Citation

Ziemba J. Occup. Health Safety 2006; 75(1): 56, 58.

Affiliation

ANSUL Inc., Marinette, Wis., USA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2006, Stevens Publishing)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

16447845

Abstract

When a fire breaks out, the immediate need to evacuate, contain, and suppress overshadows any thought about future contingency planning. The goal is to get out alive and put the fire out. Tomorrow will bring its own set of problems, or so the thinking goes. Water, sand, and dirt have been nature's default fire suppressants for as long as people have been putting out fires. But with the advent of the electronic age, it became clear that fire suppression techniques needed to evolve and take into consideration the valuable electronics and data stored in facilities worldwide, providing a way to put the fire out without damaging the contents inside. As the evolution of fire suppression technology progressed, more insight has been gained into the larger implications of a fire. It turns out facilities aren't the only casualties of a fire; in fact, the environment also takes a heavy toll during these disasters. Which means fire protection is not only asset protection, but environmental protection, as well. As the electronic revolution swept across North America, it quickly became apparent the reliance on computers was so critical that the loss of even one machine could be crippling to a business. It also became obvious computers would need to be protected in the event of a fire. In the end, the goal has always been to put out the fire with the intention of saving the occupants as well as the building. Lost belongings became an afterthought because of the importance of first protecting lives and structures. The advent of clean agents changed that mode of thinking to where we could indeed save lives, buildings, and the contents. From the Stone Age through the present, communities around the world must contend with fire disaster planning and recovery. What has changed is the rapidly growing array of different fire challenges, along with the critical need to protect our environment. Clean agents provide the answers to many fire protection challenges, protecting life, property, and the environment. The days of the water bucket are over. It has been replaced by technology that safeguards people, businesses, and our environment.