Automatic Fire Extinguishing System (AFES) Improves Vehicle Readiness
NCMS Project #: 141023
Problem: Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems (AFES) built into the design of industrial and commercial vehicles would control and extinguish fires without human intervention. Current fire protection systems use Halon as the primary fire extinguisher. However, Halon is not environmentally friendly as it has a very high ozone depleting potential. As such, Halon production ceased on January 1, 1994 under the Clean Air Act. Current stores of Halon are permitted to be used, however a suitable replacement must be found.
Benefit: Increasing the effectiveness of AFES by increasing the speed with which fires are detected will result in fewer catastrophic fires that consume entire vehicles. Employing all tactics to make ground transportation safer is a benefit for everyone sharing the road or using ground transportation to ship and deliver goods.
Solution/Approach: This project will help determine better ways to more effectively and efficiently integrate fire suppression technology into other legacy military vehicles that could be reset and rebuilt to demonstrate that the new AFES technology is safer, less expensive and more effective at suppression of fires.
Impact on Warfighter:
- Improve safety
- Reduce costs
- Increase warfighter readiness
DOD Participation:
- U.S. Army TACOM, Integrated Logistics Support Center (ILSC)
Industry Participation:
- Kidde
- NCMS
Benefit Area(s):
- Cost savings
- Positive environmental impact
- Safety
Focus Area:
- Energy, environmental, health, and safety