Early fire detection.

Ultra-sensitive, radiometric 24/7 early fire detection system for built environments and electric vehicle charging stations.

Eye on Cloud (EOC), a Korea-based video security and thermal imaging IP camera company, will leverage the Teledyne FLIR Lepton® radiometric thermal camera module in its early fire detection (EFD) series of IP cameras. EOC is introducing the series of EFD cameras as part of its Thermal by FLIR collaboration.

The HI1612-OH and HI1612-MW series cameras offer multiple resolution options for continuous monitoring of electric vehicle (EV) charging stations and other critical infrastructure, security, and facility applications. With non-contact temperature measuring, the FLIR Lepton can identify elevated heat before ignition, which then triggers an alarm system. EOC’s ONVIF-compliant EFD cameras help improve safety while enabling fire personnel to attack a potential fire more quickly than when relying on traditional smoke alarms.

“We developed the Thermal by FLIR program to support customer innovations for new and developing applications,” said Mike Walters, vice president, product development, Teledyne FLIR. “EOC Tech and its work with early fire detection for EV charging stations and other built environments is a natural collaboration for the FLIR Lepton and Thermal by FLIR program.”

The Thermal by FLIR program is a cooperative product development and marketing program that supports original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), to integrate Teledyne FLIR thermal camera modules into products, along with go-to-market support for ensuing product innovations.

“Substation, building, and EV parking facility managers, including shopping centers and office buildings, need solutions that will help them better detect fires that can threaten life and property,” said Dong Gyun Shin, CEO, EOC Tech. “Our line of EFD dual thermal-visible camera systems developed as part of the Thermal by FLIR program provide a relatively low cost yet effective method to identity potential fires before they ignite.”

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@flir @mepaxIntPR #Safety #EV #Eye_on_Cloud

Safer hydrogen projects.

Hydrogen will be at the heart of the world’s energy transition away from natural gas. However, while there are many ways to produce and use hydrogen, there is a common denominator: all require monitoring for safety. Today, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection has a complete product offer for hydrogen that not only encompasses end-to-end gas, flame and fire detectors, but also a complementary range of leading-edge controllers, services and cloud data management options. As a result, more and more companies engaged in hydrogen transitioning projects are placing their trust in Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection as a one-stop-shop for all their safety needs.

Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection’s innovative fixed and portable systems have been ensuring the safe use of hydrogen for decades, with the company today providing a critical contribution to a safe and efficient energy transition. Products, systems and services are available to support the full hydrogen spectrum – production, distribution and storage – across a host of established and new applications. In addition, a wide range of sensors is available for the main gases in the hydrogen value chain, including methane, ammonia, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Many are suitable for integration into SIL2 or SIL3 systems.

Fixed gas detectors.
A case in point is the highly successful DG7-SIL2 intelligent fixed gas detector with integral display, which is ideal for detecting hydrogen and other gases related to hydrogen and hydrogen derivatives. This microprocessor-driven instrument is fully configurable using a wireless hand-held terminal or a hard-wired HART option, providing true flexibility to the installer and reduced service costs. The unit can interface directly with a wide range of panels, controllers and PLCs.

Another attractive option in fixed gas detectors is the OLCT 100-SIL2, which offers a range of housings and sensors for the full hydrogen value chain. It comes with a 4-20mA output and carries SIL certification in accordance with EN 50402.

Part of the same product family, the compact OLCT 20 fixed gas detector is ideal for installation in shelters or on skids, where there is a need for monitoring in very small spaces or for on-board applications. These transmitters again provide a 4-20mA output with the potential for direct connection to PLCs.

Flame detectors.
Many customers ask if they can use their existing natural gas flame detector with hydrogen. However, many flame detection systems for use in hydrocarbon processing just ‘see’ combustion products such as water, soot or carbon dioxide. When pure hydrogen burns it forms only water, making it necessary to use special flame detection equipment.

Teledyne GFD has an exciting new offer in this area: the Spyglass IR3-H2-V flame detector quickly detects hydrogen and other ‘energy transition’ fires in support of rapid response efforts. A near-infrared camera provides personnel with the ability to see invisible hydrogen flames in all weather and light conditions. Notably, the detector automatically records video, providing additional means to study the cause and development of fires.

