Marioff showcased the capabilities of its HI-FOG® water mist fire protection system during a demonstration at the Maryland Fire & Rescue Institute. The event was hosted by Marriott International, Inc., which recently added HI-FOG to its Fire Protection and Life Safety Design Standards. Marioff is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corporation (NYSE: UTX).
The HI-FOG system was discharged in three separate demonstrations in a simulated residential setting. More than 100 industry professionals attended the event, including fire officials. “This was an opportunity to draw attention to the many capabilities of the HI-FOG system,” said Scott Buckhout, President, Global Fire Products at UTC Fire & Security. “HI-FOG has proven itself in a variety of applications and we are committed to exploring even more opportunities ahead.”
“We have seen Marioff HI-FOG water mist technology work in our properties in numerous locations around the world,” said Sonny Scarff, Senior Director for Corporate Fire Protection, Marriott International. “Many have been high rise buildings or historic properties that presented major challenges to conventional fire sprinkler system installations. It’s been amazing for us to see many parts of the world so strongly embrace the technology while to many here in the U.S. it remains relatively unknown.” Today, Marriott International uses HI-FOG water mist technology in 33 hotel properties worldwide.
The HI-FOG system uses high pressure to produce a fine mist with smaller droplets and a greater surface area than conventional sprinkler systems to absorb heat efficiently through vaporization. HI-FOG suppresses fire with three main mechanisms: cooling the fire itself and the air surrounding it, blocking the radiant heat, and starving the fire of oxygen. The system uses clean water delivered through stainless steel tubes that are much smaller in diameter than the pipes used in traditional sprinkler systems – making installation easier.
The technology is ideally suited for hotels and other residential occupancies and in retro-fits where space is often limited. In hotels, putting out fires with less water results in shorter clean-up time and less down-time for the owner. HI-FOG® protects more than 1,000 passenger cruise ships, where the system’s excellent performance and low total system weight have made it the industry standard.
