7 REMARKABLE NEW

FIRE SAFETY
TECHNOLOGIES

7 Remarkable New Fire Safety

Technologies
Faster, smarter technology means better fire safety technology. The
basics of fire safety, from stocking the right extinguisher to knowing
fire classes, remain the same, but technological advances build on the
basics, making fire fighting quicker, easier, and more effective.
There are some truly amazing technologies being produced to fight
fires in the 21st century. These advances make the most of sound
waves, video, and detection technology to keep us all safer when fire
strikes.

Sound Wave Fire Extinguisher

Two engineering students at George Mason University harnessed

sound to put out fires. Their chemical-free, water-free extinguisher
uses sound waves to separate burning fuel from oxygen. Fire dies out
without oxygen, so using the soundwave extinguisher on a small fire
snuffs it out.

Researchers previously patented this idea but this is the first sound
wave extinguisher to work reliably. Not only does it work, but the final
prototype is handheld (though, admittedly large) and only cost $600 to
build.
(source:CNN)

The sound wave extinguisher provides non-destructive fire safety

technology, which is ideal for home use. At the moment, the
technology is only suitable for small fires since it does not contain a
coolant. This means larger fires put out with soundwaves could
reignite on hot surfaces. Researchers suggest that pairing this
technology with drones could help in fighting large fires.

Water Mist Systems

Water mist fire safety technology improves on typical sprinkler
systems, and is considered to be a major part of the future of
firefighting. Water simply works, and it’s the most common agent used
to fight fires today.
Instead of large droplets of water, water mist systems send out a fine
mist that smothers a fire. Since the droplets are smaller, the mist
systems create more of them. The larger surface area of droplets
converts water to steam faster. The steam absorbs more heat from
the flame, lowering the temperature of the fire, suffocating the fire
faster than regular old water.

Mist systems also significantly decrease water damage. This is good

news for business owners with costly equipment to protect. Even dry
chemical systems are more likely to damage buildings and equipment
when used. Water mist systems can be installed locally (for one area)
or can cover an entire room. Mist can potentially fight electrical fires,
making mist systems more versatile than typical sprinkler-type
suppression systems.
(source: Fire Engineering)

Early Suppression Fast Response Fire

Sprinkler Systems (ESFR)
In-rack sprinkler systems are a standard fire suppression solution
used in warehouses with high-piled inventory. While effective, in-rack
systems pose some problems. One pallet load mistake and pipes can
burst, setting off the sprinklers and damaging stored items. When
racks need to be rearranged, in-rack systems require expensive pipe
reconfiguration. How are ESFR systems superior?

(source: Shelving Shop)

ESFR systems are ceiling-mounted, featuring high-pressure heads

capable of producing a high volume of water – we’re talking about 100
gallons of water per minute. Unlike a conventional sprinkler system
made to control a fire, ESFR fire safety technology suppresses the fire
(shrinks it back to the point of origin). These systems require large
amounts of water and are hooked up to fire pumps.
(source: VFPFire)

Integrated Voice Evacuation and Messaging

System

Not all fire safety technologies are built to fight fires: some protect the
people a fire can hurt. An integrated voiceevacuation and messaging
system alerts occupants with pre-recorded messages when a fire
breaks out. Fike’s concept of “distributed intelligence” gives voice
instructions to building occupants, customized to their particular
location, in relation to the fire, and how to escape it. Fire evacuation
plans and other safety information play over speakers so occupants
can respond appropriately.
(source: Fike)

The system responds in a fraction of a second. It can be programmed

so specific alerts, either instructions or tones, play during fires in
certain parts of a building. Should a part of the building be
compromised during an emergency, built in redundancies allow the
technology to keep working. The scalability of this system make it a fit
for small offices up to campuses with many buildings.

Personalized Vocal Smoke Alarms

A big problem that many families have had is kids sleeping through a
fire alarm. What if your child is asleep, the fire alarm is going off but
they don’t respond, and you’re unable to reach them? Fire alarms with
voice capabilities are common in the market, but a familiar voice may
be more likely to rouse a child from sleep than the wail of a smoke
alarm.

In 2006, a company named SignalONE released a product called the

Vocal Smoke Alarm, which allowed users to record a message using
their own voice. A parent records their voice on the system, which
cycles through the message and a loud beeping tone. Via the
recorded message a parent can give out customized directions to
children during a fire, like how to properly escape from their room and
the house. That model is no longer available, and at the time of
publishing, we were unable to find any similar products on the market.

Regardless, smoke detectors with pre-programmed voice alarms,

like this model from FirstAlert, may be more likely to wake and assist
small children in the event of a fire.

Birdi-Fire and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Birdi technology lets you keep a constant watch over your house,
even over the things you can’t see. Simply put, Birdi is smart
technology, and that technology does a whole lot more than manage
the dangers of fire. The system monitors air quality, from high pollen
counts to the presence of carbon monoxide. The in-house monitor
reports to your smartphone and can call first responders via landline.
Birdi is recognized for its ability to catch fast and slow burning fires
quickly.
(source: Birdi)

Birdi can also call the occupant on the phone and ask if there is an
emergency, making it ideal for older folks trying to keep their house
safe. The system asks if it is a false alarm or real emergency, so the
occupant can report the situation.