For building networks of wired or wireless gas and flame detection equipment to enable integrated site safety strategies, it will be necessary to employ a controller. Here, the Teledyne GFD modular and flexible MX62-SIL2 features a large, fully interactive 10" (up to 15") high-definition colour touchscreen, 64 secure channels and a back-up processor to ensure continual measurement.

Portable gas leak detectors.
Portable gas detection equipment is perfect for use by personnel working in locations where compressed hydrogen is present and may potentially leak. Hydrogen has a wide flammability range in air: from 4% to 74% at atmospheric pressure. To ensure safety at all times, Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection portable gas detection systems have an alarm at 50% of the LEL, or 2% hydrogen.

Among the latest developments is the versatile GS700-Hydrogen, an upgraded version of the company’s popular and successful Gasurveyor 700 (GS700) that adds the ability to detect hydrogen. The new ATEX-certified GS700-Hydrogen therefore offers both natural gas and hydrogen detection in a single instrument. Ideal for leak detection around major equipment, large sites, and pipeline installation and maintenance, the GS700 has an optional GPS mapping system. It is possible to store and process data from the field in Teledyne GDCloud software to map the location of measured data and pinpoint the geo-location of any leaks. The device, which offers exceptional flexibility and performance in all gas utility applications, has already seen adoption at several hydrogen network test sites.

Personal safety gas monitors.
Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection can offer a comprehensive range of wearable devices for monitoring hydrogen, ammonia and all major gases relating to the hydrogen value chain. For example, the PS200 four-gas compliance monitor is compact, lightweight, water resistant and extremely robust, while the larger PS500 model provides the potential to detect up to five gases.

Ultimately there will be many roads to the hydrogen economy based on decarbonisation and new applications. And while some harbour concerns about hydrogen’s tiny molecules that can leak through the smallest of cracks, Teledyne GFD has the expertise and solutions to render hydrogen a very ordinary gas. The company has been working with customers for decades to ensure the safety of personnel and assets when handling hydrogen. Today, a complete portfolio of hydrogen gas and flame detection systems from Teledyne Gas and Flame Detection is ready to empower a safe and efficient transition to the hydrogen economy.

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@mepaxIntPR #Teledyne #PAuto #Safety

Ensuring safe fire protection.

Ultra-reliable is the only standard acceptable when it comes to building, testing and maintaining water pumps for fire fighting. To ensure all of its pumps are fully able to provide maximum performance instantly, under all circumstances, Ruhrpumpen has built a dedicated fire pump centre in Lancing, West Sussex (GB) and fitted its test-rig with "the best torque sensors it could find on the market".

David Gentle, Ruhrpumpen Industrial Europa Product Line Manager for EU Fire Systems, says: “We are a very high tech industry, but there is also a lot of human intelligence and input into our operations. We really value the support from the team at Sensor Technology and know we will always get a quick response from them, no matter when we call. TorqSense transducers are lightweight, easy to use and we have recommended their adoption by our group subsidiaries around the world, all of whom are FM/UL certified."

Ruhrpumpen is a global leader in high technology pump systems and is a major player in industries such as oil and gas, water distribution, chemical production, continuous processes, and nuclear power. Identifying fire fighting as a crucial sector, it set up Ruhrpumpen Industrial Europa Ltd (RPIE) a Factory Mutual (FM) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certified manufacturing facility for fire water pumps in Britain. The FM and UL Approvals Bodies audit the facility quarterly, inspect calibration certification and carry out flow, pressure, power, NPSH (net positive suction head) and other relevant tests as required, ensuring that the facility maintains world-class standards at all times.

Ruhrpumpen Industrial Europa Ltd’s state-of-the-art fire pump manufacturing centre is fully equipped to design, assemble, test and package fire pumps for European market requirements. It can also produce standard and highly-engineered pumping systems for a wide range of other applications industries, often using the technical requirements of firefighting to set benchmarks in other industries.

In addition to pumps and systems for use in Britain and Europe, the facility also provides parts and support for highly-engineered pump equipment to other Ruhrpumpen companies around the world, and offers product and system testing, training and specialist consultancy services.

