System Operations, Pressure Switch, Diesel Engines

REMINDER: Sea-Fire systems shall be considered as supplementary to the number of portable fire extinguishers required on-board and are designed and intended for enclosed unoccupied compartment installations that are not subject to direct weather or water.

SYSTEM OPERATIONS

Sea-Fire units described in this manual are automatically actuated by a heat actuated tube. Discharge will occur as a result of direct flame impingement. The Sea-Fire FT system uses the supplied length of temperature sensitive tubing as both detection and delivery system. The tubing should be routed close to the hazard, where fire is likely to occur, but away from heat sources that could accidentally cause it to operate. Upon flame impingement, the tubing will rupture, and the extinguishing agent will discharge through the rupture point. No separate discharge nozzle is needed.

CAUTION: IN CASE OF EXTINGUISHER DISCHARGE, DO NOT RUSH TO OPEN THE PROTECTED COMPARTMENT. LET THE EXTINGUISHING AGENT WORK FOR SEVERAL MINUTES. HAVE A PORTABLE EXTINGUISHER AVAILABLE AND USE CARE WHEN OPENING THE COMPARTMENT.

AVOID BREATHING FIRE RELATED FUMES OR VAPOR.

NOTE: It is important to retain the designed vapor concentration within the compartment to insure complete fire outage. Upon discharge, all powered ventilation (blowers) must be shut down.

PRESSURE SWITCH

Sea-Fire “FT” series extinguishers are equipped with a factory installed pressure switch which is intended for cylinder pressure supervision and may also be used to control other electrical functions (engine shutdown, air exchange equipment, electric supply, etc.)

When using the pressure switch as an electrical disconnect for any equipment shutdown function, a means of overriding (bypassing, shunting) the pressure switch must be provided in order to return the affected equipment to an operational mode after extinguisher discharge has occurred. The pressure switch is a single pole single throw (SPST) type that is normally closed (NC) with the system in the charged condition. Discharge or loss of system pressure will release the contacts to an open state thereby cutting off any electrical current flow.

NEVER USE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR ELECTRICAL LOADS OVER RATED CAPACITY.

SWITCH SPECIFICATIONS

4.0 AMPS AT 12 VDC

2.0 AMPS AT 28 VDC

For applications requiring larger load capacities, see OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT section IN THIS manual or contact factory.

DIESEL ENGINES

Continued operation of diesel engine(s) and or powered ventilation units will deplete the extinguishing agent and may cause a fire re-flash. Diesel engine(s) must be automatically shutdown upon extinguisher discharge.

Note: Power ventilation (blowers) that exceeds one air change per minute within the protected compartment must be automatically shutdown upon extinguisher discharge.*

*ABYC requirement - Standard A-4

GASOLINE ENGINES

WARNING: GASOLINE ENGINES AND FANS SHOULD BE AUTOMATICALLY OR MANUALLY SHUT DOWN AT TIME OF DISCHARGE.

Shutdown may be accomplished by interruption of the electrical circuit between the ignition switch and the engine coils.

NOTE: Sea-Fire optional engine interrupt systems will automatically shut down engines and powered ventilation upon discharge of the fire SUPPRESSION system. They are available in 12 and 24-volt models with 3, 5 or 8 control circuits, refer to OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT section in this manual.