18 Jan Proportioning in excellence
Founded in 1979, FireDos has over 100 employees working at the company’s headquarters in Woelfersheim, Germany, as well as two production facilities in Germany and Poland, all of which specialise in the development and production of innovative and reliable proportioning systems, extinguishing monitors, and trailers for firefighting.
Every single FireDos product is designed, built, and tested to meet the most challenging conditions. The proportioning systems, extinguishing monitors, and trailers fulfil an elementary task: they protect people, buildings, plants, and equipment.
Enhancing firefighting capabilities
In the realm of fire safety and emergency response, the need for cutting-edge equipment is paramount. Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs), Civil Defense, and municipal fire brigades face a spectrum of challenges, from minor fuel spills in road traffic accidents to major conflagrations, especially in high-hazard scenarios like oil tank fires.
Extinguishing tank farm fires is one of the most challenging scenarios for which firefighters and emergency services must prepare. The number and size of tank farms worldwide are ever-increasing, so risk mitigation and asset protection must be adaptable. Stationary extinguishing systems in tank farms are often supplemented by mobile extinguishing technology to provide additional safety and flexibility.
Fire protection products for the oil and gas industry are classified as fire Class B. This means they require special extinguishing systems, i.e., foam extinguishing systems, as foam is considered the best extinguishing agent for liquid fires. Water is also used as an extinguishing agent for tank wall cooling and gas mitigation applications. From the perspective of fire protection, there are two other areas at petrochemical plants which require special protection:
Production areas:
Along with deluge systems, permanently installed monitors are used that are supplied from stationary foam proportioners.
Material / bulk goods / high-rack storage:
In warehousing, deluge systems are used besides sprinkler systems, flooding the halls with extinguishing foam in conjunction with stationary proportions.
On the site of petrochemical plants, pump rooms are often located close to water tanks storing extinguishing water for emergencies. The operating principle of the stationary FireDos proportioners is purely mechanical as they are driven solely by the flow of extinguishing water. This allows installing the equipment at a safe distance from risk areas, i.e., in the vicinity of the extinguishing water tanks. Furthermore, FireDos proportions can deliver premixes over large distances with high flow rates.
In petrochemical production areas, fixed monitors or deluge systems are often used. Monitors provide advantages as they can be more cost-effective as pipework is minimised. A monitor’s nozzle is decisive in the success of extinguishing regardless of wind conditions.
In high-risk areas, integrating the monitors into automated fire extinguishing systems is recommended. All FireDos monitors can be manually operated or using remote control.
FireDos manufacture highly reliable stationary proportions ideal for overcoming complex firefighting scenarios with a simple solution reliant only on the extinguishing water flow. This minimises the additional power requirements of electric motors and standby backup diesel generators, as the concept is purely mechanical. Many oil & gas industry applications require a high level of certification relying on the third-party certification of VdS or FM to ensure a high operating and certification standard. Where applicable, FireDos equipment meets this standard, ensuring peace of mind for the end user. The purely mechanical concept lends itself ideally to mobile equipment such as trailers where the foam proportioning pump is powered solely by the extinguishing water from the hose connections.
Additionally, the wide flow range and pressure independence mean a trailer can be located and positioned almost anywhere for convenience and safety.
The increasi
ng trend for smart extinguishing technology provides safe, remote operation from a distance and remote maintenance enables our proportioning units and monitors to be remotely tested and controlled. Factory fire brigades at petrochemical plants increasingly use mobile extinguishing units such as fire trailers that are versatile and flexible in use as a backup to fixed systems.
deployment and are simple to operate. Equipped with a proportioner, monitor or a combination of both, fire trailers help to reduce the demand for personnel in a risk area.
The utilisation of backup mobile firefighting foam devices has become an essential component of a robust firefighting strategy.
Understanding the need
Effective firefighting demands a comprehensive approach that includes not only rapid response but also the use of advanced equipment capable of handling diverse scenarios.
Traditional firefighting methods often fall short in dealing with incidents involving flammable liquids, where the use of foam is crucial. Backing up these operations with mobile firefighting foam devices becomes imperative for mitigating risks effectively.
