en

Customer Advisory
for fire suppression systems
on Liebherr Hydraulic Mining Excavators
and Shovels

Document identification
Edition: V4 - 22/04/2014
Valid for: R/P 9100 to R/P 9800
Author: LEC

Address
Liebherr-Mining Equipment Colmar SAS
49 rue Frédéric Hartmann
CS 50038, F-68025 Colmar Cedex
LEC/en/Edition: V4 - 22/04/2014
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Customer Advisory for fire suppression systems on

Liebherr Hydraulic Mining Excavators and Shovels

Table of contents

1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 2
2. Fire suppression system ................................................................................................................ 3
2.1. General .................................................................................................................................... 3
2.2. Fire detection system .............................................................................................................. 3
2.3. Activation ................................................................................................................................. 3
2.4. Operating sequence ................................................................................................................ 4
2.5. Agent type ............................................................................................................................... 5
2.6. Number and position of nozzles .............................................................................................. 5
2.7. Maintenance ............................................................................................................................ 8
2.8. Standards of approvals ............................................................................................................ 8
2.9. Additional requirements ........................................................................................................... 9
3. Hand held extinguishers .............................................................................................................. 10
4. General information on fires and components of fire suppression system .................................. 11
4.1. Classification of fires.............................................................................................................. 11
4.2. Fire extinguishing agents properties ...................................................................................... 11
4.3. Detection Systems Properties ............................................................................................... 14
4.4. Control System ...................................................................................................................... 16
4.5. Additional Safety Precautions ................................................................................................ 16
4.6. Inspection of stored pressure and cartridge operated systems ............................................. 16

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1. Introduction

This Advisory is intended to help Liebherr’s customers choose appropriate fire suppression systems for their
Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels. It only focuses on the fire suppression within the excavator or shovel,
not on its environment.

Liebherr (Liebherr Mining Equipment Colmar SAS and its parent companies, dealers and/or agents) does not
design, manufacture or warrant fire suppression systems installed on Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.
This Advisory is based on information provided by fire suppression equipment businesses.
For instance, these businesses have provided to us general information about fire suppression agents and with
quantities of fire suppression agents and diffuser nozzles for fire suppression systems.

This Advisory does not address optional equipment, such as extended discharge volume.

Because fire suppression equipment is continuously under development, new fire suppression agents and
techniques may emerge. Others may be prohibited because of environmental impacts and regulations. This
Advisory does not list all fire suppression systems that may exist worldwide. Different fire suppression systems
might be available, authorized, or prohibited in different countries.

This Advisory only provides general information in order to help Liebherr’s customers to:

a) select fire suppression systems and

b) decide how fire suppression systems can be installed on Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.

This Advisory shall not be considered as a comprehensive and certified technical description of the fire
suppression systems to be used on Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.

For all these reasons, Liebherr’s customer should use this Advisory as only a starting point when selecting which
fire suppression system to install on its Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels. This Advisory does not
supersede or replace the need to check and comply with the following:

 applicable national and international laws and regulations,

 applicable standards (ex: NFPA17) or local codes (ex: AS 5062),
 Mine regulations and insurance requirements,
 Fire suppression system’s designer and OEM requirements
 Other regulations and laws of any applicable government or official authority

If there are statements made by fire suppression manufacturers that are contradictory to the statements in this
Advisory, we recommend that always the solution which gives the higher level of protection is chosen.

The designer and manufacturer of the fire suppression system’s (fire suppression system OEM) is (are)
responsible for the design, manufacture and together with the appointed dealer, or responsible for installation,
operation and maintenance of each and every fire suppression system.

LIEBHERR DOES NOT DESIGN OR MANUFACTURE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS. LIEBHERR MAKES
NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING ANY WARRANTY OF MERCHANTABILITY OR
FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, WITH RESPECT TO ANY FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM THAT
MAY BE SELECTED BY A CUSTOMER FOR INSTALLATION ON A LIEBHERR MINING EXCAVATOR AND
SHOVEL.

