Tyco releases new fire suppression system

June 10, 2008
ANSUL AQUASONIC capable of covering an Olympic size soccer field in one minute

ANSUL, a premium brand of Tyco Fire Suppression & Building Products (TFS&BP), today announced the launch of the ANSUL AQUASONIC Water-Atomizing Fire Suppression System. Optimized for Class B fire protection (fires that involve flammable liquids), the AQUASONIC fire suppressant is an advanced water-atomizing system that quickly and efficiently suppresses fires, discharges minimal water, and is safe for people and the environment. This high-performance fire suppression system is engineered to combat fires in a wide range of industrial, commercial, and institutional special-hazard environments.

The AQUASONIC water-atomizing system utilizes non-toxic and readily available extinguishing media (water and nitrogen). Its patented atomizer nozzle—the key to the effectiveness of the system—uses supersonic technology to break down water particles into trillions of smaller droplets that are uniform in size. As these droplets reach their target they extract heat from the fire and suppress it. The AQUASONIC water-atomizing system produces a higher volume of smaller water droplets than traditional water-mist solutions and projects them farther across the combustion zone than was possible with previous technology.

Droplet size is extremely important for fire suppression: the smaller the droplet size, the more surface area that is available to absorb heat and, ultimately, extinguish the fire. The key to the effectiveness of the AQUASONIC system is its ability to create a high volume of amazingly small droplets from very little water. When atomized by the AQUASONIC system, just three gallons of water can cover a surface area of 88,800 square feet (8,250 square meters) – the equivalent area of an Olympic-sized soccer field – in one minute.

"The AQUASONIC fire suppression system is a revolutionary water-atomizing system that uses a very efficient means of creating water droplets to generate turbulence in an enclosed space. This helps distribute the water evenly so it can get into all of the nooks and crannies to help suppress the fire as quickly and as efficiently as possible," said Dave Pelton, director of Global Marketing and Communications for Tyco Fire Suppression & Building Products. "Because of safety issues associated with CO2 systems, there has been a major push in recent years to use water-based fire suppression systems. We are excited to be at the forefront of innovation with our new water-atomizing solution, which delivers maximum performance and superior benefits through cutting-edge technology."

In addition to generating a high-volume of small water droplets, which can be projected over significant distances, the AQUASONIC system offers a number of other key benefits and advantages:

• Wide Range of Applications: The product is specifically engineered to cover a wide range of applications, including: flammable liquid storage, insulated and non-insulated combustion turbine enclosures, machinery areas, pump rooms, generators, transformer vaults, gear boxes and oil pumps and tanks.

• Minimal Water Discharge: The AQUASONIC water-atomizing system uses one-third the water of comparable high-pressure water-mist systems.

• Safe & Environment Friendly: The AQUASONIC system is a smart alternative to traditional CO2 systems and is safe for people and the environment.

• Efficient Spray Patterns: It uses highly efficient means of creating water droplets by generating turbulence in an enclosed space.

• FM Approved: The AQUASONIC fire suppression system extinguished all fire scenarios in the FM protocol in less than five minutes, including scenarios in which extinguishment was not required in order to pass.

• Easy to install with minimal costs: It is a flexible system that does not have stringent spacing requirements; therefore, it is easier and more cost-effective to install than other systems on the market.

• Dependable: The system has few moving parts and uses tested technology with decades of proven performance.

Pelton continued, "The launch of the AQUASONIC fire suppression system is an important business achievement for ANSUL. It enables us to expand our product offering, serve up additional value to our distributors and customers, and extend our leadership position in the fire suppression market. It is also another key component of our overall green strategy, and a great option for businesses that want to leverage products that are safe for people and the environment."

The AQUASONIC system is sold by a select network of factory-trained distributors. It will be showcased at the NFPA World Safety & Conference Expo June 2 -5, 2008, in Las Vegas, NV at Booth # 1426.

For more information, please visit www.ansul.com.