With the test-rig TorqSense transducers measure and record instantaneous torque levels in rotating pump drive shafts, with analysis of the data confirming real-time performance standards, in testing operations.

TorqSense comes in a range of sizes for measuring torque, both rotary and static, from 10mNm up to 13,000Nm. Different ranges are based on different technologies, including full four element strain gauge bridges and optical measurement. None of these require hard wiring with slip rings, instead being designed for use with wireless radio frequency pick-ups which make set up and adjustment fast and simple.

Working with clients, experts from Sensor Technology can recommend the best transducer for each application.

As is a requirement in all fire pump testing, the torque transducers are all regularly calibrated by an independent ISO 17025 accredited calibration laboratory.

There is also a full range of data display, recording and analysis interfaces. Again, it is the work of moments to integrate these with the sensor heads. However, with fire water pumps being such a specialised and highly regulated field, Ruhrpumpen decided to use bespoke data systems developed to directly address the needs of the industry. With these, data is recorded and analysed in Ruhrpumpen’s own performance test app before the final pump Test Report is made available. Naturally everything is tested and verified by qualified independent bodies on a regular basis.

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@sensortech @ruhrpumpen #Pauto

Investigations into fires & explosions.

Danati Fire and Safety is a leading investigator of fires and explosions covering Southern Africa. Their first professional fire investigation was performed in 2003, and they perform an average of 250 investigations a year covering vehicles, structures and shipping vessels. 

The growth of Danati Fire and Safety can be attributed to verbal recommendations between insurance companies and loss adjusters in South Africa. A small number of private individuals may contact Danati Fire and Safety for private investigations either to counter a negative insurance claim or to simply satisfy their own curiosity.

After firefighters extinguish a fire, an investigation is launched to determine the origin and cause of the incident. Investigations are carried out using a systematic approach combined with knowledge of basic fire science. For a fire to occur, there must be fuel, oxygen and an ignition source, which must be in the specific proportions. There is a very definite science to investigating fires, and experience really counts here. The fire scene must be carefully evaluated and documented to locate the source of the fuel and possible ignition sources. Potential causes will be ruled in or out depending on the evidence presented by the fire scene, burn patterns, and physical remains. Frequently, samples are taken and sent away for evaluation, which can be a lengthy and costly process.

Danati was first introduced to the ION Science Tiger by Impact Instruments and chose the Tiger over other similar products due to its lower cost, portability and technological superiority, as well as the excellent customer service provided by thr team at Impact Instruments.

Danati’s Lead Fire Investigator, Danny Joubert, has said, “The instrument is extremely sensitive and will almost always give some level of reading when it is exposed to fire debris. Having done so on numerous occasions, I can honestly say that there are many positive aspects to the Tiger VOC detector.
“It must be understood that this instrument does not provide a definitive test for the presence of a specific accelerant or ignitable fluid. What it does do is indicate where higher than usual concentrations of VOCs may be present, and this will then prompt the investigator to take appropriate samples for laboratory testing, as per the NFPA 921 guidelines. Without the VOC detector, the average investigator can only rely on an interpretation of burn patterns and their sense of smell to detect the possible presence of a VOC.
“The Tiger adds a new dimension, and has allowed a far more thorough screening of debris to take place whilst the investigator is moving through the scene.
“The unit is very sensitive, allowing the investigators to disregard debris that might otherwise have been collected and subjected to expensive laboratory testing. Certified for use in explosive atmospheres, with high levels of sensitivity and resistance to interference from humidity or contamination, the Tiger is the only handheld instrument of its kind in South Africa, so it has allowed Danati bragging rights, which is always a morale booster!”

The biggest success of the Tiger for Danati related to a supermarket fire that was initially believed to be caused by an electrical surge following a period where the electricity was shut down.

The instrument was started up, and the investigator entered the building. The Tiger immediately gave a reading, turning left, the readings dropped, and walking further into the premises caused the instrument to give an alarm. This was the first audible alarm that the instrument had given, and the readings were extremely high. Standard human olfactory sensing could not detect anything above the normal stench of a three-day-old fire scene in a supermarket. Using the Tiger, the source of the alarm was found, and samples were taken. The samples were sent to a laboratory, and the intentional nature of the fire was put beyond any question.