THE INFORMATION PROVIDED IN THIS DOCUMENT IS ADVISORY ONLY WITH RESPECT TO POSSIBLE
FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS THAT THE CUSTOMER MAY SELECT FOR INSTALLATION ON A LIEBHERR
MINING EXCAVATOR AND SHOVEL. THE CUSTOMER IS SOLELY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE SELECTION
AND INSTALLATION OF ANY FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM ON ANY LIEBHERR MINING EXCAVATOR AND
SHOVEL AFTER CONSIDERING THE FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM’S MANUFACTURER’S PRODUCT
INFORMATION AND ANY OTHER INFORMATION THAT THE CUSTOMER CONSIDERS PERTINENT.
LIEBHERR MAKES NO WARRANTY AS TO THE RESULTS TO BE ACHIEVED BY ANY FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM INCLUDING THAT ANY SUCH SYSTEM WILL ADEQUATELY PROTECT AGAINST THE RISK OF
FIRE.

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2. Fire suppression system

The customer should consider the following points to help minimize damage from heavy equipment fires:

2.1. General

According to fire suppression companies, the fire suppression system should be working on 24-hour protection
basis. It should be operating at all times and conditions even if the excavator or shovel is shutdown, without an
operator, or working. The system should operate from its own battery, or operate with power supplied by the
excavator or shovel with mandatory battery backup for the case of loss of main power (excavator’s or shovel’s
battery isolation). It should self-check itself.

2.2. Fire detection system

The fire detection system should be automatic and be installed in the engine and in the pumps compartments.
Additional detection could be installed in the valves banks area.

Fire detectors for large off-highway vehicles are described and discussed more in details in Section 4.3.

2.3. Activation

The activation of the fire suppression system should be automatic and be triggered by automatic fire detection
modules.

The control module of the fire suppression system should be within reach of the operator. It should also be
connected to the electrical installation of the machine (see Section 2.9).

Additional manual activation through manual actuators should be installed at least in the places specified in the
following table:

Engine &
Catwalks/
Location Cab Main access Pumps
Escape ladder
compartment

R9100 X X --- ---

R984 X X --- ---

R9150 X X --- ---

R9200 X X X X

R9250 X X X X

R9350 X X X X

R9400 X X X X

R995 X X X X

R996 X X X X

R9800 X X X X

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2.4. Operating sequence

In automatic mode, the fire suppression system should comply with the following order of operation:

 When the fire suppression system automatically detects a fire, a fire alarm should sound for five seconds to warn
the operator that the fire suppression system is activated and that he should leave the excavator or shovel.

 It should be possible to activate the fire suppression system in manual mode at any time during the time delay.

Note: The longer the engine is allowed to run, the more “fuel” (diesel, hydraulic oil, etc.) may be pumped onto the
source of ignition. It is imperative that the engine is shut down as soon as possible, stopping the supply of fluids.

 Immediately after the warning delay:

o the emergency stop procedure starts:
 Engine shutdown
 Hydraulic tank venting *
 Ladder or stairs lowering *
 Fuel valve closing *
o the fire suppression system is activated and the agent(s) should be released out of the nozzles after 5 to
10 seconds to allow the fans to come to stop before release.

Fire automatic OPERATING

detection SEQUENCE

Operator’s delay Activation + release

Discharge
5 sec 5 – 10 sec

time
Fire Alarm

Engine shutdown Effective discharging

Hydraulic tank venting* of the agent(s) out of
Ladder or stairs lowering* the nozzles
Fuel valve closing*
Activation of the Fire Suppression System

* Only when applicable. Refer to Liebherr dealers.

In manual mode, the fire suppression system should comply with the following order of operation:

 Immediately after pushing the palm button:

o the emergency stop procedure starts:
 Engine shutdown
 Hydraulic tank venting *
 Ladder or stairs lowering *
 Fuel valve closing *
o the fire suppression system is activated and the agent(s) should be released out of the nozzles after 5 to
10 seconds to allow the fans to come to stop before release.

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OPERATING
Manual actuation
SEQUENCE

Activation + release
Discharge
5 – 10 sec

time
Fire Alarm

Engine shutdown Effective discharging

Hydraulic tank venting* of the agent(s) out of
Ladder or stairs lowering* the nozzles
Fuel valve closing*
Activation of the Fire Suppression System

* Only when applicable. Refer to Liebherr dealers.

2.5. Agent type

The fire suppression system OEM should supply the most appropriate fire suppression agent or combination of
agents and the right quantity of agent needed for a given machine. Selection of agent or combination of agents
should depend on climatic conditions all year around. A good fire suppression agent supplier should advise their
customers on different agents available and their effectiveness.

The section 4.2 compares most fire suppression agents available on the market. This section was elaborated with
the help of different fire suppression system OEMs and information readily available on the market.