Video Image Smoke Detection

VISD technology detects smoke and flames visually. It can pinpoint
the place where smoke begins. A computer analyzes whether images
from cameras show evidence of smoke or flames. Once either is
detected, a signal is sent to the alarm system. It can read the
brightness, contrast, motion, and color of the smoke to assess the fire.
(source: OOR Protection)

Because the technology isn’t using spot detection, it can cover very
large spaces. It’s currently being used in large indoor facilities with
high ceilings (15+ feet), along with outdoor spaces like oil fields,
mines, and in forestry.

Fires are unavoidable even when all necessary safety precautions are
taken. Advances in technology improve our chances of fighting fires
effectively with earlier detection and more versatile suppression
methods. Keep an eye out for the latest in fire safety technology to
keep yourself and the people you are responsible for safe in the event
of a fire.
Sound Wave Fire Extinguisher

Two engineering students at George Mason University harnessed

sound to put out fires. Their chemical-free, water-free extinguisher
uses sound waves to separate burning fuel from oxygen. Fire dies out
without oxygen, so using the soundwave extinguisher on a small fire
snuffs it out.
Researchers previously patented this idea but this is the first sound
wave extinguisher to work reliably. Not only does it work, but the final
prototype is handheld (though, admittedly large) and only cost $600 to
build.
The sound wave extinguisher provides non-destructive fire safety
technology, which is ideal for home use. At the moment, the
technology is only suitable for small fires since it does not contain a
coolant. This means larger fires put out with soundwaves could
reignite on hot surfaces. Researchers suggest that pairing this
technology with drones could help in fighting large fires.
Water Mist Systems
Water mist fire safety technology improves on typical sprinkler
systems, and is considered to be a major part of the future of
firefighting. Water simply works, and it’s the most common agent used
to fight fires today.
Instead of large droplets of water, water mist systems send out a fine
mist that smothers a fire. Since the droplets are smaller, the mist
systems create more of them. The larger surface area of droplets
converts water to steam faster. The steam absorbs more heat from
the flame, lowering the temperature of the fire, suffocating the fire
faster than regular old water.

7 REMARKABLE NEW
FIRE SAFETY
TECHNOLOGIES
7 Remarkable New Fire Safety
Technologies
Faster, smarter technology means better fire safety technology. The
basics of fire safety, from stocking the right extinguisher to knowing
fire classes, remain the same, but technological advances build on the
basics, making fire fighting quicker, easier, and more effective.
There are some truly amazing technologies being produced to fight
fires in the 21st century. These advances make the most of sound
waves, video, and detection technology to keep us all safer when fire
strikes.

Sound Wave Fire Extinguisher

Two engineering students at George Mason University harnessed

sound to put out fires. Their chemical-free, water-free extinguisher
uses sound waves to separate burning fuel from oxygen. Fire dies out
without oxygen, so using the soundwave extinguisher on a small fire
snuffs it out.
Researchers previously patented this idea but this is the first sound
wave extinguisher to work reliably. Not only does it work, but the final
prototype is handheld (though, admittedly large) and only cost $600 to
build.

(source:CNN)

The sound wave extinguisher provides non-destructive fire safety

technology, which is ideal for home use. At the moment, the
technology is only suitable for small fires since it does not contain a
coolant. This means larger fires put out with soundwaves could
reignite on hot surfaces. Researchers suggest that pairing this
technology with drones could help in fighting large fires.
Water Mist Systems
Water mist fire safety technology improves on typical sprinkler
systems, and is considered to be a major part of the future of
firefighting. Water simply works, and it’s the most common agent used
to fight fires today.
Instead of large droplets of water, water mist systems send out a fine
mist that smothers a fire. Since the droplets are smaller, the mist
systems create more of them. The larger surface area of droplets
converts water to steam faster. The steam absorbs more heat from
the flame, lowering the temperature of the fire, suffocating the fire
faster than regular old water.

Mist systems also significantly decrease water damage. This is good

news for business owners with costly equipment to protect. Even dry
chemical systems are more likely to damage buildings and equipment
when used. Water mist systems can be installed locally (for one area)
or can cover an entire room. Mist can potentially fight electrical fires,
making mist systems more versatile than typical sprinkler-type
suppression systems.

Fire extinguishing grenades

The concept is rather ironic and is surprisingly ancient.
Nevertheless, it is an ingenious product which is still being used
today.
The earliest known fire grenades were hand-blown, colored
round glass bottles usually be filled with salt water. During a
fire, the filled glass bulbs would be thrown into the blaze where
the thin glass would easily shatter, releasing its contents and
hopefully extinguishing the blaze. In later years, more
sophisticated compounds replaced the water, such as carbon
tetrachloride, also known as tetrachloromethane.
 1900's "grenade" style extinguisher [Image courtesy
of Wikimedia]

The glass balls were atop temperature sensitive brackets in areas

of high risk. If a fire broke out, the heat would cause the
bracket to release the ball, allowing it to smash onto the ground
and release its fire extinguishing compounds.