The threat of fire at waste management, recycling, and chemical storage sites around Australia has intensified significantly in recent times.

This is due to several factors. However, chiefly include the surge in lithium-ion battery e-waste, as well as the perpetual growth of demand for high-risk commercial materials used in manufacturing.

Following an increasing number of industrial fires across Australia, the heat on local government and private operators regarding their fire policies, response plans, and if they have suitable fire detection and suppression equipment has been turned up.

It is imperative for waste managers and hazardous material manufacturers to be equipped with cutting-edge fire systems to help mitigate daily risks. And this is something that Wastech has been supporting Australian businesses with.

Random, Regular Fires with Far-Reaching Consequences

Recently out-of-control fires in Melbourne at a recycling factory in Laverton North and a chemical handling facility at Derrimut, as well as a pallet factory in Wetherill Park in Sydney have underscored the devastating impact of industrial blazes.

These incidents not only cause significant financial and reputational damage to organisations, as well as destroy valuable business assets, but also endanger people, surrounding communities, and the environment as pollutants from combustibles spread through the surrounding area.

In many instances, fire suppression systems that rely solely on traditional alarms and manual intervention can be too slow to respond, leading to disastrous outcomes.

According to a recent story by ABC News, lithium-ion batteries are sparking over 10,000 fires a year in Australia, and with data released by the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water estimating lithium-ion waste volumes to grow by 20 per cent annually, this further demonstrates the critical need for proactive, intelligent fire detection and suppression solutions at our waste transfer and recycling stations.

How Military-Grade Technology is Helping

While there is no silver bullet when it comes to fire prevention, the Fire Rover solution offers a state-of-the-art risk reduction and suppression system designed to reduce the rapid escalation of blazes.

Unlike conventional methods, Fire Rover is designed to actively monitor facilities around the clock, using military-grade technologies that detect hot spots and other fire risks before they escalate.

Fire Rover’s advanced FLIR (Forward Looking Infrared) camera, which is typically used by military and some civilian aircraft, can pinpoint heat signatures the size of a pixel that are invisible to the human eye.

Supporting the FLIR camera on the fire detection and suppression system is a secondary high-definition camera, providing broader surveillance of the area for real-time situational analysis and reporting.

This camera also plays a crucial role in aiming Fire Rover’s powerful water cannon, allowing for precise targeting of hotspots.

Thanks to its high-pressure nitrogen tanks, the Fire Rover water cannon has an effective range of up to 40-metres and uses the FR500 wetting agent, which helps ensure blazes are effectively blanketed and controlled until local fire authorities arrive on-site.

Fire Rover’s Response Procedure & Operational Footprint

Once a heat anomaly is detected by the FLIR camera, Fire Rover immediately triggers an alert to its virtual detection team – a group of trained firefighters based at Fire Rover’s Central Station in the US. This virtual fire support crew monitors facilities through a secure IP address 24/7.

As a fire escalates, the water cannon can be triggered remotely by the Fire Rover team as site managers are alerted to the incident and critical information is communicated directly to local fire authorities. This underpins a rapid and coordinated response.

Fire Rover is available in two versatile operational configurations. It can be integrated permanently into a property through a ‘continual flow option’ that connects the water cannon’s plumbing directly to a watermain.

It can also be housed in a 20-foot shipping container, making it a compact solution that is easily deployed in locations with limited space. The container houses a 3,785-litre water tank with the FR500 wetting agent (allowing for up to ten minutes of flow), nitrogen cylinders that power the water cannon and specialist communications equipment that ensures real-time reporting for firefighting teams.

With this state-of-the-art technology, Fire Rover offers a level of fire risk detection, prevention and suppression that is unmatched in the Australian market, giving plant managers peace of mind knowing their assets are being guarded all year round.

Real-World Applications & Success in Australia

Thanks to its size and capability, Fire Rover is suitable for a wide range of industries, including waste management, recycling, chemical handling and other sectors dealing with combustible materials.

Wastech Engineering recently installed the Fire Rover system at a facility in Dandenong South for Re.Group – a leading waste recovery company that designs, builds, owns and operates recycling systems across Australia and New Zealand.

The Re.Group site that Fire Rover has been integrated into receives thousands of tonnes of curb side waste a day, with lithium-ion batteries often hidden within these enormous incoming waste volumes.

As part of the installation process, Wastech Engineering conducted an audit of their property and hazard considerations around the site. These findings were compiled into a detailed report and informed a bespoke fire detection and suppression framework incorporating the Fire Rover system.

This Fire Rover install is a terrific example of how some organisations are taking proactive steps to better their fire response solutions, especially as the recycling industry grapples with mounting challenges posed by lithium-ion e-waste.

If you are looking to enhance your facility’s fire detection and suppression technologies, or want to learn more about how Fire Rover can minimise risks at your operations, please get in touch with us at sales@wastech.com.au.