Phirex Australia

The water mist specialist for decades…

INVENTOR & MANUFACTURER OF:

FOGEX High Pressure
Water Mist System
MISTEX Low/Intermediate Pressure
Water Mist System
 Introduction
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________

• Invention Technologies Pty Ltd, trading as Phirex Australia was

incorporated in Perth, Western Australia in January 1993
• The company is located in Osborne Park, the industrial hub North of
Perth and has a Asia Office in Singapore.
• The primary business activity of the company is to manufacture and
supply environmentally safe fire protection goods and services
• Phirex Australia is a 100% fully owned Australian corporation
• The company has invented and designed the Mistex® & Fogex®
Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
• The company offers project design, supply, commissioning and
service of its Mistex® & Fogex® Water Mist Fire Protection
Technologies
• Phirex Australia is an ISO9001, JAS-ANZ, AS9001, NZS9001 and
EC Council Directives Quality Accredited company
• Phirex Australia are pioneers of water mist fire protection systems
spanning over a decade
• Phirex Australia has pride in its goods and services and always strives
for customer satisfaction in accordance with its management
philosophies and Quality Assurance Procedures
Halon Alternatives
1. Chemical agents
Halogenated fluorocarbons (HFCs)
Halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Partially hologenated fluorocarbons
FM 200; FE-13; FE-25; NAF S III; Halotron; Hartindo;

2. Inert Gas
Inergen; Argonite; Argon; Nitrogen;

3. Water Mist
FOGEX, FOGTEC, HI-FOG
 Water Mist Standard

NFPA 750
Standard for the
Installation of
Water Mist
FOGEX Systems are
Fire Protection
are installed in accordance
Systems
To NFPA 750 standards
 Definition of Water Mist System (NFPA 750)

A distribution system connected to a water

supply or water and atomizing media
supplies, that is equipped with one or more
nozzles capable of delivering water mist
intended to control, suppress, or
extinguish fires and that has been
demonstrated to meet the performance
requirements of its listing and this
standard.
Definition of Water Mist (NFPA 750)

A water spray for which the Dv0.99 for

the flow-weighted cumulative volumetric
distribution of water droplets, is less than
1000 microns at the minimum design
operating pressure of the water mist
nozzle.

[99% of the water droplets size discharged

from the water mist nozzle at its minimum
design pressure is less than 1000 micron
in diameter.] ( 1000 microns = 1mm )
Water Mist Application (NFPA 750)

Water mist systems have been proven effective

in controlling, suppressing or extinguishing
many types of fires. Potential applications
include the following:

1. Gas jet fire.

2. Flammable and combustible liquids.
3. Hazardous solids, including fires
involving foam furnishings.
4. Protection of aircraft occupants from an
external pool fire long enough to provide
time to escape.
Water Mist Application (NFPA 750)

5. Ordinary (Class A) combustible fires

such as paper, wood, and textiles
6. Electrical hazards, such as
transformers, switches, circuit breakers,
and rotating equipment
7. Electronic equipment, including
telecommunications equipment
 Regulations & Standards
• NFPA 750 (2003 Edition)
Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems

• Australian Standard AS 4587

Water Mist Protection System -- System Design,
Installation and Commissioning

• EURO Standard CEN / TC191 / WG5 / WP Water Mist

Water Mist Systems - Design and Installation

• International Maritime Organization ( IMO )

Use of Water Mist in Shipboard Applications
(SOLAS - Safety of Lives At Sea Regulation)
 How Does HP Water Mist Work?
Oxygen

UNBREAKABLE
CHAIN REACTION
(Chemical Inhibition)
Heat Fuel

„ FOGEX extinguishing mechanism: 3 Dimensionally

z Cooling
z Inerting – Oxygen depletion at the source of fire
z Radiant Heat Absorbtion
Extinguishing Mechanisms of HP Water Mist

• COOLING

1. when turning into vapor water absorbs more heat

than any other extinguishing agent (> 2 MJ/kg)

2. droplets absorb and scatter heat radiation

• Oxygen Depletion (inerting) at source of fire
1. Small droplets turn to vapour faster than
bigger droplets during Vaporisation process

2. Water volume expands 1640 x when turning

to vapour (steam) [>100°C]

3. Vaporisation (steam) ‘blocks’ oxygen locally

from fire source
• Radiant Heat Blocking

1. High mist density (small droplets)

2. Absorbs & scatters heat radiation -
prevents fire spread
 Determinants of the performance of a water mist system:
1. Higher pressure to atomize droplets to finest, to increase cooling surface area coverage
for same amount of water consumed.
2. Quicken the Vaporization process to create inerting effect (steam)
3. Permeability of mist droplets – Water mist is able to extinguish shielded & concealed
fire because they are very light and are able to suspend long enough in the air & entrained
in the air to be drawn into shielded & concealed fire by means of air movement created
by the fire itself.

