FireTrace Surface and Underground Mining Equipment

FireTrace pre-engineered automatic fire detection and suppression systems have been field-proven for two decades on vehicles and equipment operating in harsh environments. FireTrace has its origins in the late 1980s in the United Kingdom as a special-hazard fire-suppression system. Through the 1990s, applications expanded to include enclosures such as machines, fume hoods, data centres and electrical cabinets as distribution increased in Europe.

The Problem:
Protecting surface and underground mining equipment against fires can be challenging. Virtually all of the mobile equipment used in mining operations contains large quantities of highly flammable diesel fuel, lubricating oils, and hydraulic fluids. The energized electrical equipment used in mining operations also presents an elevated fire risk.

Most mining equipment is operated around the clock under punishing conditions that stress mechanical and electrical components to the limit. Material or fluids coming in contact with the hot exhaust or engine parts or an electrical fault can quickly erupt into a fast-spreading fire that can result in expensive repairs and unscheduled downtime. And, most importantly, unchecked and uncontrolled equipment fire can pose a serious threat of death or injury.

The Solution:
FireTrace offers a unique solution for protecting all types of mining equipment against the risk of fires. The heart of the FireTrace system is the company’s unique, pressurized detection tubing, which can be routed in and around the hazard areas of mobile and electrical mining equipment. The heat-sensitive tubing is designed to burst when exposed to a fire’s radiant heat, which automatically triggers the release of the fire extinguishing agent. The detection tubing is immune to gas, oil, dirt, vibration and temperature extremes that can cause other fire systems to fail, yet is reliable enough to avoid false discharges. And because the detection tubing is located in the hazard area where fires begin, it can react many times faster than conventional fire detection systems.

The Advantages

• Fast, reliable fire detection and suppression
• Activates automatically - no operator assistance needed
• Requires no electrical power, operates pneumatically
• Does not interfere with equipment operation or maintenance
• Compact systems offer multiple configurations and design options
• Can be configured to shut down equipment and trigger an alarm
• Optional ruggedised protective coatings increase cylinder durability

FireTrace systems are compatible with most commercially available fire-suppression agents, including “clean” extinguishing agents such as Dupont™ FM-200 or 3M™ Novec™ 1230 fire protection fluid, as well as CO2, dry chemical powders, foam, and water.

FireTrace fire-detection and suppression systems are available exclusively through a worldwide network of distributors who are factory trained and certified to install, maintain and service FireTrace systems.

---