FireDos’ unique contribution
FireDos has emerged as a pioneer in the field of mobile firefighting foam devices, offering a range of vehicle-mounted foam proportioning equipment and firefighting monitors designed to address the challenges encountered by OEMs, Civil Defense, and municipal fire brigades.
Accurate and small foam or water footprint
Engineered with precision, FireDos’ equipment ensures accurate foam proportioning. This accuracy is vital, especially in scenarios where the right balance of foam and water is critical for effective firefighting as well as resource-conserving usage of foam concentrate. The ability to generate a small foam or water footprint optimizes resource utilization and minimizes environmental impact.
Longer throw and reach with oval-flat design
FireDos monitors are fit for firefighting with water or foam and deliver thousands of litres of water per minute, reaching 150 metres and more. The novel Oval-Flat design of firefighting monitors employed by FireDos significantly enhances the throw and reach of the firefighting foam.
This design minimizes pressure loss through the monitor, allowing for a more efficient and effective distribution of foam over greater distances. This capability is particularly advantageous in high-hazard scenarios where reaching the source of the fire promptly and keeping personnel and equipment as far away from the danger zone as possible is of utmost importance.
Unlike many competitors’ systems that require the monitor to be stopped and drained to adjust the flow rate, FireDos’ equipment allows for real-time adjustments during operation. This flexibility is a game-changer, enabling firefighting teams to adapt swiftly to evolving situations without compromising the efficiency of their response.
Ease of use and proportioning accuracy across flow rates
The user-friendly interface of FireDos’ proportioning systems ensures ease of operation, making them accessible even to personnel with varying levels of expertise. Moreover, the equipment maintains proportioning accuracy across a wide flow rate range, accommodating the dynamic nature of firefighting scenarios. This reliability is crucial for achieving consistent results in the face of unpredictable challenges.
Handling a spectrum of foams, including fluorine-free alternatives
FireDos’ water-driven foam proportioners are designed to handle all types of foams, including the newer fluorine-free alternatives. Many existing systems struggle with the higher viscosity of these foams, but FireDos’ equipment rises to the challenge, showcasing adaptability to emerging trends in firefighting technology.
Success in stationary applications worldwide
FireDos has achieved significant success in stationary applications with its water-driven foam proportioner. With over 15,000 units installed globally, FireDos has demonstrated its prowess in providing reliable and effective solutions for fixed firefighting systems. The success in stationary applications underscores the importance of proportioning accuracy, where precise control of the foam-to-water ratio is critical for the success of a foam firefighting event. Besides the advantage of utilizing a system that does not require any external power, once the extinguishing water flow is established, foam proportioning is achieved, and the system allows testing of the proportioning rate without consuming foam concentrate and generating foam or premix.
Adoption into vehicles and trailers for emergency response:
Building on its success in stationary applications, FireDos has seamlessly translated its expertise into mobile solutions for emergency response. Recognising that many emergency situations may lack a pre-installed stationary system or have one damaged due to the fire itself, FireDos’ mobile equipment in vehicles and trailers fills a crucial gap. The adaptability and reliability that FireDos brings to the table ensure that emergency response teams have access to the same level of precision and effectiveness, regardless of the firefighting scenario they face.
Conclusion
In the ever-evolving landscape of fire safety and emergency response, the role of backup mobile firefighting foam devices cannot be overstated. No matter the industry or fire brigade: More than 15,000 FireDos proportioners and more than 1,000 monitors are installed successfully worldwide. FireDos has emerged as a leader in this domain, providing OEMs, Civil Defense, and municipal fire brigades with state-of-the-art equipment that not only meets but exceeds the demands of high-hazard fire scenarios.
The accurate foam proportioning, longer throw and reach, real-time flow rate adjustments, ease of use, and compatibility with a spectrum of foams make FireDos’ offerings indispensable for modern firefighting. As the firefighting landscape continues to advance, investing in such cutting-edge solutions becomes not just a preference but a necessity for those dedicated to safeguarding lives and property in the face of fire emergencies.