Droplet Size Table

Droplet Cooling Area Converting Free Falling
Size Per Litre Water To Steam Droplet Speed
(In mm) ( m2 ) ( In Sec.) ( m/sec)

Ø 10.0 0.15 620 9.2

Ø 1.0 1.50 6.2 4.0

Ø 0.1 15 0.062 0.35

Ø 0.01 150 0.0062 0.003

 What is Fogex?
• Fogex is a Class 1 high pressure atomised water
mist fire protection system
• Fogex operates at 100 – 110 bars system pressure
• Fogex is an engineered system to suit the fire
hazard area
• Fogex is a 3-Dimensional fire fighting system in
contrast to 2-Dimensional conventional water
sprinkler systems
• Fogex is environmentally friendly and safe to use
even in occupied spaces
 Fogex Spray Flux Densities

• Spray flux density is the quantity of water in the form

of a mist within a geometric void of 1.0 cubic metre
airspace at an instantaneous time period
• Spray flux density is expressed as L/min/m³
• Fogex spray flux density varies with room sizes
although ranges from 0.08 ~ 0.5 L/min/m³
 Fogex Design Criteria
• Fogex design criteria is similar to conventional water
sprinklers
• Nozzle grid matrix is typically 3mx3m, 3mx4m or
4mx4m.
• Automatic glass bulb or open deluge Fogex nozzles
can be supplied in a range of materials and finishes
• All pipe work is 316L Stainless steel to prevent
corrosion and promote system longest lifespan
• Fogex is an engineered system to suit the individual
fire hazard area
• Fogex are tested and approved fire fighting
Technology
 Advantages of Fogex
• uses less than 10% of water compared to conventional sprinklers
• can be activated even in occupied spaces without evacuation
plan first
• combats fires in three ways by cooling, radiant heat attenuation
and oxygen depletion
• is competitive compared to other Technologies like gaseous fire
suppression agents and even water sprinklers
• extinguishes fires very quickly thus minimising water damage,
fire, smoke and heat damage
• is easy to use and maintain compared to other Technologies
• Smaller sized components for improved aesthetics
• is lightweight
• is a 3-Dimensional fire fighting Technology
• scrubs the combustion by-products and settles these to the
ground
• has a similar footprint to gaseous fire suppressions systems
Added Advantages of Water Mist System
Protection of Lives & Property
And Protection of Environment

1. Safe to people & environment.

2. No decomposition product (HF or HCL gas)
which is hazardous to people & equipment.
3. Safe to electrical & electronic equipment.
4. Minimal water usage (<10% of sprinkler).
5. Effective & rapid in extinguishing fire.
Added Advantages of Water Mist System
Reliable in Performance
6. FOGEX Nozzles had passed the
performance reliability tests by FM.
* Equipment had passed few hundred-cycle
tests by FM to ensure performance
reliability.
7. Nozzle fitted with stainless steel filter in
individual nozzle to prevent blockage.
(tested in FM with some orifices in a nozzle
purposely blocked yet still effective)
Added Advantages of Water Mist System
Cost Effectiveness

08. No future phased-out or regulated date.

09. Easily available (water & nitrogen).
10. Low cost agents (water & nitrogen).
Low refilling cost.
11. Low clean up cost.
12. Minimum maintenance cost.
13. Stainless steel tubing & fittings.
Advantages of Water Mist System
Gaseous Systems Do Not Have

14. Smoke scrubbing effect (remove smoke)

Binding of smoke particles by mist droplets.
Washing out of gases (eg. HCL) via huge
reaction surface.
→ Less contamination by smoke

15. Fire extinguishing effect not affected by

ventilation (with door & window opened)
Added Advantages of Water Mist System
Additional Safety Feature