2.6. Number and position of nozzles

The quantity of nozzles required for a given fire suppression system should be determined by the fire suppression
system OEM.
The following provides guidance on quantities of agent(s) and number of nozzles for Liebherr Mining Excavators
and Shovels.

Type of nozzles:
“D“ = nozzle for dry chemical (reference nozzle which delivers from 250 to 500g/s)
“W“ = nozzle for wet chemical (reference nozzle which delivers more than 5 L/min)

Recommended release time in the engine and pumps compartments:

The dry chemical release time should not be less than 15s.
The wet chemical release time should not be less than 60s.

Nozzle layout design:

The nozzles should be placed to fully cover and protect the required areas. The area covered by a given nozzle,
when releasing fire suppression agent, should overlap the one next to it.

In general:
 Option 1 with dual agents is the recommended standard fire suppression system down to -40°C ambient
temperature for most Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.
 Option 2 with only powder agent may be considered for extremely cold conditions from -40°C to -54°C
ambient temperature and electric Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.
 Option 3 with only liquid agent may be considered in some applications.

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Special Liebherr Excavators and Shovels:

 Pontoon Excavator: The Fire suppression system is designed to protect the shovel or the excavator, not its
environment. However, for special applications like Pontoon, additional nozzles and also additional agent
might be necessary, especially if there is a retention tray under the machine. The quantity of agent and the
number of nozzles for such requirement is not given in the next tables since they depend on the layout of the
retention tray and the oil quantity it might contain.
 Electric Excavator or shovel: Electric motor does not require specific protection. However, hydraulics
represents a fire hazard on excavators and shovels and should be covered in the same manner as on a
diesel excavator or shovel.

Note: The quantities of agent(s) and number of nozzles shown in this Advisory may differ from those given by the
fire suppression system OEM since they design the installation based on the products they supply (type of agent,
size of the tanks and nozzle delivery rate).
The quantities of agent(s) and number of nozzles shown in this Advisory are based on fire risk assessments
conducted on Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.
If the quantities of agent(s) and number of nozzles offered by the fire suppression system OEM differ from those
shown in this document, they should expressly confirm that their recommended quantity of nozzles is adequate.

2.6.1. LIEBHERR R 984 / R 9100 / R9150

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 40 kg 50 L 50 kg 90 L
Advisory number of
14 D 10 W 16 D 18 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 5/7 D 6/7 W 5/8 D 6/8 W
Pumps cpt. 2/3 D 3/4 W 3/4 D 3/5 W
Valve bank 3/4 D 3/4 D 3/5 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 2D 2D 2W
Adv. number of actuators 2 2 2

2.6.2. LIEBHERR R 9200

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 90 kg 110 L 115 kg 170 L
Advisory number of
20 D 12 W 24 D 30 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 8/10 D 6/7 W 12/14 D 14/16 W
Pumps cpt. 3/4 D 2/3 W 4/5 D 6/7 W
Valve bank 3/4 D 2/3 W 4/5 D 5/6 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 3D 3D 3W
Adv. number of actuators 3 3 3

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2.6.3. LIEBHERR R 9250

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 120 kg 140 L 150 kg 210 L
Advisory number of
24 D 12 W 28 D 36 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 10/12 D 6/8 W 14/16 D 16/18 W
Pumps cpt. 5/6 D 2/3 W 5/6 D 6/8 W
Valve bank 5/6 D 2/3 W 5/6 D 6/8 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 2D 2D 4W
Adv. number of actuators 4 4 4

2.6.4. LIEBHERR R 9350 / R9400

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 150 kg 180 L 190 kg 270 L
Advisory number of
28 D 12 W 32 D 42 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 12/14 D 6/7 W 16/18 D 20/22 W
Pumps cpt. 6/7 D 2/3 W 6/7 D 8/10 W
Valve bank 6/7 D 3/4 W 6/7 D 8/10 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 2D 2D 4W
Adv. number of actuators 4 4 4

2.6.5. LIEBHERR R 995

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 190 kg 225 L 240 kg 340 L
Advisory number of
32 D 16 W 40 D 52 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 14/16 D 8/9 W 16/18 D 20/22 W
Pumps cpt. 8/9 D 4/5 W 10/12 D 16/18 W
Valve bank 6/7 D 3/4 W 6/8 D 6/8 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 3D 5/6 D 5/6 W
Adv. number of actuators 5 5 5

