Midland Fire delivers cutting edge Jactone automatic fire suppression systems at Aston University

As the official fire safety contractor for Aston University, Midland Fire were recently presented with a new challenge: to install automatic fire suppression systems in fume cupboards in the uni’s new state of the art laboratory.

Our first port of call? Jactone, one of the UK’s leading fire suppression equipment manufacturers. Innovators in the world of fire safety technology, Jactone produces PAFSS, an automatic fire suppression system that works fast to deal with fires at the source.

At Midland Fire, we work closely with Jactone to ensure our engineers are always up to date with the latest products and innovations, allowing us to consistently deliver the highest standard of service to our clients. We can proudly say that Midland Fire is an authorised and registered installer of all PAFSS systems.

“The project at Aston University has reinforced our engineers’ expertise in installing and maintaining Jactone’s advanced fire suppression systems. Our strong partnership with Jactone ensures we stay well-equipped to handle projects with the latest products and support.”

Matt Nicholls, Midland Fire

Why Jactone?

• Experts in the field

The team at Jactone are passionate about what they do, and they have an in-depth knowledge of the products they have developed.

• Market leaders

The company prioritises product development, ensuring products always adhere to certification, legislation and market changes.

• Local manufacturing

Jactone’s automatic fire suppression systems are manufactured in a purpose-built factory in the heart of the West Midlands.

• Fully certified, quality products

Products are fully compliant to the relevant safety specs, and components are engineered to a superior standard, using only the best materials.

Installing automatic fire suppression systems in Aston University labs

The problem

As is common in educational settings, Aston University is home to multiple fume cupboards. Providing a safe working environment for both students and staff is paramount at the university, and fume cupboards pose a significant fire risk due to their enclosed nature, making flames hard to spot until it’s too late. Experiments using flammable gas and materials are often left running unmanned in the cupboards for prolonged periods of time, making the university’s laboratories extremely high-risk areas.

Additionally, multiple cupboards are often installed in close proximity to one another, which increases the risk of a fire spreading. An emergency fire situation could mean lost research, wasted experiments and damaged equipment – which can be costly – as well as significant danger to life.

The solution

We installed automatic fire suppression systems across multiple types of fume cupboards throughout the university. Working closely with Jactone, we chose their PAFSS (Pneumatically Actuated Fire Suppression Systems) C02 & powder systems – specialist safety equipment capable of detecting and extinguishing a fire within a fume cupboard before it has the chance to develop and spread.

Our team collaborated with the client throughout the project to ensure all their needs were met and the systems provided the most effective protection possible. We also installed pressure gauges in visible places for monthly inspections, as well as making the installations easily accessible for ease of future preventative maintenance.

The challenges

As this was part of a larger refurbishment project at the uni, our team at Midland Fire had to be flexible and work around other service providers to make sure we completed the work within the given time frame.

This was a “design and build” project for our team, meaning that we planned the layouts of the fume cupboards with preliminary drawings, and each cupboard was built on site. The bespoke nature of each installation meant that we sometimes had to adapt the original design and layout to ensure the fume cupboards and their fire suppression systems could be installed correctly.

Any changes to the planned install were clearly communicated to the client for approval, and our team showed great versatility and an in-depth understanding of the systems in adapting to these challenges.

Ongoing support

Following the installation of the new automatic fire suppression systems, Aston Uni has entered into a PPM (Planned Preventative Maintenance) contract with Midland Fire. This includes a full service 12 months after the point of commissioning, as well as regular scheduled upkeep of the systems in order to extend their lifespan. Not only does a PPM contract reduce long term costs, it also keeps the systems in good working order for increased safety, and reduces the disruption caused by potential reactive maintenance.

The benefits of PAFSS

Jactone PAFSS fire suppression systems are innovative self-activating systems designed for the rapid detection and extinguishing of fires in enclosed spaces.

Flexible detection tubing is installed throughout the risk area, acting as both a linear heat and flame detector. The tubing is pressurised by gas within the system, and if heat is detected the tube ruptures at the hot spot and an extinguishing agent is discharged via pipework and nozzles aimed at the problem area. This in turn sends an electronic signal to the main fire alarm system indicating that there’s been an activation.

The automated nature of PAFSS means that there’s no need for an external power supply to activate the fire extinguishing system, and staff don’t need to put themselves in danger attempting to tackle the fire themselves.

Other benefits include:

• Easy installation on both new and existing equipment.

• Fully automatic from initial detection through to suppressing a fire.

• Premium reliability with tubing that’s unaffected by dirt, dust or oil.

• Early intervention to prevent the spread of fires.

• System monitoring allowing for remote management and control.

• Top quality components expertly engineered using stainless steel.

Looking for fire suppression system installation in Birmingham?

We provide fire risk assessment and fire safety solution in Birmingham city centre as well as the surrounding towns and villages in the West Midlands area.

At Midland Fire, we’ll work with you to plan and deliver the optimum fire safety solution for your premises, including ongoing maintenance, support, and fire safety training. At Midland Fire WE PROTECT.

For more information and a free consultation contact Midland Fire Security Services Ltd.