Fire! A water-mist fire-suppression system goes right to the source.

Very few people ever actually plan for a fire. It’s something that happens to other people and other businesses. Most operations take the proper precautions and are in compliance with local fire code ordinances, which are bare minimums, but it’s a rare occurrence when a business goes above and beyond what’s required to safeguard their people and investments from the devastating effects of a fire. And while this is something every business should consider, it’s especially critical for companies, such as those in the munitions industry, that are at a much higher risk for unexpected fires.

With a degree in Fire Protection Engineering and more than 15 years of experience in both the fire protection and munitions industries, Glen Saraduke, an engineering consultant and founder of Ammo Machinery Shop, is all too familiar with the possibly deadly implications of a fire in a munitions factory. As a way to minimize the likelihood of this from happening, Saraduke developed an innovative local fire-suppression system designed specifically for use in munitions applications.

“With ammunition manufacturing, there’s always some spillage of smokeless power that gets on and under the table, in the motor, grease, or in the gears,” Saraduke says. “These machines are cranking at an extremely high rate of speed. The grease in the bearings is infused with powder and gets extremely hot. If that’s exposed to smokeless powder, there’s a high likelihood of fire in the machine.”

Traditionally, manufacturers and fire code ordinances have relied on overhead sprinklers and fire extinguisher canisters to contain the fire, but neither of these methods are efficient in a situation when split seconds can mean the difference between life and death.

“If the machine operator has to run and grab a fire extinguisher, that’s extremely dangerous because if that fire gets into the powder hopper during that time, it can cause an explosion,” Saraduke says.

Overhead fire sprinklers present a similar safety dilemma because by the time the fire sprinklers in the ceiling are triggered, it’s likely too late to stop the risk of an explosion. With the system that Saraduke developed, however, a fire can be extinguished within seconds before it has a chance to get too large or spread to the powder hopper.

“Really, the perfect fire-suppression system is a local water-mist system,” Saraduke says. “They’re allowed by fire code and are being used successfully in all kinds of applications in different industries like computer centers as an alternative to gas and military ships where there’s a limited water supply. But no one’s used them for a munitions application, and that’s what we’re doing.”

Saraduke’s fire-suppression system attaches directly to the reloading machine within easy reach of the operator. If a fire starts, the operator simply hits a switch and walk away, and the system is instantly triggered.

It’s not just the speed with which the system can be activated that makes it so effective, however; it’s the actual delivery system that sprays a nitrogen-powered high-pressure mist onto the flames.

“The water mist comes out at 360 psi, so it effectively acts like a gas, but it’s significantly less expensive and self-contained,” Saraduke says. “Because the mist is so fine, there’s more water surface area. That makes it very effective at putting out fires.”

It’s also less costly to clean up. Unlike overhead fire sprinklers, which will flood a large area and can possibly destroy sensitive adjacent equipment, Saraduke’s system uses only a half-liter to a liter of water. In addition, the water is targeted to just the fire, not the entire facility.

Currently, Saraduke’s patent-pending system is manually operated, but they are already in the process of completing development of an updated system that will have a built-in flame detector that will automatically trigger the system and save even more critical time.

The system is designed to be used with nearly any ammunition manufacturing, demilitarization, or similar equipment handling smokeless powder, and Saraduke says the system can also be adapted to be used in many other applications outside of the munitions or demilitarization industries.

“Really, I’m just trying to make a difference with this,” Saraduke says. “As a lifelong fire-protection engineer and former firefighter, my goal has always been to preserve life, and that’s exactly what this system is designed to do.” ammomachineryshop.com