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2.6.6. LIEBHERR R 996B

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 300 kg 350 L 380 kg 530 L
Advisory number of
48 D 24 W 60 D 72 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 2 x [ 10/12 D 7/8 W ] 2 x 14/16 D 2 x 18/20 W
Pumps cpt. 2 x [ 6/8 D 2/3 W ] 2 x 8/10 D 2 x 10/12 W
Valve bank 6/8 D 4W 6/8 D 6/8 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 4/5 D 5/6 D 6/8 W
Adv. number of actuators 5 5 5

2.6.7. LIEBHERR R 9800

Option 1 Option 2 Option 3

„dry + wet chemicals“ „dry chemical“ „wet chemical“
Advisory Quantity 400 kg 450 L 500 kg 660 L
Advisory number of
52 D 32 W 68 D 82 W
nozzles
Engine cpt. 2 x [ 10/12 D 8/9 W ] 2 x 16/18 D 2 x 20/22 W
Pumps cpt. 2 x [ 6/8 D 3/4 W ] 2 x 8/10 D 2 x 10/12 W
Valve bank 8/10 D 4W 8/10 D 10/12 W
Rotary conn. & Swing mot. 6D 4W 6/8 D 6/8 W
Adv. number of actuators 5 5 5

2.7. Maintenance

A maintenance contract for the fire suppression system installed should also be signed by both fire suppression
OEM or fire suppression OEM approved local dealer and customer, so the fire suppression OEM approved local
dealer will be responsible for maintaining and controlling on a regular basis the fire suppression system on site.

The fire suppression system installed should be serviced and maintained according to local regulations and fire
suppression OEM maintenance instructions.

WARNING: A lack of maintenance may lead to non-detection and/or non-discharge in case of fire. To avoid a
decrease of the fire suppression system’s reliability, it is mandatory to follow the maintenance schedule
prescribed by the fire suppression system supplier.

2.8. Standards of approvals

It is strongly recommended to choose a system which carries an internationally recognised standard of approval;
such as FM (Factory Mutual), UL (Underwriters Laboratories), AS approvals (Australia) and P-Mark (SP –
Sweden) – For more examples of approvals see Appendix. These standards of approval are a guarantee that the

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fire suppression equipment has been tested and approved for the particular application and such equipment
should carry an approval registration and certificate number.

2.9. Additional requirements

2.9.1. Electrical control

The electrical portion of the fire suppression system should have an automatic self-error-check or self-diagnostic
procedure.

To ease the connection of the fire suppression system with the electrical system, all Liebherr Mining Excavators
and Shovels have connection points in their electrical compartment allowing the connection of the fire
suppression control module. This allows the fire suppression system to connect into the emergency stop loop
(see Section 2.4 for the emergency stop procedure). A relay within the electrical system inhibits the re-start of the
engine for one hour after the activation of the fire suppression system in order to reduce the likelihood of a re-
ignition of the fire. For more information on these relays or in case of retrofitting, please contact Liebherr dealers.
The following schematic drawing is an example of the connection point and is used in this document for reference
purposes only. During installation, the fire suppression OEM or fire suppression OEM approved local dealer
should refer to the excavator’s or shovel’s electrical schematic diagram for the correct connection points on the
excavator or shovel, or consult the local Liebherr representative.

Connection points for

the fire suppression
Emergency stop loop
control module

Relay of the fire

suppression control module

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2.9.2. Commissioning

When installing a new fire suppression system, the fire suppression OEM or a company approved by the fire
suppression OEM, and the customer, should commission a test to check the functions of the fire suppression
system:
 Activation of the emergency stop procedure
 Inhibition of the engine’s re-start for one hour.
If the fire suppression system is ordered through Liebherr, this test shall be done in presence of a representative
appointed by Liebherr.
The commissioning tests should include a written report, considered to be a hand-over-certificate signed by both
fire suppression system OEM and customer.

3. Hand held extinguishers

Liebherr recommends installing dry chemical A–B–C extinguishers.

At least, one extinguisher should be installed into the cab. A plate is fitted in each Liebherr Mining Excavator and
Shovel. This location is shown on the user manual. Additional extinguisher should be fitted, depending on the
machines, on the following locations:
 outside the cab,
 on the main access,
 within the engine/pump compartment,
 on the escape ladder.

Due to the variety of local legislations, the purchasing, installation and maintenance of manual extinguishers
should be performed locally.

