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Water mist for optimal fire suppression

Fire & Instrument Services has been closely involved with Marioff since the inception of the HI-FOG water mist concept and serves as the South African distributor for HI-FOG water mist solutions. Moreover, Fire & Instrument Services was the first company to design and install high-pressure water mist systems in Africa and South Africa. The company is currently installing a large HI-FOG water mist system for a highly specialised, high-tech factory for one of its latest customers in South Africa. Besides commercial systems, F&IS; has designed systems for large solvent extraction plants and industrial applications, and has a solid reputation as one of the leaders in high-quality design and installations.

Fire & Instrument Services has a working Hi-Fog water mist system on display at its Head Office in Cape Town.

In South Africa, with its water shortages and outages, the high cost associated with large conventional sprinkler storage tanks is not an optional expense in buildings and campuses; it is essential. With its water-saving features, HI-FOG is therefore fast becoming the solution of choice.

The iBMS Adrenaline smart building software system is also fully compatible with the HI-FOG suppression, fire detection, PA/voice evacuation systems, electrical and HVAC systems.

HI-FOG water mist fire protection system

The HI-FOG system discharges a fine water mist at high velocity, requiring only a small amount of pure water to suppress fires effectively. With minimal clean-up required, downtime is kept to a minimum, allowing the business to continue uninterrupted. There are numerous reasons to choose HI-FOG, including:

• Excellent firefighting performance proven through recognised third-party testing and approvals.

• Low water usage that minimises water damage, renovation costs, and business downtime.

• Water mist is a safe choice for both people and the environment.

• High-quality system components that ensure a long system lifetime, making HI-FOG systems a sensible choice both ecologically and economically.

• HI-FOG systems are scalable to meet a wide range of needs.

• Easy installation saves time and is cost-effective.

• Space-saving piping and water supply solutions leave more room for your operations.

World leader in water mist fire protection

Through Fire & Instrument Services, you receive a high-quality Marioff HI-FOG fire protection system and a comprehensive end-to-end solution, backed by professional support throughout the system’s lifecycle. Since its launch in 1991, Marioff’s HI-FOG water mist fire protection system has had a reputation for reliable fire suppression performance. It has become a global industry benchmark for water mist fire protection.

Today, it is a leading supplier of high-pressure water mist fire protection systems, and the challenge of keeping people and businesses safe drives the team of specialists forward. Together, Marioff and Fire & Instrument Services find solutions that best fit customers’ needs.

The HI-FOG high-pressure water mist fire suppression system ensures the fire safety of various types of buildings, industrial processes, equipment, and infrastructure. Fire & Instrument Services has the expertise to design and manage large and complex fire protection systems worldwide. Our solutions can be installed in even the most challenging areas of buildings, according to industry best practice processes.

Tested and type-approved

Marioff make no compromises in protecting life and business. The company’s in-house R&D, manufacturing, and quality control, with actual fire tests, have shaped HI-FOG into one of the leading fire protection systems today. Thousands of full-scale fire tests have been performed on the products, ensuring that the performance of HI-FOG systems is exemplary. The system has received over a hundred type approval certificates for a wide range of applications.

This approach ensures the products and systems meet the highest quality standards, are certified for their intended use, and meet the needs of your business.

Selecting a high-pressure water mist firefighting system?

The HI-FOG high-pressure water mist firefighting system is an effective, safe, and versatile choice for fire protection in a wide range of applications, both on land and at sea. Fire & Instrument Services and Marioff adhere to the best fire standards globally, as defined in the United States and Europe. Fire & Instrument Services is ready to assist in determining the unique needs of each customer, as there are many factors which affect the performance of a water mist system:

• Water mist spray quality.

• Water pressure.

• Droplet size distribution.

• Flux density.

• Spray dynamics.

• Water mist system type.

• Sprinkler and spray head spacing.

• Size and features of the protected space.

Water mist fire protection in brief

Water mist consists of tiny water droplets. The superior fire suppression capability of water mist is based on evaporation; when tiny water mist droplets turn into vapour, a significant amount of energy is absorbed from the fire. Water mist fights fire in three ways, impacting the three elements in the 'fire triangle', which consists of oxygen, heat, and fuel.

The effectiveness of water mist suppression is due to the size of the water droplets emitted by its discharge heads. To provide an idea of droplet size, sprinkler systems have droplets larger than 1000 microns, low-pressure systems have droplets sized at just under a thousand microns, while intermediate pressure produces droplets of 300 to 500 microns. High-pressure systems, the most widely used water mist systems today, produce droplets ranging in size from 50 to 100 microns.

These significantly smaller droplets provide a larger surface area for heat transfer/absorption, which causes much of the water mist to be vaporised into steam. This results in the steam expanding 1700 times its original volume to provide the radiant-heat blocking, oxygen reduction at the seat of the fire, and the cooling effect necessary for fire extinguishment, while also cooling and diluting any flammable and toxic gases that may be present in the hazard.

Since much of the water is vaporised during the suppression process, water damage to property and critical assets is minimised. Less water also means faster clean-up and minimal business interruption, as spaces can become reoccupied and operational in a shorter time following a fire.

Another benefit of water mist is its ability to scrub smoke. Smoke is not a gas, but a cloud of tiny particles. Because particles stick to the surface of water droplets, water mist has the effect of cleaning the air. This is welcome as the particles involved can be highly toxic or carcinogenic, and smoke inhalation is a major cause of death in fires.

Types of HI-FOG water mist systems

Wet pipe fire suppression systems for buildings: Wet pipe fire suppression systems have water in their tubing under normal conditions. In the event of a fire, water is discharged as a fine water mist through the sprinklers. Since water is already in the tubing, discharge begins immediately after the sprinkler opens. HI-FOG wet pipe fire suppression systems are a dependable choice for various types of applications, including offices, hotels, accommodation areas, and service spaces.

Deluge fire suppression systems for industries: Deluge systems typically feature dry tubing and open spray heads under normal operating conditions. When the system is activated, a section valve between the piping and the water supply is opened. Deluge systems for local application systems are activated only around the specific object, providing targeted protection for critical machinery. Volume protection systems (total flooding systems) activate an entire water mist system section at once and protect a larger area.

Dry pipe fire suppression systems for freezing conditions: Since the piping in a dry pipe fire suppression system is not filled with water, but rather with compressed air, the pipes will not freeze, even when the temperature drops below zero. A valve regulates the flow of water from the pump to the tubing network. This system is a safe choice for challenging environments where frozen pipes could cause problems.

Pre-action fire suppression systems for water-sensitive sites: Pre-action fire suppression systems are connected to a fire detection system. The piping is dry under normal conditions, and a valve prevents water flow. Before water is discharged as a fine water mist, the system requires both a signal from the fire detection system and the sprinkler bulb to break due to heat. Pre-action systems are an ideal solution for water-sensitive environments, for example, data centres, museums, archives, and heritage buildings.

Fire safety professionals can now achieve more with less. Facility managers and other professionals demand fire suppression solutions that meet competing requirements, including reduced water usage and environmental impact, while providing the necessary protection for assets and business operations. When upgrading from conventional sprinkler systems, for areas with unreliable water supplies, such as South Africa, water mist systems also allow about two-thirds of the existing water to be reserved for emergency use, such as in bathrooms, etc., during prolonged water outages. For special hazard applications of all types, this balancing act is increasingly weighted in favour of water-mist systems for fire suppression.

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