High-performance aerosol extinguishing systems from Wetrax
Lightning-fast, reliable and versatile — Wetrax aerosol extinguishing systems with compact design and easy maintenance are the minimally invasive fire protection solution for demanding areas of application.
PFAS free
Environmentally friendly extinguishing agent
Minimally invasive
Easy integration and low maintenance
Over-the-Air
Remote updates and troubleshooting
How it works
Find out how our innovative aerosol extinguishing systems detect and combat fires precisely and efficiently in an emergency.
For example, we will demonstrate the triggering process in the event of a fire using a single-zone extinguishing system with an integrated fire alarm and extinguishing control center (BMZ/EST), which is installed in a room with a double smoke suction system.
Smoke suction system detects flue gases and triggers a pre-alarm.
When a fire is confirmed by the second sensor, the control center activates the extinguishing system.
Safety devices are controlled: signaling devices activated and space secured.
After a short delay to check false alarms, extinguishing generators release the extinguishing agent.
Optional: Manual interruption of the extinguishing process in the event of a false alarm or activation of the aerosol extinguishing system if required.
The system reports “Extinguishing system triggered” to the higher-level fire alarm system.
In summary, there are two different methods for activating the fire extinguishing system.
The fire alarm control panel (BMZ) and the single signal control center (EST) are installed as independent units. While BMZ carries out fire detection with a two-message dependency, communication and activation of the extinguishing system takes place via the standard Extinguish interface (SST), the design of which is specified in the VdS 2496 guidelines.
The fire alarm control panel (BMZ) and the single signal control center (EST) are designed as a recognized overall system. The BMZ not only reports the fire, taking into account the dual alarm dependency, but also controls the triggering of the aerosol extinguishing system internally via EST, activates the alarm devices and controls the necessary controls in the event of a fire.
Aerosol as an extinguishing agent
Aerosol extinguishing systems use a fine distribution of gases and solid or liquid particles to effectively combat fires. The extinguishing agent, a special aerosol, is produced by the controlled combustion of a solid in the generators, which produces an aerosol from potassium carbonate particles. With a size of around one micrometer, these particles are particularly fine.
At the heart of this aerosol is potassium hydrogen carbonate, which begins to break down at around 50 degrees Celsius and turn into water and carbon dioxide, leaving behind pure potassium carbonate. This material is known for its safety and is even approved as a food additive E501.
A significant advantage of this technology is that the aerosol extinguishing systems used completely free from PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluoroalkyl substances), which makes them an environmentally friendly option in fire protection.
What are the characteristics of an aerosol extinguishing system?
Aerosol extinguishing systems protect people, property and fire-hazardous materials in all areas of the company. The extinguishing agent used is characterized by rapid, homogeneous distribution in the area to be protected, so that even hidden sources of fire can be extinguished quickly and reliably.
The extinguishing agent itself is not electrically conductive and has an excellent service life in the extinguishing area to be protected. The extinguishing generators are not under pressure and can easily be placed in the objects and rooms to be protected.
How are aerosol extinguishing systems constructed?
Basically, an aerosol extinguishing system consists of the extinguishing devices themselves, a fire detector suitable for the extinguishing area and, if appropriate, an electrical control device (EST) in the form of an extinguishing control center.
The extinguishing devices themselves are installed in the area to be protected. There is no need to provide appropriate rooms for storing bottle batteries or the time-consuming installation of separate pipes in the rooms to be protected.
How are fires noticed?
Quick and reliable fire detection is just as important as the extinguishing medium itself. In practice, this is as varied as the areas to be protected themselves. It can range from automatic fire detectors such as smoke detectors or smoke suction systems, to flame detectors and linear heat detectors. To control room extinguishing systems, detection is always selected as a function of two messages.
This is how aerosol extinguishing systems protect entire rooms
To protect entire rooms, in addition to the extinguishing devices and detection, appropriate control technology is also used in the form of an electrical control device that manages the extinguishing area and other components. Reference should be made here to optical-acoustic alarm devices, manual triggering devices and system disconnectors.
The electrical control device can also be controlled via the building-internal fire alarm control panel (BMZ). The fire control center then also controls other alarm devices and operational technology controls associated with the deletion (e.g. fire dampers, equipment shutdown, ventilation systems, etc.)
How it works: This is how an aerosol extinguishing system extinguishes
An aerosol is a mixture of gas and solid and/or liquid suspended particles. The combustion of the solid contained in the aerosol generators produces an aerosol of solid and gaseous particles, consisting of potassium carbonates with a particle size of approximately 1 μm.
The main constituent of the aerosol is potassium hydrogen carbonate, which decomposes very quickly at a temperature of around 50 °C, releasing water and carbon dioxide. This produces potassium carbonate. Physiologically speaking, potassium carbonate is considered harmless; it is also found in foods as an E501 additive.
How aerosol extinguishing systems break the combustion triangle and effectively extinguish fires
The extinguishing process takes place by intervening in the combustion triangle. This always consists of the fuel itself, oxygen and ignition energy (heat). The aerosol engages in the chemical chain reaction of this burning process and interrupts it.
As a result of the conversion of potassium hydrogen carbonate to potassium carbonate, oxidants are chemically removed from the combustion process. Without oxidation, no fire can take place. This reaction takes place endothermically, which is why additional heat energy is removed from the fire. The fire is therefore extinguished in two ways. This explains the extremely high quantitative effectiveness of the aerosol extinguishing agent. The oxygen content of the ambient air is not reduced.
Efficient and environmentally friendly fire protection technology
For most applications, therefore, only approx. 73 g of extinguishing agent are required per cubic meter of room volume to be protected. We therefore do not need any external storage to store our extinguishing agent and no need to install complex pipes, maintenance-intensive pressure vessels or the like. Our aerosol generators are extremely compact and only require electrical control. A simple and space-saving retrofit is usually easily possible.
The extinguishing agent itself is 100% environmentally friendly, produces no environmentally hazardous by-products and is absolutely climate-friendly.
Fire protection solutions
Discover the versatile fire protection offerings from Wetrax GmbH, tailored for different areas, from storage lifts and vehicles to archives - we provide customized solutions that meet your exact requirements.