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4. General information on fires and components of fire suppression system

4.1. Classification of fires

Fires are classified into four types:

Class A B C D
Flammable liquid Flammable gas
Type Carbonaceous fires Metal fires
fires fires
Fires with fluids and
Fires with solid Fire with
Description other liquefied Fires with gases
glow combustible metals
fluids
Rubber hoses, Sodium, potassium,
Fuel, oil, alcohol, Butane, propane,
Examples wood, plastics, magnesium,
grease methane, acetylene
carton, cables titanium

There are four basic prerequisites for any combustion process:

- Heat
- Fuel
- Oxidising agent
- Suitable chemical reaction path

An oxidising agent (Oxide) is always and everywhere present (in the air). On an excavator or shovel there are
also large amounts of fuel (fuel and oils) present which are combustible when in contact with hot parts.

It follows that any method for inhibiting a combustion process must involve one or more of the following:
- removing heat at a faster rate than it is released
- separating the fuel and the oxidising agent
- diluting the vapour-phase concentration below that needed for combustion
- terminating the chemical chain reaction

4.2. Fire extinguishing agents properties

4.2.1. Water

Water is the most common agent used in general industrial fire suppression because of its cost, availability and
most importantly its class A effectiveness. Water has outstanding thermal properties in that converting one
kilogram of water at 0°C to steam at 100°C requires 2688 kJ of energy and in the process a volumetric expansion
of 1700 occurs. These two factors account for the extinguishing mechanism i.e. cooling and dilution of the oxygen
concentration.
The major drawbacks to water are its high freezing point at 0°C, high surface tension (72.8 dynes/cm) and low
viscosity. The high freezing point can be overcome by the addition of a freezing point depressant such as calcium
chloride or ethylene glycol.
The low viscosity of water also poses a problem, especially in relation to the application of water to vertical
surfaces. This can be overcome somewhat by the use of thickening agents such as fire fighting foams.

4.2.2. Fire Suppression Foams

The area of foams presents an attempt to overcome some of the disadvantages of water. Fire suppression foam
is a stable mass of small bubbles lighter than oil or water. Foam is a watery suspension of gas, usually Nitrogen
or air, in the form of bubbles separated by films of solution.

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There are two main types of foam:

 AFFF – Aqueous Film Forming Foam

Aqueous Film Forming Foams are water based and contain hydrocarbon based surfactants such as sodium alkyl
sulphate or a fluorosurfactant such as fluorotelomers, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), or perfluorooctanesulfonic
acid (PFOS). Foaming agents, stabilisers and solvents are added to form the concentrate. AFFF creates a thin
film on the fuel surface stopping fuel from evaporating and reducing its oxygen supply. AFFF systems are
relatively large, which can pose difficulties on smaller items/vehicles because of the space needed. The discharge
is usually in excess of 1 minute to provide good cooling.

 Protein foams
Protein foams have almost the same fire fighting capabilities of AFFF, but the operating temperature ranges are
smaller: between -15°C and 49°C and it is most commonly used in concentrations of 3% or 6%.
NB: Protein foam from non-animal sources are preferred because of the possible threats of biological
contaminants like prions (infectious agent composed of a protein in a misfolded form).

4.2.3. Wet chemical

Wet chemical agent is a blend of organic and inorganic salts coupled with surface active agents. This lowers the
freeze protection to a possible -40°C and still retains the foaming properties of other foams.
Many off road vehicles have large volumes of oils and hydraulic fluids under pressure. With the large amount of
fuels available, a variety of fires can occur, such as pressure, three dimensional, Class A and spill. Foams and
wet chemical can flow into hard to reach areas where flammable fuels may also have flowed into. This can also
be achieved using additives (eg ‘Drench’ additive that lowers the surface tension of water).

4.2.4. Dry chemical and powders

Dry chemical extinguishing agents are comprised of a finely-divided powdered material that has been specifically
treated to be water repellent and capable of being fluidised and free-flowing when under expellant gas pressure.
There are several types of dry chemical extinguishing agents available, each having its own distinct capabilities.
Dry chemicals are available for almost all types of fires.

 Potassium Salt based

Potassium bicarbonate, potassium chloride, urea – Good against fluid fires (classes B, C), but not recommended
for class A.

 BC Powder
Sodium bicarbonate based and is good against fluid fires (classes B, C), but not recommended for class A, mild
saponification effect on hot grease. Trade names for BC powder include Monnex and Purple K.

