Fighting Fire With No Water Damage

(April 14, 2004- NEWSdial.com) Tyco Fire & Security announced today a groundbreaking advancement in fire protection technology with the introduction of its ANSUL® SAPPHIRE™ Fire Suppression System. The technology utilizes a new sustainable chemical agent that fights fires without causing any damage to electronics, works of art, irreplaceable artifacts and other critical assets. The system was developed as a solution for hospitals, museums, libraries, telecommunications centers and other facilities seeking to protect critical assets that could be damaged by ordinary fire suppression systems.

The SAPPHIRE Suppression System uses 3M® NOVEC™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid. It looks exactly like water, but does not cause the type of damage associated with water when putting out a fire. It can be used to protect rare exhibits, electronic equipment and other delicate items without causing any harm. In fact, items can even be immersed in the agent. The fire protection fluid will quickly evaporate, safeguarding these items -- and leaving them unaffected.

The SAPPHIRE Suppression System chemically interferes with the fire combustion process, therefore bringing it to a halt. It also works faster than a water sprinkler system, which is designed to work when it detects an actual flame. SAPPHIRE Suppression Systems detect fire at invisible levels, identifying particles of combustion before they turn into damaging flames.

"The SAPPHIRE Fire Suppression System is a significant component of Tyco's holistic approach to fire suppression solutions," said Ron Krisanda, president of Tyco Safety Products. "SAPPHIRE is further proof of Tyco's commitment to innovation as well as our focus on bringing new technologies to market."

SAPPHIRE Suppression Systems offer central storage and modular design solutions that can work in tandem with existing building fire alarm and suppression systems, providing ideal building structure protection. The agent is stored in pressurized containers as a liquid and vaporizes when discharged. When applied in a modular design, storage containers take up less space than other fire suppression systems, giving users more options for storage and placement. For example, by integrating the SAPPHIRE Suppression System into a current building fire alarm/suppression scheme, users can select key rooms or spaces to protect, making it a cost-effective solution.

Other benefits of the SAPPHIRE System include an atmospheric lifetime of only five days, versus 33 years for the closest chemical alternative, as well as zero ozone depletion. In addition, the SAPPHIRE Suppression System offers the greatest safety margin over other non-sustainable halocarbon alternatives.

"The SAPPHIRE Fire Suppression System not only eliminates the issue of massive water damage but also greatly reduces actual fire damage by suppressing a fire in the pre-combustion stage," said Dave Pelton, director, marketing, Tyco Fire & Security. "It is sophisticated, flexible, and engineered to be safe for people, products and the environment."

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