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ECONAQUA
EconAqua
Water mist sprinkler systems
INNOVATION Efficient building protection H
The EconAqua system uses innovative low-pressure water mist technology to
offer a very efficient way of fire-fighting in office buildings and in hotels, in
underground car parks, and in buildings with similar fire hazards. People,
assets, and the environment are thus safely protected around the clock.
Furthermore, the installation of a EconAqua system may help to meet legal
requirements for instance those involved when applying for a building permit.
Fire insurers have also recognized the effective fire protection provided by
EconAqua and may grant premium discounts.
EconAqua uses up to 85 % less water than a EconAqua water mist sprinkler systems can also
classic sprinkler system. This level of efficiency is be used without the need for costly trace heating
otherwise only achieved with high-pressure water when areas which are subject to frost are to be
mist systems that typically work with pressures protected, such as car parks – EconAqua, unlike
in the range of 40 to 120 bar. With EconAqua, other water mist systems, enables dry pipe
a system pressure of 16 bar is sufficient. Due installations in the same way as with classic
to the very low amount of water used, potential sprinkler systems. These are filled with
water damage is reduced to a minimum. compressed air or nitrogen instead of water
during standby so as to avoid any frost damage.
Moreover, the EconAqua pump room can
generally be much smaller than a classic sprinkler Since EconAqua is a low-pressure system, it can
pump room. This not only saves space but also be combined both with classic sprinkler and
construction costs as well. The use of pipes with hydrant systems, and can therefore often use an
much smaller diameters leads to substantial space existing water supply. It can also be connected to
savings along the pipe routes, particularly in the fire brigade supply for additional backup, e.g.
suspended ceilings. Many existing buildings which in the event of power failure to the pumps.
could not be fitted with a fire suppression system
due to a lack of space can now be retrofitted, The outstanding suitability of EconAqua has been
thanks to EconAqua. documented through extensive fire testing carried
out under realistic conditions in mock-ups of
original buildings. The EconAqua system is
approved by the German VdS.
In the event of a fire, only the sprinklers lo- The right water mist sprinkler
cated in the immediate vicinity of the fire are for every occasion
activated. Thus the fire is fought immediately
while using a low volume of finely sprayed Standard water mist sprinklers EconAqua
water. The surrounding sprinklers remain EconAqua standard sprinklers type “P” (pen-
closed. dant) and “U” (upright) are fitted to the ceil-
ing. The sprinklers are available as standard
During the development of the EconAqua in brass, chrome-plated, and stainless steel.
water mist sprinklers, the screening method
was extensively used. The result is a range Horizontal water mist sprinklers EconAqua
of special sprinklers which benefit from the EconAqua sprinklers type “WWH” are installed
physical advantages of a water mist spectrum horizontally into the wall, especially in rooms
at an operating pressure of as low as 5 bar. where sprinkler pipes cannot be laid along the
ceiling. The sprinklers are chrome-plated as
EconAqua water mist sprinklers are sealed standard.
by a fast-response glass bulb (RTI < 50) and
therefore react extremely quickly to heat Undercover water mist sprinklers EconAqua
from a fire. The operating temperature can EconAqua Undercover sprinklers type “CCP”
be adapted to the local conditions. The or “RP” integrate fire protection harmoniously
protected area of the EconAqua water mist and virtually invisibly into the ceiling. The
sprinklers is up to 16 m2, which is signifi- “CCP” (concealed) design is available as stan-
cantly larger than the typical coverage of dard with a chrome or white fine mesh cover.
classic sprinklers. The ”RP” (recessed) design has no cover.
In its design and function, the EconAqua system Section valve sets
is similar to a classic sprinkler system. The system Every section is allocated an EconAqua valve set.
may be subdivided into one or more sections, the In the event of a fire, i.e. after a sprinkler release,
corresponding section valve sets, and the the pressure in the pipework of the affected
EconAqua pump room. section drops to a level such that the associated
valve set is tripped and the fire-fighting process is
Sections started. At the same time a signal is sent to the
Pipework with EconAqua water mist sprinklers fire detection control panel, in order to transmit
run through the rooms to be protected. The an alarm and to better localize the fire.
nominal pipe diameters used in these areas
mainly lie between DN20 and DN40 and are
much smaller than those used in classic sprinkler
pipework. In standby conditions the pipework in
the sections is filled with pressurized water (wet
Wet pipe system for frost-protected rooms
system for frost-proof rooms) or with compressed
air or nitrogen (dry system for rooms subject to
frost hazard). In the event of a fire, the water
mist sprinklers located in the immediate vicinity
of the fire activate.
