The challenge of the traditional approach to fire prevention

The traditional fire-protection models are well-founded and valid. However, they do not fully consider the fire statistics regarding the main causes of fires. The fatalities, financial losses, and injuries are still too high to being tolerated. The new concept of device-integrated fire protection (AMFE) aims to complement the existing approach and address the cause of more than a third of all fires.

An article about AMFE has been published in the renowned International Fire Protection magazine* in March 2020. Here on the AMFE.pro blog, we would like to accentuate the fundamental points discussed in the publication.

As little as 3 AAA batteries or 3.5 Watt is enough to start electric fires

The fire triangle explains the 3 factors needed to start a fire:

combustible material
oxygen
energy (heat)

The problem with the existing fire-prevention models

Existing fire-prevention models from around the world focus on 4 aspects of protection:

Structural fire protection, e.g. building materials
System-aided (technical) fire protection, e.g. alarm panels
Organizational fire protection, e.g. emergency procedures
Defensive fire protection, the first responders and firefighters

However, this approach overlooks the fire statistics regarding the origins of a majority of fires and it does not sufficiently protect from the dangers of fires.

AMFE is a valuable addition to the traditional fire-protection

The new concept of Automatic Miniature Fire Extinguishers (AMFE) aims to complement the existing approach by targeting the inherent fire risk from electronic and electric devices.

Cost-effective, stand-alone, thermally triggered Automatic Miniature Fire Extinguishers are developed and manufactured by company JOB Thermobulbs in Ahrensburg near Hamburg, Germany.

AMFE can be retrofitted easily into existing electrical equipment and systems, providing instant reliable device-integrated fire protection.

Source: IFS, Kiel 2002-2018

The latest fire statistics

More than 30% of all fires are started by electricity, electric products, and installations
The fire risk increased by 16% in 2019, compared to the previous year
Every 5 minutes there is a fire in a company
Every third fire situation in the industry causes assets damage of more than 500,000 Euros
Only 23% of all companies who have had a fire can fully resume their business operations
Over 40% of companies will have to completely shut down their business after a fire

The function and activation of an AMFE unit

The fire detection is carried out using the same activation principle as a sprinkler – with its VDS-approved thermos-glass ampoules. Due to the increasing heat in a device, in case of a fire the temperature-configurable thermo-ampoule bursts and opens the connected extinguishing cartridge without the need for an electrical signal and releases the approved extinguishing agent NOVEC (3M) into the device.

This highly efficient, gaseous extinguishing agent is non-toxic, non-conductive and residue-free after application – the starting fire is effectively extinguished immediately, directly at its source.
More about NOVEC

A variant with signal terminals (S-AMFE) can be used to monitor the extinguishing activation, which can then be used to interrupt the power supply into a device and to alert operating personnel.
More about S-AMFE

Another variant can be used in conjunction with smoke detectors, for example, to activate the extinguishing process before the thermal triggering point (the designated activation temperature) is reached (R-AMFE). However, it will always work redundantly through thermal activation.
More about R-AMFE

Reliability of device-integrated AMFE units

The effectiveness and reliability of the patented AMFE has not only been independently verified and confirmed by UL, TÜV and the German VDE but also carries a VdS certification. AMFE is trusted by manufacturers and users around the world to mitigate inherent fire risk in electric and electronic devices and installations.

The advantages of the device-integrated fire protection:

Enhanced safety for employees, customers, and the general public
Significant reduction of the length and severity of business interruptions after a fire
Minimizing the damage from electric fires to the surrounding vicinity
No additional damage from the suppression itself, limiting the financial impact of fire
Cost reduction by avoiding out-of-control large-scale fires emerging from inside an electric cabinet or machine

By implementing modern, reliable, device-integrated fire-protection solutions inside electric products and installations – with little economic effort – the results can be life and cost-saving.

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