iMist, one of the UK’s foremost suppliers of high-pressure water-mist fire-suppression methods, has worked with leading business physique the Fire Protection Association (FPA), to help it achieve UKAS accreditation for one of its fire-testing laboratory services – becoming the primary and solely check facility within the UK to carry this accreditation.
The fast-growing Hull-headquartered business, which has developed its own range of high-pressure water-mist fire-suppression systems, assisted the FPA in gaining UKAS accreditation for its BS8458: 2015 Annex C fireplace testing in Blockley, Gloucestershire, which is likely certainly one of the most complete fireplace check and research operations in the UK. IMist provided the FPA with its proprietary pumps, pipework, hoses, clips and nozzles as nicely as the assist of iMist’s experienced staff.
The UKAS accreditation of the FPA’s BS 8458 Annex C fireplace testing marks one other necessary milestone within the development of water-mist methods within the UK.
Alex Pollard, operations director of iMist, feedback: ‘For over seventy five years, the FPA has been at the forefront of fire security and we’re proud to have assisted them in achieving this respected third-party accreditation. It is an additional demonstration of the growing significance of high-pressure water-mist techniques in tackling the present challenges facing the fire-suppression sector. Not solely do they use considerably less water than traditional sprinkler techniques, they’re also easier and faster to install and, thereby, more price effective.’
As a half of its ongoing R&D product testing programme, iMist has also undertaken a series of stay hearth testing at the FPA’s UKAS accredited laboratory, which has increased the system’s applications, demonstrating that in addition to being installed within the cavity above the ceiling, the iMist system pipework can safely and effectively be installed below a plasterboard ceiling.
For the live fireplace checks, the iMist nozzle was fed by both flexible and stable pipework operating under a regular plasterboard ceiling. In every of the tests, the fuel load was ignited and the heat from the fireplace caused the bulb in the nozzle to burst, which activated the iMist high-pressure water-mist system, discharging the fantastic water-mist particles at high pressure for half-hour. During this time, the temperatures at predetermined heights in the check cell have been measured by thermocouples. At no level throughout any of the checks had been any of the Annex C temperature limits breached and all the fires have been successfully suppressed.
Timothy Andrews, iMist business growth director, added: ‘While hearth system pipework is normally put in within the cavity above a ceiling, in some properties, significantly in older tower blocks, there are frequent issues around the potential break-up of asbestos hidden in ceiling materials. pressure gauge show that the housing trade can now discover another much less disruptive and highly effective choice by putting in a water-mist system beneath the present ceiling. Given the growing need to retrospectively fit fire-suppression methods in order to meet the newest regulatory requirements and produce older housing inventory up to present standards, that is great information for both landlords and developers.’
For more info: imist.com
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