Convergence challenges with TLX Fire & Security
- December 1, 2023
- 11:43 am
Iain Hoey
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Jason Busalacchi, Business Development Manager at TLX Fire and Security, discusses the implications of globalising standards
In a rapidly globalising world, standards are no longer restricted to specific regions but are becoming more internationally harmonised.
One of the sectors witnessing this convergence is the safety and technical domain, where standards set by entities like NFPA, UL, and FM in the US are now aligning more closely with those in Europe and the UK.
As manufacturers and companies adapt, what does this mean for product safety, efficiency, and the future of global trade?
IFSJ Editor Iain Hoey sat down with TLX’ Business Development Manager for the Fire and Security Division, Jason Busalacchi. to delve deeper into this transformation, while also gaining insight into their innovative Continuous Weight Monitoring Solutions and their plans for the coming year.
Can you set the scene for the globalisation of standards?
Over time, there has been a notable increase in the adoption of specific standards, particularly those used in the US, to regions like the Middle East, Europe, and various parts of the APAC region.
Advancements and technologies in safety that have emerged within the US market have gained favour in the fire suppression market globally.
This trend has influenced some European standards to align more closely with US standards.
Additionally, we’re observing a significant uptick in the adoption of UL-certified products in mainland China.
As time progresses, we see an expanding global footprint for our products with their usage becoming more prevalent in diverse regions around the world.
Has this impacted the way TLX Fire & Security operates?
The globalisation of standards has significantly influenced how we operate internationally.
With our facility in China, we’ve achieved a global reach for our product lines.
This capability has enabled us to supply our products to customers in Asia more efficiently.
As a result, many companies are coming to TLX to obtain products that meet safety and compliance standards across numerous regions.
Many of these companies hold certain approvals, but simple changes to specific components allow simplicity in attaining a broader spectrum of global approval and acceptability.
For TLX, the vision is to provide products that allow for fast implementation on a global scale to meet our customer’s vision for expanding their product portfolios.
What are the benefits of harmonised standards?
Having harmonised standards across regions like Europe, the UK, and the US significantly simplifies the product development process.
When standards are harmonised globally, it allows us to create a single technology that meets these universal standards, rather than having to develop multiple iterations of the same product to comply with different regional specifications.
This uniformity in standards leads to a faster manufacturing process, reduces development costs, and accelerates the time-to-market for new products.
For the companies that we supply, harmonised standards open up a broader market.
They can now develop and deploy technologies that are universally compliant, which is a substantial advantage.
By adopting these global standards, they can easily enter multiple markets without the need for extensive modifications or separate compliance processes for each region, boosting their market reach and enhancing the competitiveness of their products on a global scale.
Additionally, harmonised standards bring about a level of consistency in quality and safety across different regions.
This consistency is crucial in industries like ours, where reliability and compliance are vital.
It ensures that no matter where our products are used, they maintain a high standard of quality and meet the requisite safety regulations.
The globalisation of standards not only aids in reducing the complexity and cost of product development but also enhances market accessibility and ensures consistent quality and safety for our products worldwide.
It’s a win-win scenario for us and the diverse companies we work with, as it fosters a more efficient and globally integrated approach to product development and distribution.
Are there challenges in aligning to globalised standards?
The main challenge is in the nuances of different standards.
At TLX, we have developed technologies that are being adopted globally for their safety and security benefits.
However, we also encounter specific nuances in some standards that, in subtle ways, limit the applicability of our technologies in certain markets.
For instance, our supervision technology for fire suppression systems triggers an audible and visual alarm at the fire control panel whenever an actuation device is removed from the system.
This feature alerts maintenance personnel to reinstall the device promptly, ensuring the system remains active.
While this technology is widely accepted, there are standards requiring that an actuation device must exert an actuation force of 200% of the operating force required to open the system.
Under certain standards, our actuator is required to provide enough force to discharge the system for five hundred cycles without failure.
Under other standards, regardless of cycle testing, the 200% rule applies.
The disadvantage to our customer is that they will now need to purchase an oversized actuator that provides more force than their system requires, which inherently dictates a higher cost.
