Take a look at the testing of the new Fire Suppression System project in TC’s Aircraft Services hangar in Ottawa.
Replacing a fire suppression system in a very busy facility is complex and requires much planning; almost 18 months in this case.
The new and improved system uses sprinklers that protect the building with a 2% high expansion foam that protects aircraft. It also offers significant environmental improvement, as the foam is contained in a large reservoir, as opposed to being discharged into the sewage system.
The modernization and testing for such an important project happens every 20 to 30 years. This is just one of the many interesting activities TC’s aircraft services team is planning.
Video Transcript
Text on screen: Transport Canada’s Hangar, Ottawa, Ontario
Text on screen: Ryan Shields, Chief Facilities Environmental and Site Safety
Ryan Shields:
This fire suppression project is a retrofit of a hangar that was built in 1960, and most recently, the fire code has changed to where it makes the requirement to be environmentally responsible as well as more efficient in firefighting. This system is a standard installation for most hangars of this size.
There are many components to this fire suppression system.
There is flame detection, overhead sprinklers and foam generators. In order to ensure that the system is working properly, we will be simulating a fire and then allowing the entire system to activate like it would in a real fire situation. If there is a fire, these flame detectors detect the fire, and the foam will come out of these foam generators engulfing the entire hangar to protect the aircraft.
This foam expands at a very fast rate. It's very bubbly. Because of the great value of all the different aircraft that we have in this hangar, it is imperative that we have a system in place to protect them.