Impulse Fire Extinguishing System

Impulse Fire Extinguishing System ( IFEX, Eng. Pulse for fire-extinguishing system ) is a system for fire fighting, in which the water is not as usual brought as a jet into the fire, but as a fine water mist.

The water is filled into a steel cylinder and shot with 25 bar air pressure by four rubber lips on the front of the cylinder. The surplus achieved a speed of about 400 km / h By accelerating and rubber lips, the water is literally torn.

Because of the fine distribution of the water a much higher cooling efficiency is ensured. In addition, the flames literally blown case of incipient fires (similar to when blowing out a candle ) by the pressure. Due to the low water use of water damage at room fires is kept low and about in a vehicle fire much less polluted waste water is discharged into drains or the environment.

The disadvantages of the system are the relatively high weight and the fact that more lines are needed for water supply and air supply (except for the portable version ), which can not be extended indefinitely. When quenching of burning people, there is the risk that the burn injuries are even larger by the high pressure or eye injuries are possible. In addition, the burden on firefighters is selectively substantially higher and leads to the use of a rule to sore muscles with joint pain. Moreover, the low water capacity of the unit hardly provides the user especially in the interior attack protection against flue gas ignitions or similar.

IFEX systems are portable and mobile, for vehicle mounting, for mounting under helicopters, in tunnels or stationary.