Light mobile plant fire suppression

Light mobile plant fire suppression systems

From tractors to forklifts, small mobile plant are essential to the operation of many businesses. These light machines can also be found indoors, in warehouses or production facilities, often surrounded by raw materials, finished goods, and other valuable assets.

Common causes of fires in machines such as forklifts include flammable materials (such as dust, debris, oil, and grease) coming into contact with very high-temperature components in the engine compartment and igniting. Electric forklifts also pose a risk of electrical fires.

In addition to machine damage, a fire igniting in a forklift can easily spread and ignite flammable stock materials and finished products stored in the surrounding area. In the worst-case scenario, small plant fire can cause injury to personnel operating the machine or working in the vicinity.

Systems built specifically for small plant

Several fire suppression systems in the market offer forklift protection. Some are pneumatic systems, which use pressurised tubing as a means for fire detection and agent distribution. However, these systems are unsuitable for forklift applications. With all the shocks and vibrations these machines are exposed to, damage to the tubing will result in a loss of pressure and discharging the system. This leads to high instances of false discharges, resulting in increased vehicle downtime and operational disruption.

The size of forklift trucks means they need a compact but efficient mobile plant fire suppression system, without compromising quality or reliability. 

Ardent automatic fire suppression systems for light mobile equipment use a Linear Heat Detection (LHD) cable, which eliminates the risk of false discharges due to loss of pressure. Our automatic systems detect and suppress forklift fires in a matter of seconds, ensuring 24/7 reliable protection for the forklift, facilities, and operators.

How our light mobile plant fire suppression systems work

1. Detects high temperatures, fast

Our fire suppression systems for small mobile plant use a Linear Heat Detection (LHD) cable routed around the identified fire hazards to rapidly detect a fire or high temperature condition. As the LHD cable does not require pressure to operate, it doesn’t suffer from false discharges which can arise due to loss of pressure in pneumatic systems. This makes electronic systems a safer and more reliable option for light mobile plant.

2. Activates the system
Once the LHD cable detects a fire, it sends a message to the Ardent Control Module to initiate the suppression agent discharge within a matter of seconds. A time delay can be set up if required, and the operator can also manually delay the discharge so they’re always in control of the machine.

3. Distributes the agent

Critically located to target all identified fire hazard areas in the machine (both inside and outside the engine compartment), a network of distribution hoses connects tanks storing the suppression agent to distribution nozzles. On system activation, the suppression agent travels through the distribution network and discharges through the nozzles to effectively suppress the fire.

Finding the perfect fire suppression agent

We recommend ABC dry chemical, also known as dry powder, as the suppression agent for small mobile plant. It offers excellent fire knock-down capabilities, with Ardent Dry Chemical  able to disperse widely, covering even the hardest-to-reach areas of an engine compartment.

Dry chemical can be used independently or in combination with a wet chemical agent. Wet chemical is recommended for environments with abundant combustible materials, as it helps prevent fire re-ignition. The wet chemical cools super-heated components, stopping combustible materials from re-igniting after the system has put out the fire.

How we deliver

At Ardent, we take care of every step of the process to ensure plant and personnel are protected against the risk of fire 24/7. From identifying fire hazards specific to individual sectors, equipment, and environments, to our rapid emergency responses, organisations can rest assured our light mobile plant fire suppression systems will deliver the highest level of protection a business requires.