NetVu’s CEO, Mike Newton, shares insights on minimising fire risks in recycling plants through video analytics and real-time verification systems

Sadly, we have seen too many times, the devastation caused by fires in recycling and waste management plants across the country.

Whether started by accident or through a deliberate act, the consequences are far reaching.

The key to minimising the impact of these incidents is prompt fire detection, because once the fire becomes established, it may be too late, and the incident quickly gather momentum.

Every second counts.

Fire detection at inception

Waste recycling facilities have become pivotal in environmental sustainability, processing, and repurposing of the materials that are generated and consigned to the rubbish bin.

It is well understood that these environments are susceptible to significant fire risks because of the highly combustible nature of the materials they handle day in, day out, with the presence of machinery, electrical equipment, and other potential ignition sources adding to the risk.

This has been magnified in recent years by the increasing use of lithium batteries in so many consumer goods.

Fires in waste management and recycling facilities can lead to substantial financial losses, cause environmental damage, and ultimately endanger lives.

Protecting against these risks is vital, and as a result, our team at NetVu has developed FireVu, a video detection and visual verification solution designed to provide early warning and rapid response to fire incidents.

The system uses advanced video analytics to detect smoke, flames, and heat at inception.

Using FireVu’s real-time verification, staff and emergency services can quickly assess an incident, make informed decisions, take appropriate action, and trigger suppression systems.

The importance of speed in fire detection and response

Rapid identification and prompt action can drastically reduce the cost of damage and prevent small fires from escalating into a major incident.

It doesn’t take long for a blaze to get out of control, and can take days to be extinguished, also putting substantial pressure on the resources of the emergency services.

For example, an incident in 2013 at a facility in Bredbury in the north west of England, was reported to involve the combustion of large bales of recyclable materials.

The fire took hold very quickly, and the emergency services were tackling the blaze for several days after it started.

The impact was far reaching, also causing major disruption to the local area including residents, and the ash and smoke from the fire was suspected to reach as far as Leeds, a city more than 50 miles away from the site.

Immediate reporting and user feedback

FireVu has established a significant track record in not only providing accurate fire detection, but also allowing for rapid verification and action.

It is the seconds saved at the stage of verification that has the most impact, exponentially minimising the scale of an incident and the potential losses.

In FireVu, we have achieved this through using a combination of Video Flame Detection (VFD) and Video Smoke Detection (VSD) technology, offering real-time alerts and delivering visual feedback to users.

The system identifies the source of a fire on screen, allowing operators to verify the incident rapidly and take any necessary action.

The ability to remotely access and review incidents from any location is another feature of the functionality of FireVu, allowing operators to monitor and manage fire risks even when there are no personnel on-site.

Benefits of immediate reporting

Immediate reporting and user feedback are crucial for several reasons:

1. By pinpointing the exact location of a fire, FireVu’s system enables operators to verify the incident quickly.
2. This rapid verification process is essential for distinguishing between real fires and false alarms, ensuring that resources are deployed efficiently.
3. With real-time alerts and visual feedback, operators can initiate a prompt response to the detected fire.
4. This timely action can prevent the fire from spreading and causing extensive damage, reducing the overall impact of the incident.
5. Immediate reporting enhances the safety of people working in recycling facilities.
6. By providing real-time information about the location and severity of the fire, FireVu enables staff to take appropriate safety measures and evacuate if necessary.

The challenge of fast detection and rejecting false positives

One of the biggest challenges in fire detection is distinguishing a real incident from a false positive.

False alarms can be costly and disruptive, leading to unnecessary shutdowns.

FireVu addresses this challenge with its unique flame, heat, and smoke detection system, which includes:

1. The measurement of Black Body Emitter signatures which arise from burning hydrocarbons – i.e. soot glowing creating the yellow and red flame characteristics.
2. Correlating these colours with absolute intensity, and applying physical laws, allows the system to make fast, reliable alerts.
3. Thermal sensors further reduce false alarms by verifying the heat source, and in addition detecting heat build-up before flames are visible, including identifying fires that are growing beneath the surface.
4. This early detection capability is particularly valuable in recycling facilities, where fires can smoulder for extended periods before any flames are visible.
5. These sensors also help to distinguish false positives such as sunlight bouncing off a puddle, or a wet plastic bag blowing in the wind.
6. We have also introduced powerful thermal profile algorithms to measure small changes or differences in specific circumstances.
7. Finally, FireVu also uses a visual smoke detection algorithm, providing advanced early warning, even if a fire has started outside of the field of view and the smoke may be spreading to other areas.

Waste management and recycling facilities must prioritise fire safety to protect their operations, personnel, their local communities, and the environment.

Implementing advanced fire detection systems is essential for achieving this goal.

By addressing the unique risks and challenges associated with fire detection in these types of environments, FireVu’s technology ensures that these facilities can continue to operate safely and efficiently, contributing to a more sustainable future.

Case Study

NetVu and Fire Shield have come together to forge a powerful strategic partnership to deliver rapid fire detection, verification, and suppression.

The agreement creates a comprehensive solution that brings together the rapid fire detection and verification capabilities of FireVu with Fire Shield’s systems designed to detect and automatically deploy extinguishing agents, including water, foam, or gas, to suppress the fire.

The partnership provides the ultimate automatic detection and suppression solution for the challenges of the waste and recycling, waste to energy industries, and other similar environments.

The system also allows detailed incident review through footage retrieved from NetVu video detectors, enabling a thorough analysis of the fire’s origin, behaviour, and effectiveness of the suppression response.

This comprehensive approach not only addresses the understanding of past incidents, but also aids in developing future mitigation strategies.

For more information visit www.firevu.com. Meet the team at RWN on 11-12 September on the Fire Shield Stand (No. CT-F212) and Recycling Expo on 15-16 October (Stand T40).

This article was originally published in the September 2024 issue of International Fire & Safety Journal. To read your FREE digital copy, click here.