The instrument shortened the investigation time considerably, and it was also noted that two other investigation firms were in attendance; their reaction to the Tiger was a combination of awe and jealousy.

@ionscience @_Enviro_News #PAuto #Safety #TandM #South Africa

Fire! Fire!

Fire spreads quickly, destroying buildings, assets and lives. However, thermal imaging cameras from Teledyne FLIR can help prevent fires by detecting hot spots before they ignite. These automated, non-contact temperature measuring devices are prolific in potential fire detection, ensuring their increasing popularity in a host of industrial safety applications.

Fuel storage applications are a case in point. With this flammable commodity, corrosion, leaks and human error can lead to explosive, sometimes catastrophic consequences. Automatically monitoring temperature changes in fuel storage depots with FLIR thermal imaging cameras can avert disaster, satisfy insurer oversight and improve safety for workers and the public. Solutions such as FLIR A50 and A70 smart sensor cameras are ideal for fuel depots requiring built-in, on-camera analytics and alarm capabilities for early fire detection - regardless of light conditions.

Warehouses present another well-established fire risk, despite most being equipped with fire alarms and firefighting systems. FLIR thermal imaging cameras can identify hot spots and provide an early warning response to avoid full-on conflagration before fire ignites. Solutions such as the compact and cost-effective FLIR AX8 thermal imaging camera, with its streaming video output, can provide broadcasts to a control room monitor that directs personnel to the exact location of a hot spot. Users can adjust preconfigured temperature alarms to compensate for temporary changes such as the presence of a forklift or worker.

In a further application example, the storage of certain material, such as coal, wood chips and fertilisers, invites the risk of spontaneous combustion. Here, a thermal imaging camera can provide continuous, remote, 24-7 temperature monitoring of these materials when stored in piles or travelling on conveyor belts. A rugged solution such as the FLIR FH-Series R multispectral fixed camera is ideal. The 4K visible imaging of this product provides rapid verification hot spots, sending images to an operator through a connected video management system (VMS) for instantaneous assessment and deployment of response tactics. The VMS can be part of a Teledyne FLIR end-to-end solution or combine with preferred third-party solutions.

Similar to combustible pile applications, bunker waste is potentially flammable when stored. Self-combustion, heat development due to pressure, spontaneous chemical reactions between disposals and the accumulation of methane gas are all potential fire hazards. Glassworks, foundries, cement plants and municipal waste incinerators can all therefore safeguard their assets and personnel using FLIR technology. Here, it is possible to network solutions such as FLIR A50 and A70 thermal image cameras, providing a scalable system with high spatial resolution and thermal sensitivity.

Remote firefighting provides yet another application where thermal imaging cameras can prove highly beneficial. After all, identifying a hot spot is only part one of a fire prevention solution. Part two is remediation, which can be challenging in remote monitoring scenarios. FLIR thermal imaging cameras and software not only pinpoint hot spots, they can initiate an automated firefighting response, such as turning on a sprinkler system, shutting down a system, or targeting the hot spot to be soaked in firefighting foam - all controlled remotely over the Internet. Here, FLIR offers its A310 ex ATEX-compliant thermal imaging camera mounted in a flame-proof enclosure and featuring an integrated controller with several digital I/O channels and sensors for temperature, humidity and pressure.

Fire can destroy multiple buildings or installations within an extremely short timeframe. The value of the goods that perish during a fire can be tremendous, while the cost of a lost life is impossible to calculate. FLIR thermal imaging cameras help prevent fires by detecting hot spots before they ignite, ensuring there is no longer any need to take that risk.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #Safety #PAuto

Safety for first responders.

The Gas Laser has been introduced by Teledyne GMI. This has highly advanced laser technology designed to detect natural gas with the aim of enhancing safety and improving detection for fire services, and first responders.

Frequently fire personnel and first responders are called to natural gas emergencies using equipment that puts them close to potentially dangerous structures. The Gas Laser supports remote detection allowing the operator to work at a safer distance from the hazard location.

When access to a property cannot be established, the Gas Laser can operate through glass, giving the user an audible and visual indication to the presence of methane. This quick scan permits fire personnel and first responders to make rapid decisions and establish control of the gas and ignition sources should a gas escape be detected.

