The prestigious International Fire Protection journal* has published an article about AMFE in June 2019, and here on the AMFE.pro blog, we review some of the fundamental points discussed in the publication.

Fires that have started in electric devices develop quickly and cause tragic damage to assets and people.

The latest fire statistics

• Every 5 minutes there is a fire somewhere in a business
• Every third fire in Germany’s industry causes property damage of more than 500,000 Euros
• Only 23% of all companies affected by a fire can completely resume their business
• More than 40% of companies ultimately cease trading completely as a direct result of a fire
• The risk of fires has increased significantly by 16% in 2018, compared to the previous year
• More than 30% of all fires in Germany are caused by electronic devices

By looking at the above-mentioned statistics, it becomes obvious that in addition to all the existing regulations and legally required minimum of the fire protection, it might be advisable to opt for device-integrated fire protection, which allows fire to be rapidly detected and extinguished where it starts (typically inside a device), while such a fire is still at an early stage.

AMFE fire extinguishers + 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid

In the publication of the International Fire Protection journal, Rajko Eichhorn (Head of Business Development and Product Manager at JOB Thermobulbs GmbH) explains the cost-effective approach of stand-alone, thermally triggered automatic miniature fire extinguishing (AMFE) units, developed and manufactured by JOB in Ahrensburg near Hamburg (Germany).

AMFE fire extinguishers can be retrofitted easily into existing electrical equipment and systems, providing instant reliable device-integrated fire protection. 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 and releases the approved extinguishing agent 3M™ Novec™. 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.

The advantages of device-integrated fire protection

AMFE is not meant to replace large-scale extinguishing systems, but device-integrated fire protection complements the traditional fire protection concepts and helps to make electrical devices, appliances, and systems even safer. The innovative device-integrated fire protection approach with AMFE provides many advantages:

• Reduced risk of business interruption (accepted by insurance companies)
• Enhanced protection for employees, customers, and the general public
• Minimizing possible damage in the event of a fire to the interior of the equipment in which AMFE is installed
• Acceleration of approval processes or meeting approval criteria easier and more cost-effective
• Reduction of follow-up costs by avoiding the triggering of other, larger extinguishing or sprinkler systems (avoiding water damage or extinguishing agent replacement costs)

*International Fire Protection journal is the first choice read for fire safety professionals. Written by industry experts, this international journal is dedicated to fire safety, prevention and protection covering every aspect of the passive and active fire protection market.