Heat Activated Pneumatic Shut-off Valve Improves Fire Safety Systems
Heat Activated Pneumatic Shut-off Valve Improves Fire Safety Systems
The Firechek FC-4 Series is a FM approved heat activated pneumatic shut-off valve. When the shape memory alloy of the FireChek senses excessive heat from a nearby fire, it immediately vents the pneumatic actuator and closes the actuator air supply line. FireChek triggers quickly, securing pneumatically operated process line valves. Because this valve responds to heat, not flame, it offers dramatically improved protection compared with conventional plastic tubing burn-through. It shuts off the air supply line to prevent plant air from feeding oxygen to a fire.
The element is 100% reliable because the shape memory effect is intrinsic to the alloy. The element senses the ambient temperature and through a phase induction change, rapidly produces the force and motion to operate FireChek. Firechek's manual reset allows routine performance testing for safety maintenance programs.
Featured Application:
A major pharmaceutical company was seeking to improve their fire safety systems. They were currently using either fusible plugs or plastic tubing on their automated valves. The fusible plug or plastic tubing would melt under high temperatures venting the valve actuators and sending the valves to their fail positions. The onsite fire department, comprised of plant personnel, was concerned about safety under fire conditions with this system. When the fusible plug or plastic tube burns, it feeds the fire with an air source putting the responding fire crew in great danger.
Assured Automation’s product specialist suggested they use the FireChek heat activated emergency shutoff valve for the quick, automatic shutoff of pneumatically operated valves during a fire.
When FireChek senses excessive heat from a nearby fire, it immediately vents the pneumatic actuators downstream of its location, while closing off the upstream air supply. This shutoff of the air supply starves the fire compared with fusible plugs or plastic tubing which feed the fire if burnt through.
The employee fire team quickly specified the FM approved FireChek as their new product of choice for venting automated valves under fire conditions. Stating they liked the manual reset feature which allows for routine performance testing for their safety maintenance program. A hot air gun quickly actuates FireChek; after cooling briefly, the FireChek can easily be reset without the use of tools.