SAFETY
I-CAT fire solutions
I-CAT’s Fire Division hosts monthly fire information sessions, combined with live fire
demonstrations, at the South African Emergency Care fire-training facility at Modderfontein.
I-CAT demonstrated its fully mechanical system for transformers on a small
demonstration unit.
I-CAT ROTO-FIRE-PAC
The ROTO-FIRE-PAC
backpack extinguishing
system makes use of patented
T-Rotor misting technology
to extinguish all classes of
fires using foam mist as the
agent. The system creates a fine
atomised mist charged with
kinetic energy to penetrate
the heat radiation caused by a
fire. The gradual cooling does
not cause thermal shock to the
equipment, and 0.5% Telesolv
AFFF ‘green’ foaming agent is
added to the system to prevent
28 _ QUARRY SA | JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2018
any B class fire from spreading
when fuel or hydraulic lines
rupture.
With traditional water
jet systems, only about 5%
of the water directed at the
fire effectively applies to
extinguishing the fire. The
remaining 95% floods the
surroundings, causing post-
fire damage. Due to its vast
evaporation surface, and
depending on the dispersion
degree, T-Rotor misting
technology ensures that 100% of
the water evaporates in the fire.
South African environmental
management company I-CAT recently
established the I-CAT Fire Solutions
division to offer a range of innovative fire
suppression technologies and solutions to
the industrial and mining sectors.
I-CAT’s Blaze Buster is a rapid-
response, self-contained foam mist system
comprising four 230ℓ self-contained and
premixed foam cylinders with a large
cannon and a retractable mist hose reel.
The cannon has a discharge range of about
40m, and the hose reel is fitted with an
additional gun that is used in conjunction
with the cannon, enabling two fire-fighters
to combat a fire simultaneously, increasing
the effectiveness of the system dramatically.
A total of 600ℓ of water and a continuous
foam discharge duration of up to three
minutes means its capacity is comparable
to that of three commercial 8 500ℓ fire
engines. The system weighs less than a
tonne and can be fitted to a single or club/
supercab pick-up or trailer.
“The main advantage of the system
is that diesel engine, pumps, or any
external water supply are not required,”
Andro Gibhard explains. The foam unit
also doesn’t require any start-up time,
which means it is primed and ready for
immediate deployment. Once used, the
Blaze Buster can be reinstated on site
rapidly by simply refilling the cylinders
with the necessary quantity of water, using
the measuring equipment that is included,
and adding a 1% foam additive, also
included. It is then repressurised within
minutes with nitrogen.
The ROTO-FIRE-PAC is effective in extinguishing fires
in solid substances; plastics; light, medium and heavy oil
fractions; polar liquids; and edible oil.
Technical specifications
Extinguishing agent Foam mist (water)
Extinguishing agent weight 13kg
Working medium Nitrogen
Working pressure 15 bars at 20°C
Stream / mist range Up to 11m
Working time Up to 80 seconds
Working temperature 5°C to 60°C
Storage temperature 5°C to 60°C
Total weight 23.5kg