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Vehicle fire suppression system
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<h2 id="parts-of-a-typical-system">Parts of a typical system</h2> <p>A typical vehicle fire suppression system has five key components: </p> <ol><li>Fire-detecting linear wire or spot sensors,</li> <li>A control panel to detect a fire and alert the operator,</li> <li>Actuators discharge automatically or manually to activate the system,</li> <li>Tanks filled with fire-fighting agent, and</li> <li>A distribution network of tubes, hoses, and nozzles.</li></ol> <p>To mitigate a fire as soon as it happens, fire-detecting linear wire or sensors are strategically placed around the machine. When the high heat of a fire penetrates the linear wire or is detected by the sensors, a signal is sent to the control panel in the vehicle cab. </p><p>The control panel alarms and alerts the driver to quickly evacuate the machine. At the same time, the panel automatically initiates the actuator, which discharges the fire-fighting agent inside the onboard tanks and sends it through a distribution network composed of stainless steel tubing and/or hydraulic hosing. An actuator can also activate the system when pressed manually by the operator. </p><p>At the end of the distribution network, the agent is disbursed into the equipment’s protected areas via nozzles aimed at the machine's high-hazard components, like turbochargers, starters, fuel filters, batteries, alternators, and transmissions to extinguish the fire quickly and efficiently. </p> <h2 id="references">References</h2> <ol> <li id="fn:1"><p>Smith, Randy (August 1989). "System Protection for Heavy Off-Road Equipment". Fire Systems: 5–6. <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:2"><p>Chironis, Nicholas (September 1976). "Bureau intensifies efforts to detect and suppress fire in mines". Coal Age: 110–115. <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> <li id="fn:3"><p>Cavallaro, Rod (June 2002). "Finally, a Solution to Equipment Fires". TFI Magazine: 16–17. <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></p></li> </ol>