For a lot of industries, Automatic Fire Suppression Systems are something they try not to deal with, unless it is required. There is good reason for that. AFSS in the past have been complicated or do not follow NFPA guidelines. When the NTSB recommended that all school buses have Automatic Fire Suppression Systems installed, we knew we had to do something to make a practical system to make it possible for all school districts to provide safe transportation. We looked at all the issues that come with the old designs for Automatic Fire Suppression Systems and found solutions.
NFPA Guidelines
The NFPA recommends an AFSS to Detect, Notify, Discharge, and have a means of manual activation. They also recommend biannual inspections, and for a certified technician to install and inspect the system. The old design for systems made manual activation and notification very expensive, and they used complicated control panels. This made installation and inspections difficult and costly as well.
Simplified Design
FireGator™ decided to utilize the same technology that is used by NASA and the DoD to create a non-pressurized, non-conductive, and environmentally-friendly system. Using this technology, we were able to discard the control panel and use a single green LED to monitor the entire system. With the generators wired directly to the battery, and LHD, it made the manual activation switch and horn a simple addition. Through the process of the design, we found that LHD placement was critical for proper detection, so we designed our patent-protected HALO to create a uniform installation process. The HALO, also, makes it easy to do regular servicing of the vehicle without damaging the LHD. Inspections are simplified with the HALO as well. Damage to the LHD is easily spotted.
Preassembled DIY Kits
After looking at our design, we realized it was so simple that just about anyone can do it with some basic instructions. We added color-coded Deutsch connectors to simplify the process further. Then, we created an online portal to get Certification for installation, and you can even submit inspections yourself to a qualified technician for review.
Is it Safe and Effective?
Making AFSS simple and affordable does not lose any effectiveness. We have found the more complicated the design, the more ways a system has to fail. The driver can at all times see if the system is active right from the driver's seat.
We have found that many AFSS go uninspected after installation. When they fail to discharge, the cause is unknown because they have not been touched in years. By making the inspections remote, through a mobile device, and only about $40, they are more likely to occur.
Tubing and pressurization is just another thing likely to fail. Even if our system, somehow, gets disconnected in a crash, the generators will still deploy by themselves at 450 degrees Celsius. These generators have went through stringent testing in the Navy Labs and are UL approved for 10 or more years.