Putting a dampener on fire damage
I-CAT Environmental Solutions is an official supplier of Telesto’s EXTINGUISHmist – a handheld water mist fire extinguisher able to suppress all common causes of fire without collateral damage to property, humans, animals and the environment.
I-CAT non-executive director Professor Jan du Plessis notes: “This has the potential for enormous cost savings. Using conventional equipment, only five percent of water directed at the fire actually applies to extinguishing it. The remaining 95 percent floods the surroundings. With the EXTINGUISHmist, a superfine ‘dry to the touch’ mist is emitted that quickly vaporises in the fire zone.”
Comprising simply of de-mineralised water, the mist is also 100 percent human, animal and environmentally friendly. Du Plessis explains: “Other fire suppressants, such as foam, dry chemical powder and CO2 are toxic, causing harm to humans and animals, destruction to property, and pollution. The EXTINGUISHmist, on the other hand, is an ideal neutral and is so safe that it can be sprayed directly onto victims threatened by fire, allowing responders to swiftly and effectively execute rescues.”
Response time is the main factor determining the extent of a fire’s damage to life and property. Du Plessis points out that EXTINGUISHmist’s universal application across all common fire classes not only accelerates fire incident response, but also reduces the need to carry multiple types of equipment. “Equipped with the EXTINGUISHmist, responders can attack a fire immediately without having to worry about whether the agent is appropriate for the type of fire.”
The small amount of water sprayed from the EXTINGUISHmist – just six litres per minute – also guarantees a ten times longer lasting firefighting capacity than traditional hoses. It also has a high degree of dispersion and forms a large screening surface or ‘halo’. This is just one percent of the volume of water used by fire hoses and the mist ‘halo’ generated is in fact far more effective.
“People shielded by this mist barrier can survive even in close proximity to a powerful fire. It protects firefighters and victims alike from thermal radiation and smoke. Because the mist contains air, it allows them to breathe freely, preventing asphyxiation and buying time in rescue operations. Rescuing victims is problematic with other suppressants, as the agents are harmful,” adds du Plessis.
The EXTINGUISHmist portable fire extinguisher consists of a proprietary nozzle and phase regulator that can be incorporated with any manufacturer’s cylinder and valve, either stored pressure or cartridge-type. The technology is also available in a hose and reel device that can be mounted onto fire trucks, vehicles and trailers. “No other fire suppression technology can claim the same application breadth and people, animal, property, and environment friendliness as EXTINGUISHmist can,” concludes du Plessis.
Ends
Notes to the editor
There are numerous photographs specific to this press release. Please visit http://media.ngage.co.za and click the I-CAT link.
About I-CAT
I-CAT is a leading environmental solutions company with a primary focus on supplying products and services that assist industrial clients in various aspects of environmental compliance. The company is well positioned to assist all its clients’ needs in environmental management regarding; dust suppression solutions, water solutions, environmental management services, carbon solutions, agro-forestry products and fire solutions.
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I-CAT Contact
Professor Jan du Plessis
Non-Executive Director
Phone: (012) 349 1441
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