 ABC Powder
Monoammonium phosphate based, is good against Classes A, B and C and does not possess a saponification
characteristic. However it is inappropriate for chlorine or oxidizer fires as well as certain class D fires. Foray is an
example of a trade name for ABC dry chemical.

The almost instantaneous quenching of flames by dry chemicals can be accounted for on the basis of chemical
inhibition.

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4.2.5. Gaseous fire suppression agents

Gaseous fire fighting agents have rapid knock down capabilities and work by diluting the concentration of oxygen
around the combustion. Some gaseous agents also absorb heat by means of endothermic chemical reactions
thus reducing the risk of reignition. It is important however that all these agents be used in engineered systems or
environments that have early detection capabilities and rapid actuation.

Many Gaseous fire suppression agents can be used, such for instance Carbon Dioxide. It is stored as liquefied
gas and works by diluting the atmosphere below the necessary concentration of oxygen needed for sustained
combustion. It is not suitable for Class A fires because it does not remove sufficient heat in order to prevent
reignition. CO2 is often applied at concentrations above 50%, however these levels can be hazardous and should
be treated with caution. Carbon dioxide systems have a temperature range of 0°C to 50°C. When CO2 is expelled
below 0°C it is known to frost and create blockages in a system.

All these agents should be used in engineered systems or environments having early detection capabilities and
rapid activation. The compartments in which these agents are used should be semi-closed and for optimum effect
they should be sealed. So they are usually not applicable to Liebherr Mining Excavators and Shovels.

4.2.6. Pros & Cons of the fire extinguishing agents

Multi-purpose Dry Chemical

This agent is currently the most widely used agent in the vehicle suppression market. Having proved its
effectiveness on all classes of fires, it is the agent currently with the highest level of documentary evidence as to
its effectiveness.
Dry chemical systems are relatively compact in size. On a weight basis they are probably the most effective agent
in extinguishing fires. These systems also have a broad operating temperature range of -54°C to 98.9°C without
any form of modification.
Whilst dry chemical agents provide rapid fire knockdown capabilities, they have poor post fire security and a
possibility of the fire reigniting once the powder has settled. Improperly sealed containers can be contaminated
with moisture, leading to caking of the powder and reduce the suppression qualities.

Aqueous Film Forming Foam – AFFF

AFFF is a water based agent and therefore has the advantage that it can cool the area down, lessening the
chance of the fire reigniting. An incidental benefit of these systems is that the ‘run off’ agent may suppress
secondary fires which may occur under the vehicle should the fuel etc. have collected and subsequently ignited.
AFFF has been the preferred agent for vehicle fire protection systems in Australia and some parts of the Pacific
Rim, where temperature constraints are not so severe.

AFFF has controlled test fires in 36-60% of the time needed by other foams and can be used in concentrations as
low as 1%. The major drawback is its high freezing point of 0°C, which can be reduced to as low as -30°C and as
high as 99°C by introducing additives.

Wet Chemical
Wet Chemical has similar properties to AFFF but it provides a strong measure of freeze protection (as low as -
50°C). Similar to AFFF, wet chemical systems are relatively large compared to dry chemical systems. A typical
canister may contain up to 115 litres of agent. This may make installation of the systems difficult on smaller items
of plant. They have discharge times up to 2 minutes to give good cooling effect and place a blanket over the fuel
to reduce oxygen; storage and operating temperatures range from -50°C to 93°C.

Twin Agent
Twin agent systems use a combination of dry chemical and AFFF/wet chemical to give fire suppression and
surface cooling in the hazard area. Multi-purpose dry chemical discharges to give rapid fire knockdown and at the
same time the AFFF/wet chemical agent will discharge to give effective cooling, preventing the fire from reigniting.

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Gaseous Agents
The gases most commonly used for vehicle systems are Inergen, Argonite, Argotec, FM200 and CO2. These
agents are suitable for use in enclosed spaces and preferably fitted with fast responding detectors. Therefore the
systems must be designed and, where necessary, vehicles modified to retain the agent for as long as possible. If
belly pans are not fitted to the machine then panels will be needed in order to retain the gas. This is essential as
most of the gases in use are heavier than air and will disperse rapidly. Practical problems such as overheating
due to the closure of these openings may occur.
A operational problem is ensuring that all access panels and doors are kept closed under normal operating
conditions. Any breeze will carry the gas away rendering it ineffective.
The effectiveness of gas on off-road and on-road vehicles is debatable, and it is recommended that in over and
off-road vehicle and plant applications they should be avoided if possible. The only exceptions would be where
electrical equipment is present and compartments are well sealed.

