 microns in diameter. When sprayed on a fire, the mist offers compound effects: it absorbs radiant heat from the fire, creates a shield, reduces the temperature of the fire area by evaporating upon contact with the flame and depletes the oxygen, thereby extinguishing or suppressing the fire. The "HYPER-LP" uses nozzles specially designed to provide the same fire extinguishing performance as the high pressure model at a lower pressure (approx. 1MPa.)

 Kashiwa's Activities Kashiwa has taken the initiative over other manufacturers by conducting evaluation tests on the safety of using hyper mist with electrical equipment, and the influence of engine room ventilation on the fire fighting performance of mist. Kashiwa has also proposed new fire fighting techniques suitable for main engines such as a "side-shot system", and is highly regarded internationally for contributing to the resolution of numerous problems associated with the practical application of local fire extinguishing systems. Kashiwa's "HYPER MIST" and "HYPER-LP" have been adopted for numerous vessels since their introduction in 2002, and had been installed in more than 2,900 vessels as of 2009.