Firetrace International
Fire Suppression for a New Age

In the most intense moments of a fire emergency, Firetrace International’s products demonstrate their ability to save lives. Standing at the forefront of innovation, it manufactures industry-leading fire suppression systems that ensure the safety of businesses, people and machinery by delivering a swift, efficient and reliable response that suppresses flames at the source.

“We hold true to our mission of wanting to protect lives and livelihoods,” says Safiyyah Khan, vice president of marketing.

Owned and operated by Halma plc, a global group of life-saving technology companies, Firetrace continually adapts its solutions to meet changing technology, societal needs and regulatory codes. Over time, there has been a notable shift in fire safety requirements. Urban environments and corporate buildings now house a significantly greater amount of electrical equipment, incorporating modern technologies such as battery energy storage systems. A concentration of electrical infrastructure raises the risk of malfunctions or overheating, which can lead to electrical fires.

Firetrace’s leading-edge fire safety solutions are designed to safeguard high-risk equipment, like solar panels, CNC machines, electric vehicles, electrical cabinets and wind turbines. It has broadened its product line to cater to various sectors, such as transportation, infrastructure and specialized containers. It is also diversifying the applications it serves to offer solutions that ensure maximum protection beyond industry standards.

“Our products change, the applications that we serve change, the people that we partner with change because we are always looking to increase the types of applications we can successfully protect,” says Khan.

Firetrace organizes its business around vertical markets and geographic regions, catering to specific industry sectors with local staff and a robust network of partners. Fueled by the support of key distributors, it manages clean energy sector sales directly across major continents. It focuses on partnerships with wind turbine manufacturers and utility companies in Europe. In North America, Latin America, and the Middle East, it serves the machining and critical infrastructure sectors, with a growing emphasis on clean energy in both regions.

Effective and Reliable Protection

Firetrace’s flagship products center on its advanced detection capabilities. The core technology involves detection tubing designed to quickly identify the presence of a fire and deploy the appropriate suppression agent. The systems come in two variants, direct and indirect release, but the fundamental principle is the same - immediate detection and rapid suppression.

Variations in the size of the protected area and the level of required protection determine the type of agent and cylinder used. This flexibility allows Firetrace to tailor solutions to specific needs while maintaining the highest standards of reliability and effectiveness. Characterized by its simple design and ability to operate independently of external power sources, its detection system has proven crucial in rapidly identifying fires and initiating suppression efforts.

Surveillance footage of a recent fire outbreak on a client’s premises documented the immediate activation of Firetrace’s suppression system, which swiftly extinguished the flames before they could spread. Further investigation revealed that the timely suppression prevented a potential tragedy. A worker had left the room for a short break moments before the fire started, and might have returned to a life-threatening situation.

The current range of product offerings from Firetrace has been specifically tuned to suppress fires that start from the malfunction of new technologies. These vary from very small and simple electrical cabinet enclosures that previously lacked adequate protection systems to complex solutions for battery energy storage systems, particularly those using lithium-ion technology. These enclosures are currently safeguarded with aerosols, which can prevent thermal runway in the event a fire spreads into the batter cells.

Another significant benefit of Firetrace’s system is its ability to protect high-value machinery from extensive damage during fire incidents. Conventional methods use water or chemicals as suppression agents, which can irreversibly damage electrical equipment. Firetrace’s flagship “clean agent” can be safely wiped off, allowing the machinery to resume normal function.

One notable product is FlexRope, a portable tubing that can be installed in tiny spaces prone to fires, such as electrical cabinets. FlexRope is not connected to a storage cylinder or any intelligent system but is filled with a suppression agent. When temperatures exceed normal parameters inside a cabinet, the tube breaks and releases the agent to prevent a fire. Protecting smaller areas is a crucial aspect of Firetrace’s work in the clean energy sector, where protecting electrical components is vital to avoiding larger incidents.

Partnerships with non-fire suppression experts also allow it to offer additional solutions, such as fire panels and smoke detection systems. Within the Halma group, it has leveraged partnerships with other entities to develop solutions that can manage gas release, particularly crucial for handling chemical reactions in lithium-ion battery systems.

Customized and Clean Agent Fire Suppression

Firetrace offers a diverse range of fire suppression agents and is committed to developing increasingly sustainable solutions. As environmental regulations and customer needs evolve, the company is at the forefront of innovation to meet these changing demands. Sustainability has become a primary driver of product development at Firetrace, enabling it to balance environmental responsibility with customer satisfaction.

A dedicated engineering team is at the heart of this targeted approach. It works closely with clients to understand their needs and design solutions tailored to protect their specific equipment and machinery. While the company provides some plug-and-play solutions, most of its systems are bespoke to ensure optimal protection and performance, demonstrating a high level of customization.

Customization is also essential for minimizing the environmental impact of fire suppression systems. Firetrace employs eco-friendly agents that evaporate quickly. The move to clean agents involves substantial investment in testing and certification, but it remains dedicated to maintaining safety standards while advancing sustainability.
The inclusion of aerosol fire suppression agents in its portfolio is a large step in this direction, as these compounds contain no persistent environmental contaminants. It also maintains high sustainability standards across operations, focusing on responsible sourcing, energy offsets, water efficiency and using electric forklifts and vehicles in its compound. It prioritizes repurposing packaging materials and recycling metals, with regional manufacturing centers established in Asia to reduce carbon emissions from shipping. This approach involves increasing local production to align with global business operations, including local filling stations for the manufacturing and distributing of products in the regions where they will be used.
Promoting the Development of Safety Standards

In the months to come, Firetrace will continue to evolve its offerings, building on the areas where it is well established. It remains committed to ongoing innovation to expand its portfolio of fire suppression solutions and advance the technologies it can offer. It also prioritizes the rigorous testing and certification of its applications across various sectors.

For instance, while a system may be certified for railway protection, Firetrace can adapt it for use in a data center, accomplished through comprehensive adjustments, retesting and recertification to ensure compliance and efficacy in a different environment. This proactive approach underscores the company’s commitment to delivering tailored and reliable fire protection solutions across a range of specialized applications.

To actively participate and contribute to the formulation of regulations and guidelines aimed at enhancing safety standards, Firetrace engages with regulatory bodies such as fire marshals and government agencies. It also collaborates closely with insurance companies, aligning their interests with the protection of equipment, buildings and individuals.

Versatility defines Firetrace as a leading innovator, poised to address a broad spectrum of fire suppression challenges across multiple industries and as the preferred destination for clients seeking robust solutions that safeguard life and property.