As a Fort Myers fire protection system design company, we want to offer our clients the best Fire & Life Safety solutions for their commercial property, so we keep up with all the news. Plus, these industry changes give us something to talk about around the water cooler.
We know that you were anxiously awaiting the latest edition of the NFPA 409, Standard for Aircraft Hangars, and we have great news – it’s here. Before you rush out to get your copy, we’re sharing some of the ways that the 2022 update could change how we look at aircraft hangar fire suppression as a Fort Myers fire protection system design company.
What Fire Suppression Systems Are Used In Aircraft Hangars?
In the past, foam suppression systems have been the industry standard for large aircract hangars. If you’ve never seen one of these suppression systems in action, we’ll just tell you that they are very effective and also very messy. Just picture an enormous building getting packed with foam in a matter of minutes. This is perfect for environments that house highly-flammable material (like jet fuel), but not so great for the clean-up crew.
While you want these suppression systems to activate in the event of a fire, and cleaning up foam is much better than dealing with fire damage and danger to life and property, there have been circumstances in which foam is discharged due to system malfunction.
A recent study found that about a dozen incidents like this happen each year, so it’s very rare, but it’s also been slowly increasing over time. Not only are incidents like this messy, but they’re also expensive. The study found that each of these accidental discharges resulted in approximately $100,000 in property damage. If you ask us, that’s a lot of guacamole.
2022 Updates To The NFPA 409 Standard
In the 2022 edition of the NFPA 409 standard, the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) has allowed for alternative methods of fire suppression to be installed in aircraft hangars, hopefully addressing some of these problems and allowing property owners to look at other options for their Fort Myers fire protection system design.
The NFPA has stated that while these incidents had some influence on their decision to update the suppression standard, there were other factors at play as well. There are currently some environmental concerns related to foam suppression systems, since some research has shown that foam used to combat the fuel fires that ignite in aircraft hangars could be harmful to both human health and the environment. As a Fort Myers fire protection system design company, our team at DynaFire will always recommend the systems that do the most to protect lives and property.
It should be noted that not all foam is created equal, and all foam suppression systems that DynaFire installs are safe and specifically designed for the environments that they are installed in. There are further studies planned to explore suppression system options for aircraft hangars and as we wait for the results, we’re on the edge of our seats.
Looking for Fort Myers Fire Protection System Design?
DynaFire has been providing our clients with the best in Fire & Life Safety since 2004. We’re always here to answer your questions and help keep your commercial property safe. Contact us today to learn more about the solutions that we have to offer.
