Fire is a disaster that posses high risk in regard to life and property. There is need to develop systems that can be able to minimize and curb unwanted fire incidences. With proper installation and effective choice of the fire system fire disasters will be minimized. (Dana, 1919) In navy ships, fire safety is vital and this calls for installation of fire systems.
Effective and quick responding fire systems should be installed in naval vessels in order to deal with any fire disaster that may come at any given time. (Clark, 1991) These systems should be able to minimize fire damages and at the same time fail to jeopardize the life of ship personnel, that is; keep the risk to the minimum.
There are a number of systems that have been installed in the navy ship so as to take care of any fire risk. (Dana, 1919) Perfect choice and proper installation is vital in this process. Some of these systems include; sprinkler system, this is a fire protection measure comprising of systems that supply water under high pressure to the piping systems. Fire sprinklers are connected to these water pipes.
Fire sprinklers discharge water whenever there is fire detection. In naval vessels, automatic fire systems are installed to enable them to respond immediately in case of a fire threat. In most cases there is a sensitive glass which is fixed at the edge of these pipes. (Dana, 1919) When triggered by fire due to temperatures exceeding the normal, they break allowing the water to pour down in a very high pressure. They are situated on the ceiling of the ship so as to facilitate easy flow of water.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam is classified under synthetic foams which are under the broad category of the fire fighting form. They are surfactant containing hydrocarbon for example; sodium alkyl sulfate and fluorosurfactant. These synthetic foams are able to eradicate fire flames at a very fast rate since they are able to spread widely over hydrocarbon surface. (Clark, 1991) The ability to spread over a large area makes this method very effective as it is can cover a huge area.
Aqueous Film Forming Foam works by forming a floating blanket which rapidly covers the fuel surface thus putting off the fire. (Dana, 1919) Due to their effectiveness, almost all navy ships are installed with Aqueous Film Forming Form in order to curb any fire disaster that can arise in the ship.
HI-FOG mist is modern system of fire control. It involves extinguishing fires by use of fine water mist which flows at a very high velocity. The mist fills the room with the fire incidence and puts it off.
This method works through pushing plain water which is portable through the pipes at an extremely high pressure in designed sprinkler and spray heads. The velocity through which this mist is subjected to ensures that the continues flow of mist causes the fire to go off.
The water mist pipes are located on the ceiling to enable them be able to discharge the mist whenever there are incidences of fire. The discharged water mist pumped by the pressure pumps puts off the fire in a very effective way. (Clark, 1991) This system is installed in navy ships and it activates the water mist in case of fire.
Halon system is another fire fighting method that navy ships use. It involves use of gas to put out fire. According to this system, navy ships are installed with pressurized tanks of gas which are connected to pipes and nozzles.
They work in a way that, whenever there is detection of fire, the gas is released so as to put of the fire. Halon gas get in the way of oxidation that occurs between fuel and oxygen which causes the fire and this causes the fire to go off.
Tempering with the oxidation of fuel by the available oxygen gas ensures that there is no conducive nature to allow the fuel to continue burning. (Dana, 1919) This fact means that the fire eventually goes off as the process of burning is not supported.
This system has faced a number of criticisms in recent years since it has been proven that it is affecting the ozone layer by depleting it. This hasn’t been in line with the global expectation due to this end effect.
In conclusion, it is with no doubt that incidences of fire are inevitable and proper fire system is supposed to be installed in order to manage the fire and reduce the possible loss. Just like in any other area, it is also very important to install these systems in navy ships. There are various systems installed in these ships with an aim of achieving this.
Fire sprinklers puts off the fire by discharging water pumped through strategically situated pipes. Aqueous Film Forming Foam works by forming a blanket on the fire thus putting it off immediately. HI-FOG on the other hand, is used to discharge form water mist which puts off the fire. Finally, halon system which involves discharge of pressured gas which tempers with the oxidation of fuel thereby ensuring that fire goes off. In majority of navy ships these systems are installed to curb this disaster.
Work cited
Clark, William E. Fire fighting Principles and Practices. New Jersey: Saddle Brook, 1991
Dana, Gorham Automatic Sprinkler Protection (second ed.), John Wiley & Sons, Inc.1919
