HI-FOG® Passes Seismic Test, Demonstrates Water Mist Fire Protection Can Withstand Earthquake of Up to 1G of Force

Marioff North America announces that its HI-FOG System with a SPU-6 Sprinkler Pump Unit has passed a seismic qualifying test. The test demonstrated that the 7,500-pound system can withstand the effects of an earthquake of up to 1G of force and continue operating. HI-FOG water mist fire protection uses high pressure to force pure, potable water through specially designed and patented sprinklers, creating a mist that suppresses or extinguishes fire. Marioff is a business of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE: UTX).
The qualifying test for the HI-FOG System was performed by independent laboratories in Pittsburgh that simulated an earthquake. The system consisting of spray heads, tubing, valves, the pump unit and all other material to be installed was mounted on a shaker table that exerted the 1G forces of a sustained quake. “Independent testing has proven and affirmed that this HI-FOG System is rugged enough to make it through a seismic event and remain fully functional. This successful test gives safety officials confidence that HI-FOG will control or suppress fire in an emergency resulting from an earthquake,” said David L. Sibiga, Director of Project Engineering and Technical Support at Marioff North America. As a result of this test, HI-FOG is expected to be installed at four nuclear power plants in Canada.
The test data and documentation can also be used to demonstrate that HI-FOG is capable of operating in the Northeast and Midwest sections of the United States and select regions of Canada that experience earthquakes of up to 1G force. Power generators, hospitals and prisons in these regions are expected to begin requiring emergency equipment to achieve seismic qualification. “They’re starting to implement a similar program to that used by the nuclear industry and in the future will be demanding that equipment be seismically qualified,” said Sibiga.

HI-FOG water mist fire protection uses fine droplets that suppress or extinguish fires by cooling the fire itself and the air surrounding it, blocking the radiant heat and displacing oxygen from the seat of the fire. The small droplets vaporize fast, absorbing heat very efficiently and facilitating a safer evacuation of the occupants. HI-FOG uses 70-90 percent less water than traditional sprinklers. Less water means less damage, faster cleanup and minimal business interruption. “With HI-FOG there is minimal runoff and virtually no environmental impact. You just dry everything out and go on,” said Sibiga.
HI-FOG features small, bendable stainless steel tubes that are easy to install and can be hidden from view. The system can draw water from public supplies as well as compact, on-site water tanks. Because HI-FOG uses clean, potable water, the system can be activated even as people are evacuating a fire-stricken area. “We can activate the system immediately upon an alarm. That minimizes damage and makes it inherently safe for anyone in the area,” said Sibiga.
About Marioff:
Marioff is a business of UTC Fire & Security, which provides fire safety and security solutions to more than one million customers worldwide. Headquartered in Connecticut, UTC Fire & Security is a unit of United Technologies Corp., which provides high technology products and services to the building and aerospace industries worldwide. More information about Marioff and UTC Fire & Security is available at www.marioff.com and www.utcfireandsecurity.com.