@mepaxIntPR #Teledyne #PAuto #Safety

Fire detection and condition monitoring for industrial facilities.

The FLIR A500f and A700f Advanced Smart Sensor ruggedized thermal cameras feature high-temperature detection for extreme environments paired with on-camera analytics and alarm capabilities – ideal for industrial early fire detection or outdoor condition monitoring applications. Along with enhanced spot, area, line, polygon, and polyline analytic functions that improve the definition of areas of interest and object curvatures, the A500f/A700f can help commercial and industrial organizations protect assets, improve safety, maximize uptime, and minimize maintenance costs.

The A500f and A700f thermal cameras can quickly identify increased temperatures related to potentially dangerous conditions.

If smoke is present, the cameras can help provide increased awareness for decision makers to properly assess and address incidents. Both cameras feature Flexible Scene Enhancement (FSX) technology, found on Teledyne FLIR K-Series handheld firefighting devices. The result is an ultra-sharp, finer-textured image that shows subtler edge details supplied by the embedded visible camera onto the thermal image, enabling operators to recognize objects and people more easily.

The A500f/A700f are also effective tools for pile-burn monitoring, providing automated early warnings for potential issues in waste management facilities or coal collection areas that operate around the clock.

Manufacturing facilities, chemical processing locations, or power substations that use common communications and control language can also benefit from the A500f and A700f beyond fire detection. These cameras empower those organizations to reduce maintenance costs by identifying heat anomalies from mechanical problems early, thereby extending the life of plant components while maximizing uptime.

Effective Ruggedness and Thermal Range for Outdoor Applications
The A500f/A700f offers superior thermal imaging capability with a resolution of 464 x 348 (161,472) for the A500f and 640 x 480 (307,200) thermal pixel resolution for the A700f. Users can expect a ±2° C (±‐3.6° F) temperature measurement accuracy.

The A500f has a temperature detection range between -20° to 1500°C (-4° to 2732° F), while the A700f offers a temperature range of between 20° to 2000°C (68° to 3632°F) for detecting chemical fires and other extreme industrial fire conditions.

Along with thermal lens options ranging from 14° to 42° and an embedded HD visible camera, these devices fulfill the needs of most outdoor condition monitoring and fire detection applications.

Seamless Integration and Set Up
Installing the FLIR A500f/A700f cameras is seamless. Both cameras are ONVIF compliant and integrate easily into standard security VMS and NVR solutions including control of pan/tilts.

For VMS integrations, thermal and visible streams can be viewed independently or simultaneously. The cameras are easy to add, set up, and operate in HMI (Human Machine Interface) SCADA (supervisory control and data acquisition) systems, offering automation system solution providers a running start. Both the A500f and A700f fully support IIoT protocols such as MQTT (Message Queuing Telemetry Transport) and RESTful API with a system unique token key for extra security.

@flir @mepaxIntPR #Pauto #Safety

Fire investigation kit.

The world’s first fire investigation kit featuring the well-proven, handheld Tiger or TigerLT photoionisation detector (PID) for the reliable detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at sites of suspected arson-related incidents has been launched by Ion Science.

Easy to use with minimal training, Ion Science’s fire investigation kit includes essential accessories for the fast, accurate detection of VOCs, all contained within a rugged carry case. In addition to either a Tiger or TigerLT PID instrument, it comprises a one metre flexi-probe, AA Tiger battery pack, charging cradle, vehicle charge adaptor, exhaust barb, bump test pen, quick start guide and PTFE filters.

In suspected arson cases, it is part of the investigation to prove that there is no other cause of fire. The Ion Science fire investigation kit can be used to detect hydrocarbon compounds such as those found in petrol, alkanes and cycloalkanes. Fire investigators including the police, consultants and private investigators acting on behalf of insurance companies, will search for every type of fire accelerant such as grill lighters, lighter fuel, liquid glue and cleaning agents.

Both the Ion Science Tiger and TigerLT PIDs are perfect for arson investigation. The instruments have a rugged design, are ready to use within seconds, easy to operate with gloves and can be cleaned quickly with a wet cloth. Plus the filters are simple to change.