4.3. Detection Systems Properties

Four types of detectors are commonly used to sense the presence of flames, heat and smoke.
 Flame detectors sense the infrared, visible or ultra-violet light emitted by the fire.
 Smoke detectors sense the presence of visible or invisible combustion particles.
 Carbon Monoxide detectors sense the presence of carbon monoxide particles.
 Heat detectors which sense abnormally high temperature or rate of temperature rise are generally classified
as fixed temperature or rate-of-rise detectors.

4.3.1. Flame Detectors (Infra-red, ultra-violet…)

Flame detectors respond by detecting particular wavelengths of light in the visible, ultraviolet and infrared
spectrums. These are ideally suited for use in petrochemical industry and military applications where rapid
response is required. They are also used in explosion suppression systems where ultra-fast detection and
suppression is required and can be achieved in less than 5 milliseconds.
In the past flame detectors were not commonly used in vehicle and heavy plant fire detection because they were
obstructed by debris in the atmosphere. Modern flame detectors make use of air shields in order to prevent such
obstructions, advanced infra-red detection and therefore they are now widely used for vehicle fire detection.

Some models have the capability to detect a wide range of electro-magnetic radiation (emitted from combustion
or other sources) meaning that the detectors can eliminate false alarms from sources such as sunlight, welding
torches, cigarettes and other heat sources. However, all electromagnet flame detectors require line of sight.
Maintenance of the detectors is crucial and it is important that they are tested frequently.

4.3.2. Smoke detectors

These detectors sense the presence of visible or invisible combustion particles. Therefore, they are not suitable
for use on most items of heavy plant where they will be prone to false alarm from exhaust fumes from the engine
and other external environmental debris. Their use is normally restricted to industrial and commercial premises
where the environment is normally clean.

4.3.3. Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Carbon-based materials in the smouldering stage of a fire can produce significant levels of carbon monoxide.
Carbon monoxide detectors contain an electrochemical cell that senses carbon monoxide and will give early
warning for a fire.
Carbon monoxide detectors are less susceptible to false alarms as they are not triggered by smoke, steam etc.
However they are set to higher sensitivities than other detectors and will respond to carbon monoxide from faulty
gas appliances or vehicle exhausts, making them unsuitable for use on vehicles.

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4.3.4. Heat detectors

This class of detectors is most commonly used in mobile plant applications. These units can be split into a
number of groups.

Point or spot detectors

These are set temperature detectors or rate-of-rise sensitive detectors.

Spot detectors are used in vehicle and mobile heavy plant because of their rugged design and simple actuation.
Spot heat detectors come in different formats and different actuation temperatures in order to suit their purpose.
Most spot heat detectors work on a normally closed circuit (current is running through them in normal operation)
and then when the detector reaches the predetermined temperature it opens the circuit and the current being
carried back to the control unit is lost initiating the fire warning system. Spot heat detectors are a relatively low
cost and effective means of detecting fire. However, unlike flame detectors, they have fewer checks in order to
determine if a fire or heat source is a false alarm.

Linear electrical detectors

These fall into a number of subcategories namely:
 An increase in temperature causing a decrease in resistance
 An increase in temperature causing an increase in capacitance and a decrease in resistance.
 An increase in temperature causing the salt filled core to conduct at a predetermined melting point.
 A 2-wire conductor covered with insulation that melts at predetermined value, causing the conductors to
short circuit.

Linear detectors that vary capacitance or resistance when subjected to heat are not considered to be suitable for
use on vehicles as they have been found to be susceptible to false alarms due to the variations in operating
temperature experienced within the engine/hydraulic compartments.
The other type of linear detector uses two spring steel conductors which are separated by a heat sensitive
insulator. At a predetermined temperature the insulation melts allowing the conductors to come into contact
resulting in a change in signal relayed back to the control module. To overcome the problems of different
temperature sensing requirements spot heat detectors or thermal switches can be placed in areas requiring
specific point detection. These can then be interlinked with linear detection cable. This system can be installed
where the ambient temperature is between -40°C and 60°C and actuation temperatures can range from 132°C to
182°C.

Linear pressure or pneumatic detectors

These also fall into 2 sub-groupings:

 Pressurised nylon tube type,

The tubing melts at a predetermined temperature and causes a pressure drop that triggers the extinguishing
systems.

