Modern Mining October 2018

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Electra Mining of AFFF – Aqueous Film Forming Foam. This foam coats organic materials and fuels with a thin layer of foam, preventing its contact with oxygen and suppressing its combustion. “The Fogmaker system attacks all three com- ponents of the ‘fire triangle’ – oxygen, heat and fuel,” said Russell. “We call this Fogmaker’s ‘triple action’ effect.” The patented piston accumulator, which contains the extinguishing agent under pres- sure, allows for a complete discharge regardless of the orientation of the piston accumulator, leading to a versatile installation footprint either vertically or horizontally. This, together with a compact, neat design, enables the system to be fitted in confined, internal compartments and out-of-the-way spaces offering protection against falling trees and rocks. By placing the accumulators horizontally, the centre of gravity is lowered and strain on brackets is reduced, thus reducing system maintenance. Equipped with automatic hydro-pneumatic fire detection, which is totally independent of any power source, both the detection and sup- pression work even when the electricity supply is disconnected. As there is no powder or mess to clean-up after actuation, resetting of the discharged Fogmaker suppression system is said to be simpler, easier, faster and more effective than is the case with powder or foam suppression systems. “After a discharge, it’s a simple matter of replacing the automatic detection tube and nozzles, and refilling the piston accumulator, thus keeping costs and downtime to the abso- lute minimum for the end-user,” said Russell. Advantages of the Fogmaker system include the fact that it is a clean technology, its low maintenance and a total lifespan cost that is significantly lower than competitor systems. According to Russell, the main challenge facing Fogmaker South Africa is to ‘educate’ the market about Fogmaker and the advantages of high pressure water mist. “Traditional systems still dominate in South Africa, simply because there wasn’t an alternative until we entered the market three years ago with Fogmaker. What we experience, however, is that once compa- nies test out our systems, they are extremely impressed. Certainly, we are increasing our market share in mining and we are aware of two mining houses that have already decided to adopt water mist technology.” The Fogmaker fire suppression system is

This fire in an LHD on the Fogmaker stand at Electra Mining was extinguished within seconds.

Above and below: Before and after shots from a live demonstration at Electra Mining show- ing the suppression of a fire by Fogmaker.

designed and manufactured in Sweden in accor- dance with ISO 9001 and ISO 14001 standards and has obtained many global approvals, includ- ing Underwriters Laboratories (UL) in the USA, the Swedish Fire Defence Association’s SBF 127 and 128 and Australia’s AS 5062 standard. Fogmaker South Africa is part of the GiGi Investments Group, which also includes Integrated Pump Technology, Integrated Pump Rental, Integrated Air Solutions and Integrated Ship Handling. It is based in Boksburg, Gauteng. Photos by Arthur Tassell

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October 2018  MODERN MINING  39