In the aftermath of a fire significant values can already be 1-20 parts per million (ppm). Depending on the period of time between the occurrence of the fire and the examination, potential VOC gases might have partially disappeared. As a result, values always vary and sometimes the measured values can reach 100 ppm or more.

The extinguishing foam used by fire teams contains proteins and other hydrocarbon compounds which can produce falsified results and make usable measurements difficult.

Fire investigators often take photographs whilst using the Ion Science Tiger or TigerLT and document several values at the same time. If high quantities of VOCs are detected, they will go on to take samples for analysis by an authorised laboratory.

A robust handheld PID, the popular Tiger accurately offers 0.1 ppm sensitivity and reliably detects gases down to ultra-low parts per billion (ppb) levels and up to 20,000 ppm. The Tiger is fully upgradeable in the field so lower cost instruments can be purchased with the option of adding functionality.

Ion Science’s TigerLT PID is a streamlined, low cost version of the Tiger with a detection range up to 5,000 ppm and push to log data log option.
Both models incorporate Ion Science’s market-leading PID technology with patented fence electrode system. The advanced three-electrode format ensures increased resistance to humidity and contamination for ultimate reliability and accuracy in the field, as well as reduced drift issues and extended run time.

A compact, ergonomic design makes the Tiger VOC detectors extremely easy to use in the field. A large, clear back-lit display allows for easy viewing in any light condition. An integrated torch is designed for directing the instrument’s probe into dimly lit areas and an illuminated keypad comes on when light is low.

The Tiger models have the fastest response time on the market of just two seconds and can be connected directly to a PC via the USB for quick data download.

Both instruments are intrinsically safe (IS) allowing batteries to be replaced in potentially explosive environments. They meet ATEX, IECEx, North American and Canadian standards and are IP65 rated against water ingress.

Long life rechargeable Li-ion batteries give up to 24 hours usage and can be fully charged in 6.5 hours, while eight hours of use can be achieved from 1.5 hours of charging time. Low cost filters and lamps can be easily changed in minutes.

Other features include a protective, removable boot for harsh environments, loud 95 dB audible alarm and multiple language support. The warranty for both the Tiger and TigerLT can be extended from two to five years when the instruments are registered on line.

@ionscience #PAuto #TandM @elhcomms

Fire and Gas Systems (FGS) for process industries.

The International Society of Automation (ISA) has published a guide to designing and implementing performance-based Fire and Gas Systems (FGS) for process industries, as described in the ISA technical report, ISA-TR84.00.07-2010, Guidance on the Evaluation of Fire and Gas System Effectiveness. Austin Bryan See link to interview below! “This book, The Performance-based Fire and Gas Systems Engineering Handbook, is an essential follow-up to the ISA-TR84.00.07 technical report because it provides the practical, how-to direction on designing and implementing a performance-based FGS that’s not covered in the technical report,” says Austin M. Bryan, a senior engineer at Kenexis Consulting Corporation who co-authored the publication along with two of his Kenexis Consulting colleagues, Elizabeth Smith and Kevin J. Mitchell. The ISA-TR84.00.07 technical report, Bryan explains, is a breakthrough in risk-based fire and gas systems engineering for industrial process settings: “The report takes the basic concepts used in performance-based Safety Instrumented Systems design and shows how they can be applied to the design of an FGS. Performance-based FGS design relies on risk assessment to ensure a specified level of system performance. This more flexible, tailored approach meets the needs of process industries, which have many highly specific concerns, such as combustible or toxic gas, and seek to move away from ‘one-size-fits-all,’ prescriptive systems.” While the ISA-TR84.00.07 technical report describes how the concepts of performance based design can be applied to FGS design and the special considerations that must be made to do so, it does not provide any explanation on how to actually develop such a design. “That’s where our book comes in,” Bryan maintains. “It presents the FGS lifecycle and associated workflow needed for FGS designers of industrial systems to fully understand the performance-based design concepts underlying the technical report, and delivers the practical guidance on how these concepts may be implemented.” • For greater perspective on performance-based FGS engineering, the ISA-TR84.00.07 technical report and the significance of this new ISA book, read the author interview. You’ll also find background on all three book authors and learn how you can purchase a copy of the publication.