What is HI-FOG®?
HI-FOG® is the trade name of the high-pressure water mist fire protection system developed, manufactured and delivered by Marioff.
The HI-FOG® Water Mist Fire Protection System can be used in place of deluge, gas, foam, dry chemical, traditional sprinkler and any other type of fixed fire protection system. It is efficient against most types of fires.
HI-FOG® water mist
HI-FOG® controls, suppresses and extinguishes fires by discharging a fine water mist at high velocity. The water mist is made by the system when it activates: it pushes the plain, potable water at high pressure through specially designed, patented HI-FOG® sprinkler and spray heads. The water mist is discharged at high velocity by high-pressure pumps or accumulators.
HI-FOG® water usage
HI-FOG® uses three mechanisms to fight fire: cooling, radiant heat blocking and local oxygen inerting. Traditional sprinkler systems use wetting as their main mechanism, and therefore use very large amounts of water.
HI-FOG® uses water much more efficiently: it uses up to 90% less water than traditional sprinkler systems for the same application with equivalent or better performance.
How HI-FOG® fights fire
HI-FOG® controls, suppresses or extinguishes fires by discharging a fine water mist at high velocity.
The water mist is made by discharging plain, potable water at high pressure through specially designed, patented HI-FOG® sprinkler or spray heads. The water mist is discharged at high velocity by the system’s high-pressure pumps or accumulators.
Attacking the fire
The micro-droplets of HI-FOG® represent water in its most effective fire fighting form. The high pressure enables the water mist to penetrate into the fire.
The small droplets vaporize very fast and, when doing so, absorb heat very efficiently. At the same time, the water mist expands 1,760 times, displacing the oxygen at the seat of the fire.
Protecting the surroundings
HI-FOG® water mist also provides an efficient water curtain, which blocks the radiant heat, preventing the fire from spreading or reigniting. Smoke particles also bind with the droplets, preventing the smoke from spreading.
Using little water
HI-FOG® delivers extremely good performance, combating fire by removing two of the main elements a fire needs to survive: heat and oxygen. This is achieved with remarkably little water: HI-FOG® uses up to 90% less water than conventional sprinkler solutions.
The fire fighting effectiveness of a water mist system is defined by drop size distribution, the number of droplets, and penetration to the fire. The combination of these properties is entirely system-specific.
Why HI-FOG®?
Why water mist?
Thanks to the many advances in HI-FOG® water mist technology, water-based fire protection works effectively in a wide variety of spaces.
Using water mist brings several key advantages, such as:
- Highly efficient: HI-FOG® has proven its fire fighting efficiency on both A- and B-class fires in laboratory tests and actual fires
- Non-hazardous: HI-FOG® water mist is completely harmless to people and the environment.
- Clean: HI-FOG uses only small amounts of plain, fresh water. It causes virtually no damage and requires very little clean-up.
- No sealed space: HI-FOG water mist does not require an enclosed space
Why high-pressure?
Water mist systems use low, medium or high pressure to discharge the mist. However, the results are very different in each case. Marioff’s relentless testing and experience has shown that high pressure delivers consistently:
- Better penetration into the seat of the fire
- Better coverage of the protected area
- Better cooling effect from higher evaporation rate
- Lower overall system weight
- Less water consumption
Why choose HI-FOG®?
HI-FOG® is the pioneer of high-pressure water mist, and continues to break new ground in water-based fire protection. Marioff makes significant investments into research and development to further improve HI-FOG®. All improvements are grounded in full-scale fire tests.
To maintain high standards of quality, Marioff controls the entire system development process. Raw materials are obtained only from selected suppliers who can ensure the best grades. Manufacturing of key components such as sprinklers and spray heads, valves, and fittings is carried out entirely in-house. In addition, Marioff assembles its own pump units and accumulators.
HI-FOG® system types
HI-FOG® is very flexible, allowing for a wide range of configurations. Each configuration may contain one or more of the following types of systems.
A typical HI-FOG® system layout
Wet pipe system
Wet pipe systems are typically used in accommodation and similar areas where solid materials are the combustible media. When ambient temperature exceeds a given limit, the activation bulb of the sprinkler bursts and water mist is discharged from that particular sprinkler.
Deluge system
A deluge system normally has open spray heads with water flow controlled by closed valves. When a valve is opened, water mist is discharged by all spray heads in the section controlled by that valve. Deluge systems are typically used in spaces where fuel fires could occur.
Dry pipe system
Dry pipe systems operate similarly to wet pipe systems, but the water is kept on the pump side by a closed valve. Tubes are instead filled with compressed air and monitored: a pressure drop indicates a broken sprinkler bulb. Water is then released and discharged by the activated sprinkler(s). Dry pipe systems are typically used in spaces subject to freezing.
Pre-action system
This system type is essentially the same as a dry pipe system, except that it is connected to a fire detection system. A discharge requires both a sprinkler bulb to burst and an alarm to be raised by the independent fire detection system. Pre-action systems are used to protect areas where the risk of false discharge or leakage must be kept to an absolute minimum.
Fire protection is important to your business. Finding the solutions to your fire protection needs is something we have been doing since 1990. Our customers have found that they can trust the experience, knowledge, honesty, integrity and ethics of Intelli-tech team. We invite you to contact one of the members of this team to discuss how Intelli-tech can protect your employee’s life safety and your valuable assets for the continued operation and success of your company. Contact us or call (925) 484-3701 for a Systems and Design Consultant to assist you with your needs.