16. Nitrogen pressure status monitoring

feature
17. Confirmation of system discharge signal
18. Fittings used are recommended with high
pressure compression type.
19. Cylinder valves are incorporated with
safety feature to absorb back pressure
during discharge
 Comparison Chart
Product GWP2 ODP1 ATM Life (years)
Halon 1211 4 N/A 15
Halon 1301 5800 12-16 100
Fogex/Mistex N/A N/A N/A
Halotron 1 90 0.014 3.5 ~ 11
Triodide <5 N/A 1 Day
CEA 614 5200 N/A 3100
CEA 410 5500 N/A 2600
FE 13 9000 N/A 280
FE 25 3400 N/A 41
FE 241 440 0.022 7
NAF PIII ~300 0.0172 3.3
NAF SIII 1358 0.044 14
FM-200 2050 N/A 31
CO2 1 N/A 120
 Comparison Chart
Activity/Feature Sprinkler Halon CO2 Fogex
Non-toxic YES NO NO YES

Extinguish Class A & B fires NO YES YES YES

Environmentally friendly YES NO NO YES

Require fire pump* YES NO NO YES

Light weight NO YES NO YES

Service Accessibility YES YES YES YES

High heat absorption YES NO NO YES

Cost effectiveness NO NO NO YES

Running time (in-built safety) N/A NO NO YES

Evacuation plan requirement* NO YES YES NO

Service/refill cost effectiveness N/A NO NO YES

 Fogex F20 Water Mist Nozzle

Fogex F20 Water Mist Nozzles (Open/Deluge Typed)

Features:-
ƒ Solid Al. Bronze construction for added strength and reliability
ƒ Multi-Orifice nozzles
ƒ In-built Stainless steel 316 filter to prevent blockage
ƒ Tested and passed IMO MSC/Circ. 668/728 machinery spaces tests
ƒ Environmental tested by Factory Mutual Approvals project identifier No.
3007879, Class 5560
ƒ Approved for use in marine vessels and off-shore applications by DNV, BV,
ABS and Lloyd’s Register
ƒ Ceiling heights up to 5.0 metres
ƒ Nozzle grid spacing 3m x 4m
ƒ K-factor 0.64L/min/bar½ (6.4 L/min at 100 bar pressure)
ƒ 3/8” BSP thread
ƒ No moving or rotating parts inside to become blocked or seized
ƒ Suitable for protection of machinery spaces (marine and land) and industrial
hazards, combustion & gas turbine enclosures etc
ƒ ISO 9001 Quality Approved merchandise
ƒ EC Directives 96/98/EC Certified wheel marked
 Fogex® FA20 Water Mist Nozzle

Fogex FA20 Water Mist Nozzles

Features:-
ƒ Al. Bronze construction for added safety and reliability
ƒ Internal Stainless steel 316 filter to prevent nozzle blockage
ƒ Choice of glass temperature bulbs, eg 57°C, 68°C etc
ƒ No moving or rotating internal parts to become blocked or seized
ƒ Small size and lightweight for enhanced aesthetics
ƒ Grid spacing 3m x 4m maximum
ƒ Maximum ceiling height of up to 5.0 metres
ƒ K-factor 0.64L/min/bar½ (6.4 L/min at 100 bar pressure)
ƒ Working pressure between 100 – 110 bars
ƒ Test pressure 320 bars
ƒ Single fluid nozzle
ƒ ISO 9001 Quality Assured merchandise
ƒ Suitable for hotels/motels, offices, computer suites, residential dwellings,
fat fryers,
machinery spaces, industrial hazards, historical buildings, libraries etc
ƒ BSP 3/8” thread
 Fogex/Mistex System Types

• Fogex/Mistex is supplied in three modes:

• - Pumped systems using high pressure,
Electric or Diesel driven reciprocating
piston pumps
• - Pressure Skid Modules (PSM’s)
• - Portable or semi-portable units, ie
Fogex® Porta-mist
FOGEX PSM - Cylinder Systems

- Red cylinders are filled with water

- Nitrogen as propellant at 200 bar
- Cylinders with internal lining
- 50L, 67.5L & more sizes cylinders
- Automatic and electric actuation
- Stand alone system
-Extreme Low refilling costs
-Skid comes in optional

