The Last Word with FireDos
Iain Hoey
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Stuart Phythian, Regional Director at GmbH FireDos, discusses innovations in foam proportioning
Could you introduce FireDos and its role in the fire safety industry?
FireDos is a German company specialising in developing and producing high-quality foam proportioners and monitors for firefighting applications.
With three decades of experience, FireDos has established itself as an expert in enhancing the efficiency of fire extinguishing systems across various industries, including petrochemical, automotive, logistics, and municipal fire services.
Operating from its headquarters in Wölfersheim, Germany, supported by production facilities in Germany and Poland, and with regional sales and training facilities in Houston, USA & Abu Dhabi, UAE, FireDos serves a global clientele, ensuring safety and reliability in fire protection.
How has FireDos contributed to advancements in proportioning technology?
FireDos has introduced a purely mechanical system for foam concentrate proportioning that operates without external power sources.
This innovative approach utilises a water motor and piston pump to ensure precise and reliable foam agent proportioning into the extinguishing water.
The system can handle all types of foam concentrates, including highly viscous, alcohol-resistant, and fluorine-free agents, maintaining a constant proportioning rate across a wide operating range.
Additionally, FireDos proportioners allow cost-effective and eco-friendly testing of the proportioning rate without producing foam or premix, significantly reducing environmental impact and operational costs.
Recently FireDos has introduced a remote monitoring system for their proportioners, to allow customers to monitor their system.
Recording and analysing operating parameters allows functional assurance and the ability for predictive maintenance to reduce service cost.
What challenges does FireDos see in the fire protection industry?
One challenge is the transition to environmentally friendly, fluorine-free foam concentrates and the need for systems that can handle varying foam viscosities and comply with stringent environmental regulations.
FireDos addresses these challenges through its water-driven foam proportioning systems, unaffected by the generally increased viscosity of foam concentrates, ensuring consistent performance even with new, environmentally friendly foams.
The company’s commitment to sustainability is further demonstrated by its proportioners’ ability to conduct proportioning rate tests without generating foam, aligning with environmental compliance standards and reducing waste.
How does FireDos customise its solutions to cater to diverse client needs?
For industrial applications, stationary proportioners are integrated into fire extinguishing systems such as sprinkler or deluge systems, providing precise foam proportioning for facilities where flammable substances are produced, transported, or stored.
FireDos monitors are designed to propel water or foam over long distances, making them suitable for applications like firefighting on rescue and firefighting boats, ensuring effective fire suppression in maritime environments.
Portable proportioners offer maximum flexibility for varying firefighting scenarios, enabling municipal fire brigades to produce extinguishing foam or wetting agents as needed, adaptable to different emergency situations.
Beside installation in stationary extinguishing systems FireDos proportioners and monitors are available as trailer or pick-up mounted, to allow flexible use.
In a lot of cases these mobile units are used as backup systems in case the fixed installation is damaged, or additional firefighting capabilities are needed.
What are FireDos’ strategic objectives for the next five years?
Our aim is to solidify its position as a leader in sustainable firefighting solutions by focusing on innovation, environmental responsibility, and customer-centric product development.
The company plans to enhance its product offerings by expanding smart technologies, such as monitoring systems that allow for remote diagnostics and optimised maintenance processes, thereby reducing operational costs and improving system reliability.
Additionally, FireDos intends to expand its global presence, adapting to emerging trends and regulatory changes in the fire protection industry to meet the evolving needs of its clients worldwide.
