GreenTips

Fire protection is not often considered an important environmental issue. The environmental effects of a fire can be significant though in terms of the impact on resources, release of toxins and affects on human health.

Normally inert materials used in the construction of modern buildings can, in the presence of fire, release a toxic cocktail of gasses containing pollutants which will eventually find its way into the earth’s atmosphere and ecosystems.

The release of toxic smoke is also one of the most deadly aspects of building fires. Many more occupants are killed in building fires as a result of the inhalation of toxic smoke than from the fire itself.

The most common type of fire suppression systems are water based sprinkler systems or fine mist systems can offer effective fire control at the source of the fire. These systems require a significant amount of potable water a large quantity of which is lost during period testing. Testing water can be harvested and used for irrigation and other low grade uses

Traditionally fire suppression systems have relied heavily on Halon gases. However it was found these were very aggressive depleters of the ozone layer, in fact 1kg of Halon in the atmosphere can destroy 20 tonnes of ozone. The general import of Halons into New Zealand has been banned since 1990 but there are still considerable stocks in functioning systems and in storage following decommissioning.

Systems that are environmentally safe, colourless, and odourless are now available and are safe for occupied areas for limited times. Typically these work on mixtures of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide.

The New Zealand Fire Service provides good background information on designing to reduce fire risk.

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