FOGEX CYLINDERS SYSTEM

FOGEX CYLINDERS SYSTEM
 FOGEX Pump
Systems
- Compact design
- 100 - 120 bar pressure
- 20 - 360 l/min pumps
-Immediate re-operation after
actuation
-Conventional or PLC Control
Cabinet Optional
- High reliability
- Small break-tank sizes
FOGEX Diesel Driven Pump
FOGEX Typical Marine Pumps
 Fire Tests
• Phirex Australia has undertaken numerous live fire tests for its Mistex & Fogex Water Mist
Fire Protection Systems at independent fire research laboratories. The following is a
summary list of all fire testing undertaken to date:

– Mar 1993 Machinery Spaces AMSA & DOT (WA) Aust.

– Mar 1994 Aircraft cabin Fire Service College U.K.
– May 1995 Machinery spaces SINTEF NBL Norway
– May 1995 Turbine space Royal Navy (MOD) U.K.
– Nov 1995 Electric Transformers UNI Storebrand Norway
– Jan 1996 Fat fryers UK Fire International U.K.
– Mar 1996 Machinery spaces VTT Building Tech Finland
– Apr 1996 Public spaces VTT Building Tech Finland
– Apr 1996 Luxury cabins VTT Building Tech Finland
– Jun 1996 Accommodation areas VTT Building Tech Finland
– Jun 1996 Service areas VTT Building Tech Finland
– Jul 1996 Escalator rooms MRTC H.K.
– Aug 1996 Computer equipment Heineken Breweries Holland
– Oct 1996 Electrical cable tunnel SP Boras (Sweden) Swed.
– Oct 1997 Electric cable tunnel Mercury Energy N.Z.
– Sep 2000 Machinery spaces VTT Building Tech Finland
– Sep 2000 Combustion turbines VTT Building Tech Finland
– Sep 2000 Gas turbines VTT Building Tech Finland
– Sep 2000 Industrial hazards VTT Building Tech Finland
– Mar 2002 Local applications VTT Building Tech Finland
– Sep 2002 Theatre tests Bari Fire Service Italy
– Nov 2002 Machinery spaces H.K.F.S.D. H.K.
– Mar 2003 Machinery spaces H.K.F.S.D. H.K.
– Sep 2003 LUL Escalator rooms London Underground U.K.
– Apr 2004 Prison Buildings/Cells Scottish Prisons U.K.
– Feb 2005 Transformer Tests KEPCO/FILK Korea
– Feb 2006 Electric Turbines Tests Western Power Aust.
 Fogex Fire Testing
• Fogex has been tested at VTT Building & Transport, independent fire & research laboratories
in Finland in accordance with IMO Guidelines MSC/Circ. 668/728 and IMO MSC/Circ. 913
for machinery spaces (marine)
• Fogex has been tested at VTT in accordance with Factory Mutual Research Corporation
(USA) for machinery spaces, industrial hazards and combustion & gas turbine enclosures on
land
• Fogex has been tested in a very large theatre building in an area exceeding 25,000m³ with no
restrictions to air supply and with nozzles at 9.0 metres above ground level
• Fogex nozzles have been tested in accordance with IMO Guidelines by Factory Mutual in the
USA
• Fogex has been tested to Korean Electric Power Corporation (KEPCO) Standards for electric
transformers at FILK Laboratories in Korea.
• Fogex has been tested for prison cell applications in the UK.
• Fogex has been tested at Hong Kong Fires Services Department for machinery spaces and
escalator rooms.
• Fogex has been tested for escalator rooms for London Underground Limited in the UK.
• Fogex has been tested for residential applications in the UK
 Witnessing of Tests

• All fire testing in accordance with IMO

Guidelines has been witnessed by Lloyd’s
Register of Shipping, Det Norske Veritas,
American Bureau of Shipping, Bureau
Veritas and Factory Mutual
• All fire testing for Factory Mutual test
protocols for machinery spaces, industrial
hazards and combustion & gas turbine
enclosures has been witnessed by FMRC
Fogex Fire Test Photo’s
Fogex Fire Test Photo’s
Fogex Fire Test Photo’s
 Product Acceptances/Approvals
• As a result of fire testing, Phirex Australia has obtained numerous product
approvals since 1993 for its Mistex & Fogex Water Mist Fire Protection Systems
as follows:

