Advanced Fire Protection Deluge System (AFPDS)

Problem Statement and Objectives

Hazardous, flammable, and explosive materials pose a significant risk in military plants that produce, maintain, and renovate munitions. Incidents result in severe loss-of-life and property damage. Facilities have also encountered false alarms with current systems resulting in lost production man-hours for cleanup.

In response to this need, ARA scientists have developed a fire protection device, the Advanced Fire Protection Deluge System (AFPDS), that extinguishes a propellant or pyrotechnic munitions fire in under 30 milliseconds, making it the world's fastest fire-suppression system.

• Low false alarm rates
• Can be used as a stand-alone or complement to other systems
• Significantly reduces possibility of fire and/or explosion;
  protecting personnel and property

Results and Benefits

With this system, munitions workers will soon be able to conduct inherently dangerous tasks while protected by a fire suppression system that is both faster than, and superior to, previous technologies.

More than ten times faster than current Department of Defense standards, the AFPDS will save lives, reduce injuries, and save millions of dollars in property damage in munitions manufacturing and surveillance facilities.

The AFPDS discharges water onto personnel in the area in just a fraction of a second, eliminating the heat that otherwise would burn their skin.