Ansul 102 Kitchen Fire Suppression Systems
Gordon Ramsay credits himself as being the fiercest thing in the kitchen. In fact, it's not food but fire that can really ruin a good night out, and the decision to install an effective fire suppression system should never be taken with a pinch of salt.
There are always risks involved in going out for dinner. The food, the service, the wine, the company… which one will let you down first? Even popping out for a burger can be fraught with danger if the local derby has just reached full-time. But, whatever's going on front of house, the kitchen is where the drama is most likely to happen.
In the 12 months between September 2006 and September 2007, there were 31,100 reported fires in non-residential buildings such as restaurants, schools and offices in the UK (Communities and Local Government Fire Statistics Monitor August 2008). The combination of ingredients in a kitchen - from boiling oil to frantic chefs - makes the potential for accidental fire an obvious concern.
Surprisingly then, it wasn't until 1962 that the first commercial kitchen fire suppresser was invented and introduced into kitchens in the US: the Ansul R-100 Kitchen Fire Suppression System. A dry chemical system, it soon became the darling of the restaurant and insurance world alike. Of course, as any top chef will tell you, everything can be improved upon, and so was born the Ansul R102 Kitchen Fire Suppression System.
The Ansul R102 Kitchen Fire Suppression System is the world's most popular state-of-the-art wet chemical system. Using a unique chemical agent called Ansulex® the fire is extinguished quickly with a well-directed blast, which then turns into a thick foam blanket that prevents any reflash fire and rapidly cools the appliances.
In order to install the R-102, you have to be authorised by Ansul and in order to hold one of its certificates you have to sit its exams. Fire Defence has recently been authorised to install the system in the UK and, following several gruelling two-day training courses, all our staff will be certified to go and make public kitchens a safer place to work.
Whether or not you're served top quality food is, sadly, a risk we can't help with.
How does Ansul R102 Kitchen Fire Suppression System work?
There are two options for the installation of the Ansul R102 Kitchen Fire Suppression System. The first has nozzles pointing directly at specific appliances and areas. The second is known as overlapping appliance protection, offering general 'fire-free' zones - useful in kitchens where the appliances might be moved around. When either system detects a fire because of an increase in temperature, fused links separate, triggering the release of compressed gas, which in turn pressurises the Ansulex® agent tank. The gas supply to any appliances is shut off, and the agent is released through nozzles and onto the flames.
For more information contact Fire Defence Plc 01769 574 070. www.fire-defence.com e-mail fds@fire-defence.com
