The editorial
by Natale Mozzanica
Never before has as much attention been paid to the environment as now.
Although different arguments may, in fact, be debatable, we certainly cannot fail to recognize that respect for the environment must always be a commitment for everyone.
In the decades of my life, in the firefighting sector, I have seen several areas improve; for example, the management of waste materials resulting from maintenance activities.
I remember that, with the aim of creating transparency in our work, Mozzanica, along with a group of companies from the Italian UMAN trade association, voluntarily agreed to be inspected by the Third-Party Body ICIM, based on a simple formula that, in addition to carefully evaluating the quantity of spare parts sold in relation to those purchased, delved into the disposal of materials.
To pass the inspection, it was necessary to have an ad hoc system to manage any waste material, ensuring its traceability at all times.
But when it comes to suppression technologies with “green” extinguishers, what can we say? The focus is now on “Fluorine-free” foams, but is it the only green extinguishing agent available? Certainly not.
Thirty years ago the Inergen gas extinguishing system entered the fire protection market, offering a well-balanced mixture derived from air fractionation of Nitrogen, Argon and CO2 ensuring excellent suppression while preserving human life. Sometimes, however, this solution was rejected in favor of a much cheaper, but polluting, classic CO2 system.
Today, fire prevention systems using Oxygen Reduction Systems (ORS) are available on the market. These systems utilize nitrogen, also generated from air fractionation, to prevent fire ignition by reducing the oxygen concentration to much lower levels while still safeguarding human life.
...a “green” fire protection solution may entail a higher initial investment compared to a traditional system. However, the assurance it offers is twofold...
Implementing an ecological solution like ORS, however, requires adopting new building design approaches.
Certainly, a “green” fire protection solution may entail a higher initial investment compared to a traditional system. However, the assurance it offers is twofold: the ability to extinguish fires while simultaneously protecting people, the environment, and goods.
Over the years, there have been several advancements, and I believe that with a simple shift in mindset towards the problem, we could make even better progress.