Sections
EconAqua section
EconAqua
section valve
valve sets
set wet
EconAqua pump room
EconAqua
section valve
set dry
Alerting
Fire detection and control panel
device
Test line for pump
Acoustic
alarm
EconAqua
master Pump
pump control cabinet
Compressor-
EconAqua unit
jockey pump
APPLICATION
A class of its own
Typical applications
Government buildings
Railway stations
Banks
Libraries
Office and administration buildings
Hotels
Churches
Hospitals, senior citizen’s homes,
and other care facilities
Multi-story car parks
Restaurants
Schools, universities, and other
educational establishments
Penal institutions and approved schools
Underground car parks
Hostels and apartment houses
OPTIMAL
EconAqua – the optimal solution
Wherever a EconAqua water mist sprinkler alternative solutions for a certain application is
system can be used, it is generally the best the total cost of the equipment. Besides the
solution, since EconAqua combines the direct costs for the installation of the system this
advantages of a sprinkler system with those of a also includes the cost of constructing the pump
high-pressure water mist system. One important room, costs for the water and electricity supply,
criterion to be considered in evaluating the and the maintenance costs.
Example:
EconAqua saves on construction costs
The use of EconAqua can lead to a pump room which is around 12.5 m2 smaller than the one for a classic
sprinkler system. Based on average building costs of € 1,930/m² of gross building surface area, the reduced space
requirements alone lead to construction cost savings of more than € 24,000.
*Source: German BKI 2012, relating to hospitals in Germany
Room size 16 m2
Up to 85% less water used – water Significantly lower costs for installing
damage is hereby reduced to a minimum. the equipment by using low-pressure
components.
Substantial space savings along the pipe
routes, particularly in suspended ceilings, EconAqua systems allow use of galvanized
thanks to the smaller pipe diameters. pipes, plastic pipes, or pipes cast into
concrete.
Significantly lower space requirement for
water supply, since EconAqua pump EconAqua can be combined with both
rooms can be much smaller than classic classic sprinkler and hydrant systems.
sprinkler pump rooms.
EconAqua can be fed by a fire brigade
EconAqua water mist sprinklers can gen- supply – an additional backup, e.g. in
erally offer significantly greater coverage the event of power failure.
than classic sprinklers.
Lower one-off and recurring costs for
Lower one-off and recurring costs for connection to the electricity supply owing
connection to the water and electricity to reduced pump power demand.
supply owing to reduced water
consumption and pump power demand. EconAqua systems can also be used as
dry pipe systems without trace heating
Ideal for retrofits in existing buildings. in areas subject to frost hazard.
L5.2.1/1114/en • PB05We_04
ProCon PC-C systems use innovative low ProCon PC-C systems operate with up to 60% less water
compared to classic deluge systems. The system's water supply
pressure water mist technology that offers and pipe network can be made smaller accordingly. This saves
particularly efficient firefighting for cable not only cost but also space – a big advantage particularly
when retrofitting in existing buildings. ProCon PC-C systems
ducts and cable distribution rooms. People, are based on low pressure water mist technology which not
only allows the use of cost-efficient system components but
assets and the environment are protected
also increases the potential for other cost and space savings.
around the clock, considerable investments Low pressure water mist systems can also be combined with
classic sprinkler, deluge and hydrant systems all sharing an
are protected and long and expensive existing water supply.
interruptions in operation avoided.
ProCon PC-C extinguishing nozzles create a spectrum of
different drop sizes. This ensures efficient firefighting even
In the event of fire the water is finely distributed via if there are inhibiting factors such as thermal currents or air
ProCon PC-C extinguishing nozzles. The result is a larger movement.
total surface of the water, allowing it to absorb heat and to
evaporate more quickly. The ProCon PC-C system creates fine The cooling effect, which reflects heat radiation and has the
droplets thus increasing the contact area for heat transfer and ability to bind smoke gases of a ProCon PC-C low pressure
thereby optimising the cooling effect of the water. In addition water mist system, also provide excellent personal protection
- due to rapid vaporisation of the small water droplets within in the event of fire.
the location of the flame - a large amount of steam is produced,
which prevents the oxygen from reaching the fire.
Simply safe
Simple design and operation allows the system and ProCon PC-C systems can be designed both as a single-
the contractor to focus on performance. The ProCon zone system for the protection of one extinguishing zone
PC-C system resembles a classic deluge system which and as a multi-zone system for the protection of two or
more extinguishing zones with just one water supply. Each
can be sub-divided into one or more extinguishing
extinguishing zone is assigned a deluge valve set which in the
zones, each controlled by a fire detection system event of fire is triggered by the fire detection and extinguishing
connected to the deluge valve. control technology and releases the flow of water only in the
affected extinguishing zone. The more extinguishing zones
there are, the more targeted the firefighting at the source of
Extinguishing zones and zone partitioning the fire and the less water needs to be used.
In the extinguishing zones, ProCon PC-C nozzles are aimed ProCon PC-C systems can use standard galvanised pipes so
at the cables to be protected. In the event of fire the water is expensive speciality piping systems are not required. Also,
delivered as a mist into the source of the fire via all the ProCon due to the low pressures involved, industry standard grooved
PC-C nozzles installed in an extinguishing zone. This way even couplings and fittings can be used. This means that no special
quickly spreading fires can be suppressed. fitter training is required, reducing cost and installation time.
