VATIS UPDATE Article

Victaulic, the United States, has developed Victaulic Vortex™, the world’s first FM Approved hybrid fire suppression system using both water and inert gas. “When extinguishing fire, the existing systems put a lot of water out, but only a small portion ends up on the fire itself. The rest of the water needs to be cleaned up afterward,” said Larry Carmen, at Victaulic. The Victaulic Vortex system uses nitrogen to help break water droplets into a fine mist, which results in minimal wetting of the protected area, eliminating the need for extensive cleanup.

The water mist provides cooling and helps block the radiative heat transfer to other objects in the room. Also, oxygen near the flame zone is displaced by the steam produced when the water mist droplets are vaporized by the heat from the fire. Victaulic Vortex can be used just about anywhere, but Victaulic recommends it in particular for facilities with a lot of machinery, and also for data centers. Traditional sprinklers can cause damage to machinery like combustion turbines and generators, but the Victaulic Vortex system doesn’t present the same water damage risk.

The advantage in data centers, Carmen said, is that it’s “green,” and safe for the occupants working there. They recommend everyone leave the room before the system is discharged, but the discharged inert gas and water mist will not be harmful to someone inadvertently left behind during the relatively short period of time they will need to then exit the room. Contact: Victaulic Company, 4901 Kesslersville Road Easton, PA 18040, USA. Tel: +1-610-559-3300.