MISTEX SYSTEM:

• Dept. of Transport (W.A.) - Type Acceptance

• Department of Transport (QLD) - Type Acceptance
• Department of Transport (S.A.) - Type Acceptance
• Department of Transport (Vic) - Type Acceptance
• MSA (UK) - Type Acceptance
• Italiane Navale - Type Acceptance
• Fire & Rescue Department of Malaysia (Bomba) - Type Acceptance
• Department of Fire & Explosion (Norway) - Type Acceptance
• Taiwan Government - Type Acceptance
• Papua New Guinea - Type Acceptance
• Maritime & Safety Authority New Zealand - Type Acceptance
• SINTEF NBL (Norway) - Letter of Statement
Product Acceptances/Approvals
FOGEX SYSTEM:

Lloyd’s Register of Shipping (UK) - IMO Marine Approvals

Det Norske Veritas DNV (Oslo) - IMO marine approvals
Factory Mutual Research (USA) - machinery spaces to be finalised
Factory Mutual Research (USA) - industrial hazards to be finalised
Factory Mutual Research (USA) - combustion & gas turbine spaces to be
finalised
American Bureau of Shipping - IMO marine approvals
UK MCA - marine approvals IMO (to be finalised)
US Coast Guard - IMO marine approvals (to be finalised)
Bureau Veritas – IMO Type Acceptance
VDS – Land approvals (to be finalised)
Fire & Rescue Dept. of Malaysia (BOMBA) – Acceptance
Hong Kong Fire Services Department – Acceptance
United Arab Emirates – Civil Defence Approvals
UK Government acceptance for prison cells
RINA (Italy) – IMO marine acceptance
 Applicable Standards

• Fogex for Marine Applications:

• LR, DNV, ABS, BV Rules
• EC Council Directives
• IMO MSC/Circ. 668/728 & MSC/Circ. 913
• SOLAS ’74
• Fogex for Land Applications:
• Authorities having jurisdiction
• Factory Mutual Approvals
• NFPA 750 Standards
 Applications
• Machinery spaces on board marine vessels or on land
• Off-shore and on-shore platforms
• Large warehouses, museums, libraries, churches, offices, residential
apartments, shops, arcades, hotels, old aged homes, cinemas
• Computer rooms, electric switch gear rooms, data server rooms, electric
transformer substations
• Escalator rooms and underground rail substations
• Railways, ie locomotives and rolling stock
• Military installations, eg aircraft hangars, command centres, ammunition
storage, fuel depots, police emergency centres
• Tyre manufacturing & rubber products storage facilities
• Re-fuelling depots and petrol stations
• Airports and sea ports
• Spray paint booths
• Tunnels and undercover car parks
• Hospitals & penitentiaries
• And many more…
Extremely suitable for Flammable Liquid Stores

- Fast extinguishment
- Rapid cooling of surrounding area
- Prevention of fire spread
- Minimal water discharge
- Completely sealed compartments
not required
- No pre-warning time
- Washing out of toxic gases
- Optional foam enhancement
 References
Taiwan Air Force F16 Aircraft Hangar
 References
Taiwan Air Force F16 Aircraft Hangar
Chidlom Terminal, Bangkok
 References
Taiwan Electric Transformers
 References
Taiwan Transformers
 References
Taiwan Electric Transformers
 References
Taiwan Transformers
1.6Km Long Cable Tunnel
 Offshore

Protection of gas turbines with an open system

Emergency Generator Protection
FOGEX® WATER MIST FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
FOR COMBUSTION & GAS TURBINES
Wafer Fab Plant - Chemicals dispense protection
Western Australia Museum
Museum pump house
 Contact
Head Quarters:
Phirex Australia
78 Roberts Street, Osborne Park 6017
Western Australia
Tel: +61+8+9444 3244
Fax: +61+8+9444 3255

Asia Regional Office (Singapore)

Phirex Far East
No 10 Kaki Bukit Road 1, #03-28
KB Industrial Building
Singapore 408934
Tel: +65 6336 6058 Fax: +65 6336 6059
Mobile: +65 9002 0773
Email: sales@phirexfareast.com
Website: www.phirexfareast.com