Cable duct
Cable duct
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Alarm
Despite the fact that electrical cable fires are common and
can occur anywhere with electrical devices from homes to
industrial facilities, electrical cables are often neglected as a
potential fire source. Cables pass through all areas of facilities,
carrying vital power supplies and control to electrical and
electronic equipment to ensure proper operation of the
building. Electric cables are usually routed via risers, cable
ducts, and open areas in cable trays, cable channels or openly
along support structures.
In 2011, an estimated 16,400 non-home structure fires Nearly half (47%) of 2007-2011 non-home electrical fires
reported to U.S. fire departments involved some type of began with ignition of products often found in concealed
electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing spaces – wire or cable insulation (36%) or structural
to ignition. These fires resulted in 13 civilian deaths, 243 member or framing (11%).
civilian injuries, and USD 501 million in direct property
damage. Sources:
http://www.nfpa.org/news-and-research/fire-statistics-and-
In 2007-2011, non-home electrical fires represented 13% reports/fire-statistics/fire-causes/electrical-and-consumer-
of total non-home structure fires, 5% of associated civilian electronics/electrical
deaths, 13% of associated civilian injuries, and 21% of Page 37 of report “Home Electrical Fires”, John R. Hall Jr., April 2013,
associated direct property damage. © 2013 National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA.
Benefits
At a glance
For further information, please contact your local Viking sales office or refer to the technical documentation.
The contents of this publication are subject to modifications without notice.
Photos
Cover: Shutterstock © Vietnam stock photos | Page 6: Fotolia © Kaspars Grinvalds
Viking S.A. | Z.I. Haneboesch, L-4562 Differdange / Niederkorn, Luxembourg | Tel.: +352 58 37 37 - 1, Fax: +352 58 37 36, vikinglux@viking-emea.com
ProCon PC-M
Low Pressure Water Mist System
for Machinery Spaces and Object Protection
Fire protection
ProCon PC-M systems use innovative low ProCon PC-M systems operate with up to 60% less water
compared to classic deluge systems. The system's water supply
pressure water mist technology. The systems and pipe network can be made smaller accordingly. This saves
are flexible enough to tackle many sever fire not only cost but also space – a big advantage particularly
when retrofitting in existing buildings. ProCon PC-M systems
risks from conveyors to transformers whilst are based on low pressure water mist technology, which not
being tough enough to do so in harsh only allows the use of cost-efficient system components but
also increases the potential for other cost and space savings.
conditions. Low pressure water mist systems can also be combined with
classic sprinkler, deluge and hydrant systems all sharing an
The very nature of the term “machinery” can imply a vast array existing water supply. Furthermore, feeding-in via the fire
of equipment and risks which need protecting. Viking EMEA brigade supply is possible – an additional safeguard, e.g. if the
draws on almost 100 years of experience of helping end users power supply for the pumps should fail.
select, engineers design and contractors install and maintain
specialist fire protection measures for all types of machinery The design of the PC-M nozzles and integrated strainer allows
space risk. the use of standard galvanised pipes so expensive speciality
piping systems are not required. The use of specially treated
The ProCon PC-M system creates fine droplets thus increasing extinguishing water can also be avoided. A cap with retaining
the contact area for heat transfer and thereby optimising chain can protect the nozzle from outside contamination in
the cooling effect of the water. In addition – due to rapid particularly dirty environments such as surrounding conveyor
vaporisation of the small water droplets within the location of belts.
the flame – a large amount of steam is produced, which prevents
the oxygen from reaching the fire. An effective combination
for rapid control and extinguishment of a fire. In addition, the
smaller water droplets minimise the equipment distortion
arising from the increase in heat.
The ProCon PC-M system is a classic deluge system at Manual release can be local to the valve, at a remote
heart and is designed as such. With a straightforward location nearby the area or object being protected, or in
a control room
design manual to advise particular design criteria,
Remote control or “On-Off” operation whereby the valve
those familiar with deluge system design can get can be closed once the fire is extinguished, thereby
started immediately. The system is sub-divided into further reducing the water usage
one or more extinguishing zones, each controlled by
a fire detection system connected to the deluge valve. Extinguishing zones and zone partitioning
Conveyor Belt
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Ala
rm
Water supply
Conveyor belts
Presses and stamping machines
Motor test benches
Compressors
Hydraulic units including oil sump and oil tank
Diesel emergency power generators
At a glance
For further information, please contact your local Viking sales office or refer to the technical documentation.
The contents of this publication are subject to modifications without notice.
Photos
Cover: Shutterstock © Rehan Qureshi | Page 6: Shutterstock © denis kuznetsov, Shutterstock © Nataliya Hora, Fotolia © dreamnikon
Viking S.A. | Z.I. Haneboesch, L-4562 Differdange / Niederkorn, Luxembourg | Tel.: +352 58 37 37 - 1, Fax: +352 58 37 36, vikinglux@viking-emea.com