FOCUS
Smart suppression Henrik Johansson, Steve Sims and Arjan ten Broeke review developments to see what the future might hold for fire suppression systems
R
ATES OF technological development in the fire suppression industry have been variable in recent years. Although
the market has been largely driven by the opportunity to innovate, progress has also been spurred on by a number of external factors, including regulations, changing infrastructure and growing pressure for more sustainable suppression systems. Recent high profi le fi res have also acted as significant catalysts for the industry, as manufacturers look to develop new and innovative techniques to mitigate the chances of disaster and loss. Whatever the reason for change may be,
innovation has always been a crucial part of the fi re suppression industry, based on an organisation’s ability to identify problems and potential solutions for the market. Innovation is much more than simply developing new products however; it also mandates the creation of improved services by evolving existing solutions that can help fill the gap, rather than ‘reinventing the wheel’ each time. What then does innovation mean to the industry today, and what can we expect of fi re suppression in the future? With an ever increasing population, the trend for high rise buildings looks set
26 MARCH 2019
www.frmjournal.com
to continue. For example, in the UK alone, there are currently more than 270 buildings standing at over 150m in height, with around 500 more proposed and under construction. These high hazard occupancies pose
a significant challenge for fire suppression systems, and in order to mitigate the growing risk, manufacturers must innovate to meet the increasing demands of the market. Fire suppression manufacturers have been forced to adapt their systems to address both the complexities of the infrastructure of high rise buildings and the requirements of stringent legislation.
Space saving
Since space is at a premium, space saving is a huge area of growth for the industry, particularly now that suspended ceilings are no longer needed in most modern buildings, meaning fire suppression systems can be piped directly into concrete, saving valuable space and providing a more aesthetically pleasing solution. The trend for saving space in high rise buildings is also leading to signifi cant changes in users’ equipment preferences, as systems become more discreet.
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