Specialist in fire protection systems, The Centa Group, has launched a new F-Class fire safety system for kitchens, designed especially for kitchen areas in hotels, restaurants and public institutions.
Duncan Boyes, chairman of The Centa Group, says, “This new kitchen system, which incorporates an automatic fusible link fire detection system and fully mechanical suppression system, meets stringent UL quality and safety standards and enhances safety in commercial and industrial kitchens. In kitchens where large amounts of inflammable ingredients are used, electrical and gas-operated appliances are susceptible to ignition and the break out of a fire.
“Cooking oil fires are difficult to extinguish due to high ignition temperatures and because cooking oil spontaneously combusts at about 360°C. To extinguish a cooking oil fire safely, the fire needs to be cooled down and smothered for a long period. The most dangerous thing to do is to throw water onto such a fat fire because water has a tendency to cause oil fires to ‘explode’,” says Boyes.
“Certain dry chemical powder extinguishers can knock down an oil fire, but they have no cooling or sealing capabilities, which means the risk of the fire re-igniting is high.”
Centa’s new F-Class fire-fighting medium, which is biodegradable and non-toxic, uses liquid potassium salts as a base to cool and extinguish oil fires effectively. On contact with the hot oil, the liquid foams and prevents oxygen from reaching the fire, at the same time cooling the hot oil. Unlike conventional fire suppression systems which contain potassium carbonate, this system has a low acid level (pH:9). It is not harmful to food products and does not damage appliances or stainless steel surfaces.
Centa’s kitchen system distributes the extinguishing agents over all protected areas and automatically interrupts the supply of gas or electricity. Heat detectors are installed within the fume hood and are triggered only during a fire. Although the system is automatically activated in the event of a fire, it also has a manual override facility. Temperature detection levels can be adjusted to suit specific applications. Sprinklers are arranged to ensure maximum coverage in each installation.
All components have been designed for enhanced aesthetics and workspace efficiency.
For optimum safety and total reliability, it is critical that this system is only installed by a trained and certified Centa Group technician.
The Centa Group offers a wide range of fire protection equipment, including fire protection clothing, fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, fire hose reels, fire fittings and accessories, as well as powders and foams. Fire blankets, emergency signage and heat and smoke detectors are also available. Specialised services include fire risk management and training, turnkey projects, electronic fire detection and gaseous extinguishing systems and kitchen systems. Centa also offers a national maintenance service for fire protection systems.