To address this, we have developed and implemented a scalable family of actuators to satisfy the broader market.
This approach ensures compliance with all relevant standards, even when they demand specifications that go beyond our typical product range.
It’s a delicate balancing act between adhering to diverse global standards and maintaining the efficiency and practicality of our technologies.
Do you believe this trend towards globalisation will continue?
Yes.
In the future, I see a convergence of the best practices from various standards communities.
These groups will likely engage in discussions to adopt what they consider the best technology for safety and security on a global scale.
For example, the adoption of certain safety technologies like actuation supervision, which was first introduced by NFPA, is now being implemented by EN and ISO.
This is a testament to this trend.
Can you tell us about your Continuous Weight Monitoring Solutions?
Our Continuous Weight Monitoring Solutions, which include both platform and suspended versions, are designed to detect leaks in the cylinders before they require decommissioning.
The core objective of these solutions is to offer a technology capable of detecting weight changes as small as 100 grams.
This level of sensitivity allows maintenance personnel to be alerted to any significant loss of content in the cylinder at an early stage, helping to avoid the costly and time-consuming process of decommissioning.
The development of these solutions was driven by the need for a more efficient and cost-effective method for the industry to detect faults in fire suppression systems.
Traditionally, decommissioning cylinders to address leaks is an expensive and lengthy process.
Our technology aims to identify issues at a much earlier and more manageable stage.
An integral part of our design was to enable these monitoring solutions to communicate with fire suppression control panels.
This capability allows the systems to relay fault notifications to remote locations.
As a result, active maintenance personnel can be informed in real time about potential issues, ensuring that any necessary repairs or maintenance can be scheduled promptly and efficiently.
This feature enhances the effectiveness and contributes to the overall safety and reliability of fire suppression systems.
How do the two systems differ in their applications or functionalities?
The Platform Weight-Monitoring System is primarily used for cylinders that weigh 500 kilograms or less.
Whereas the suspended version, which involves hanging a cylinder from a load cell, supports a significantly smaller load.
Each version of the system continuously monitors the cylinder’s weight within a resolution of 100 grams.
The platform system is more commonly seen in single cylinder configurations due to the larger cylinder sizes but can be used on multi-cylinder configurations as well.
The Suspended Weight-Monitoring System is often used in gaseous applications, particularly in large-scale projects involving 150-200 cylinders.
Each load cell is capable of supporting a cylinder weighing 230 kilograms or less.
This design is particularly advantageous for seamless cylinders, which do not include a liquid level indicator port for measuring content.
These ports are only present in welded cylinders.
With seamless cylinders, it’s crucial to monitor the system in a way that doesn’t interfere with the cylinder’s internal mechanisms, and the Suspended Weight-Monitoring System offers a solution for this specific requirement.
What industries will benefit from this technology?
The technology is immensely valuable in any context where the precise monitoring of cylinder content is critical.
This includes applications like CO2 monitoring in restaurants, which could greatly benefit from such precise monitoring.
Essentially, it is a versatile product that can be adapted to various industries where maintaining the integrity and proper functioning of cylinder systems is of paramount importance.
What new developments and goals can we expect from TLX Fire & Security as we approach 2024?
In terms of product development, TLX Fire & Security is excited to complete our supervised water valve, specifically a pilot-operated valve for pre-action and deluge systems.
This will extend our supervision technology to the sprinkler industry.
Additionally, we’re finalising our electric liquid level indicator, a complement to our weight monitoring solutions for welded cylinders.
Looking towards 2024, our vision is shaped by the globalisation of standards and the expansion of our actuator family.
We anticipate further growth, particularly in our larger actuation styles, as the obsolescence of NOVEC prompts a shift to alternative technologies.
This shift is likely to increase the demand for products suited to higher-pressure systems.
We’re also focusing on the growth of our explosion-proof and ATEX actuators for hazardous locations.
Geographically, our expansion efforts will be concentrated on Europe, the APAC regions, and Mainland China, as these areas increasingly adopt higher quality standards for fire protection.
Overall, 2024 promises to be a year of significant development and expansion for TLX Fire & Security.