Pneumatic and pressure detectors have been used for many years and operate by using simple
mechanical/pneumatic principals. A pressurised detection tube runs throughout the protected area, when ruptured
by heat or flame the pressure is released. The absence of pressure actuates the extinguishing system by either
operating a firing head on the expellant gas tank or, in the case of some pre-pressurised extinguishing systems,
by opening a valve thus allowing the extinguishing agent to enter the distribution pipe work. These systems have
the advantage that they can be used without the need for electronics, therefore can be used in hazardous areas
where the expense of using intrinsically safe or flame-proof electrical systems may be prohibitive and relatively
low cost compared to electronic systems.

 Pressurised fire/overheat detectors

An increase in temperature causes an increase in pressure inside a pipe closing a pressure switch and bridging a
circuit. This system will respond to an increase in the overall ambient temperature and also a local increase in
temperature. This is achieved by the use of a detection tube filled with helium surrounding a metal hydride core.
When the ambient temperature increases the helium pressure increases, this will correspond to a particular

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detection pressure and if the ambient temperature is high enough it will initiate the system. If the fire heats the
detection tube locally then the increase in temperature initiates a reaction inside the metal hydride and hydrogen
is released into the tube increasing the pressure in order to initiate the extinguishing system.

Pressurised fire and overheat detectors are used on many aircraft and railway locomotives requiring little, if any,
scheduled maintenance. The detector has two sensing functions. It responds to an overall average temperature
threshold or to a highly localised ‘discrete temperature caused by impinging flame or hot gases. Both the
‘average’ and ‘discrete’ temperatures are factory pre-set. The detector also has a fire resistance of 1,100°C for 5
minutes and resets all function after use. However, if the detector is physically damaged then the whole unit
needs to be replaced.

4.4. Control System

Systems are currently available that give fire warning only, therefore requiring the operator to stop and manually
operate the fire suppression system and then evacuate the machine. Others give fully automatic 24-hour
protection to the machine, requiring the operator only to evacuate the machine. These systems have the ability to
shut down the engine.

The fire suppression control module should be connected to the excavator’s or shovel’s electrical installation in
order to activate the emergency stop procedure in case of fire (engine shutdown, hydraulic tank venting, etc.). It
should also be mounted where it is visible to the operator.

Control modules may have a “renewable delay function” to postpone the activation and the release of the fire
suppression system to park up safely (historically for dumpers and trucks). Liebherr recommends not using the
“renewable delay function” and recommends to the operator evacuating the excavator or shovel as soon as
possible in case of fire. Priority is to be given to the operator’s safety.

4.5. Additional Safety Precautions

It is extremely important to clean the excavator or shovel regularly to avoid amounts of combustible such as
hydraulic fluids, fuel and grease on the machine. Alternative fire suppression equipment should be available in
case the system does not totally extinguish the fire, or if there is re-ignition of a fire.

Fire suppression systems should include portable fire extinguishers and operators should be aware of their
location and use.

4.6. Inspection of stored pressure and cartridge operated systems

National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard No. 17, the Standard for Dry Chemical Extinguishing
Systems, outlines the monthly and semi-annual inspection requirements for both stored pressure and cartridge
operated systems.

Stored pressure and cartridge operated units must be hydrostatically tested, this is usually every 10 years in the
UK and EU or every 12 years in the US, but can vary depending on the cylinder or tank specification or the
country legislation. Most countries have legislation or building code that relates to the frequency of hydrostatic
testing. Typical organisations include ISO/EU (UK/EU), DOT/NFPA (US) and ASTM (International). In order to
perform these services specialised equipment is required and so the extinguisher is often removed from the
installation and taken to a service facility.
However if the cylinder or tank experiences any impact, corrosion or other damage that could impair the
functionality it is important that they are tested to ensure they will not fail before or during use.

The dry chemical in cartridge operated units is to be inspected every six months. Unlike stored pressure canisters
this can be done simply by removing the extinguisher cap. The dry chemical need only be replaced if it is caked or
shows evidence of moisture contamination.

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Appendix

LIST OF APPROVALS

FM Global, Factory Mutual:

o FM 5970

UL, Underwriters Laboratories:

o UL 1254

NFPA, National Fire Protection Association:

o NFPA 17
o NFPA 17A
o NFPA 120
o NFPA 121

AS, Australian Standard:

o AS 5062-2006

P-Mark, SP Technical Research Institute of Sweden:

o SP Test Method 4912
o SPCR 183

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