Fire Products (May 01, 2003)
May 1, 2003
By
Canadian Consulting Engineer
DETECTION & ALARMSEdwards/SPX Canada has introduced the EC Series of low-profile, plug-in smoke and heat detectors. The photoelectric smoke and electronic heat detectors are high-performance, low-cost...
DETECTION & ALARMS
Edwards/SPX Canada has introduced the EC Series of low-profile, plug-in smoke and heat detectors. The photoelectric smoke and electronic heat detectors are high-performance, low-cost solutions for a wide range of applications. Accessories include a standard base, remote LED and trim skirt. 519-376-2430, www.edwards.ca
Notifier/Honeywell has launched the Noti-Fire-Net (NFN) web server. It allows facility managers access to a single alarm panel or a network of panels from a personal computer via the internet or an intranet. The NFN web server provides a snapshot of the data, and has a user-friendly graphical interface. 906-856-8733, www.notifier.com
ACTUATORS
Belimo Aircontrols has introduced new Fire and Smoke Damper Actuators to North America. The spring-return actuators are designed for smoke and combination fire and smoke, dampers in ventilation and air-conditioning systems. They feature highly reliable motors, virtual silence when holding in the end position, and fireproof steel construction. The FSNF-120 has steel gears to prevent “fretting” or sticking. The actuators have been tested for over 60,000 open-closed cycles. 1-877-326-6027, www.belimo.com
FIRE STOPS
Hilti has three new cast-in firestop systems. The Tub Box provides a recessed area for placing the drainage pipe. The Shower Solution allows for placement errors up to 4″, speeding up installation time. The Aerator Solution provides a recessed area in concrete decking for pipe aerators used in single stack soil and waste ventilation systems. 1-800-363-4458, www.ca.hilti.com
SPRINKLERS
Flexhead has developed its flexible, stainless steel sprinkler hose for the commercial market.
The flexible head can be placed and relocated to an exact position and is impervious to building motion, even in seismic zones. Developed 15 years ago in patented technology for clean-room applications, the product is now UL listed for suspended or sheetrock ceilings. 508-893-9596, www.flexhead.com
Viking Corporation now has straight-through deluge and flow control valves in 4″, 6″ and 8″ nominal sizes. The valves are installed vertically or horizontally and can be retrofitted into existing straight-through sprinkler systems. A grooved 165-mm O.D. version is available for international use. 1-877-384-5464, www.vikingcorp.com
TECH-NOTES
Property insurer FM Global has released its 2003 Resource Collection CD-ROM technical reference library. Also released is the 2003 Approval Guide with 45,000 listing of fire protection materials and services tested and approved by Factory Mutual Research. 1-877-364-6726, www.fmglobal.com
At the American Society of Plumbing Engineers exposition in Fort Worth, Texas, Ansul won an award of excellence in exhibiting for its demo booth to show the life-supporting qualities of the Inergen fire suppression agent. A volunteer stood inside the 80 cu. ft. enclosure while a 23 cu. ft. Medical E Inergen cyclinder was discharged. The person then tried to light a match inside the agent-saturated space to no avail. 1-800-861-6785, www.ansul.com
TUNNELS
SimplexGrinnell has just completed a unique retrofit of a foam and water deluge system in the Mount Baker Tunnel in Seattle, Washington. The tunnel has three separate roadways stretching about 3,000 feet through the mountain. They are thought to be the world’s only highway tunnels equipped with foam and water sprinkler deluge systems.
The challenge with the retrofit was keeping the system active to protect the heavily travelled roadways while new components were installed. The $1.5 million endeavour involves 70 Simplex control panels and 18 Windows-based operator workstations. The system is networked through fibre optics to a command centre 15 miles away. 1-800-565-5400, www.simplexgrinnell.com
CHURCH BUILDINGS
A 100-year old church in Wausau, Wisconsin installed a Vesda Air Sampling Smoke Detection system made by Vision Fire & Security last June after it suffered a near-disastrous electrical fire. The system used at St. Stephen’s Lutheran Church included four LaserCompacts units programmed for the attic, sanctuary, choir loft and basement. Vesda systems detect smoke at the earliest stages during pre-combustion and they can be programmed to ignore burning candles and incense. The system uses Aspire software to tailor the sampling point network and during the design phase to predict performance. 1-800-229-4434, www.vesda.com
