Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety

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Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety
Established1992
Director A K Srivastava
AddressBrig.S.K. Mazumdar Marg,
Lucknow Road, Timarpur,
Delhi - 110 054
Location Delhi, India
Operating agency
 DRDO
Website CFEES Home Page

The Centre for Fire, Explosive and Environment Safety (CFEES) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Timarpur, Delhi, its main function is the development of technologies and products in the area of explosive, fire and environmental safety. CFEES is organised under the Armaments Directorate of DRDO. The present director of CFEES is Arvind Kumar [1]

Contents

History

The Centre for Explosive and Environment Safety (CEES) was established in 1992 by merging three DRDO establishments; DRDO Computer Centre, Delhi, The Directorate of Explosives Safety, DRDO HQ, and the Fire Adviser's Office, DRDO HQ. [2] In 2000 another DRDO lab, "Defence Institute of Fire Research (DIFR)" was merged with CEES. In order to emphasise the importance of fire science, the Government renamed CEES as CFEES in 2003.

Areas of Work

CFEES works in the area of Explosive safety, Fire protection and environmental safety. [3] In addition to developing technologies to protect against these threats, it also trains personnel in these areas, and enforces safety standards in the use of hazardous materials- toxic, explosive and flammable. CFEES also designs and develops sensors to detect these threats.

Explosive Safety - CFEES helps in the Siting of explosive processing and storage dumps and the design, testing and evaluation of safe explosive storage houses. Additionally, it trains armed forces personnel and DRDO scientists in the safe use of explosives and ordnance, and enforces compliance of safety rules. Simulation and risk modeling is also carried out, in order to aid in Disaster Management.

Environment Safety - CFEES develops treatment and disposal techniques for hazardous Heavy Metal Wastes, as well as Photodegradable Polyethylene for use as packaging material at high altitudes, which prevents the pollution in mountainous areas where the Indian Army operates, such as Kargil and Siachen.

CFEES also plays an active role in formulating the phase-out strategy for halon and other ozone layer threatening gases. The National Halon Management Programme, funded under bilateral programme, is implemented by CFEES, supported by Ozone Cell, India. [4] Halons are one of the six categories of chemicals that are covered under the phase-out programme of the Montreal Protocol. The Montreal Protocol, to which India is a signatory, has called upon the parties to phase out the CFCs, halons and other man-made ozone-depleting chemicals. [5] In this regard, the lab is researching into alternative chemicals for fire suppression and other uses.

Fire Safety - CFEES is involved in the development of automatic fire and explosion detection and suppression systems for armoured vehicles, and water mist based fire protection Systems for various applications. It also develops lightweight fire protection clothing. A smoke test tunnel for creating fire signatures under various conditions has been installed.

Specialised Training for armed forces personnel in fire protection, safety, prevention and firefighting is also conducted by CFEES. The lab has also developed a software package for virtual firefighting and fire training simulation.

Projects and Products

Many of the technologies and processes developed by CFEES [6] have more extensive uses in civilian sector. As a result, many of these products have been licensed to Private companies for manufacture, with export potential being considered. [7]

Fire Protection

Fire Detection and Suppression Systems for AFVs

CFEES has successfully designed and operationalized Integrated Fire Detection and Suppression Systems for Armoured vehicles like the Arjun MBT, Ajeya and Abhay IFV projects of the Ordnance Factory Board. [8] The system is based on infrared detectors for the detection of fire/explosion in the crew compartment, and is capable of suppressing fuel-fire explosions resulting from an enemy hit or due to any malfunction of the engine, transmission or electrical short circuit. The system is capable of detection and suppression of fires in the crew compartment within 200 milliseconds and in the engine compartment within 15s.

Water Mist based Fire Protection

Water Mist based Fire Protection Systems have been developed. This includes new nozzles for the generation of water mist, working at low pressure of 12 bars and above to facilitate the proper atomisation of water droplets under high pressure. This systems is used for the following applications:

  • IR signature suppression of plume emitted by exhaust of Naval ships
  • Air cargo bay
  • Electronic cabinet fires
  • Fuel –air explosion suppressions

Intelligent Fire Sensor

CFEES has developed an Intelligent Fire Sensor with software based on a fire signature database that allows its fire detection system to accurately identify true fire situations in a few seconds while rejecting false alarms. [5] The sensor is a highly sensitive detection system coupled with powerful intelligent analysis, which allows fire detection even in dusty environment. The use of laser diode source and multiple reflection increases the sensitivity of smoke detection.

The sensors sense the temperature and smoke, making the fire detector sensitive to both slow-smouldering and fast-burning fires. The system can be installed on board the ships, offshore machinery rooms, aircraft cargo compartments, industries, chemical plants, warehouses, etc. Production of this sensor is being carried out by Southern Electronics Pvt. Ltd., a Bangalore based private manufacturer. [9]

Fire extinguishing chemicals

A vapour-based fire extinguisher, developed jointly by CFEES and Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, uses hepta-fluropropane as a replacement to halon-1301, which has been banned by the Montreal Protocol. [10]

A monoammoniumphosphate (MAP)-based multi-purpose, dry chemical ABC powder for extinguishing fires has also been developed. [5] This is environment-friendly as it does not release toxic gases or residue. [10] Production of the same is being carried out by K.V. Fire Chemicals Pvt. Ltd., Mumbai, [9] which plans to introduce it into the civilian market. [10]

Environment protection

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chlorofluorocarbon</span> Class of organic compounds commonly used as refrigerants

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) are fully or partly halogenated hydrocarbons that contain carbon (C), hydrogen (H), chlorine (Cl), and fluorine (F), produced as volatile derivatives of methane, ethane, and propane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bromochlorodifluoromethane</span> Chemical compound

Bromochlorodifluoromethane (BCF), also referred to by the code numbers Halon 1211 and Freon 12B1, is a haloalkane with the chemical formula CF2ClBr. It is used for fire suppression, especially for expensive equipment or items that could be damaged by the residue from other types of extinguishers. It is stored as a liquid under pressure and vaporizes when discharged to suppress fires. The use of halons, including Halon 1211, has decreased over time due to their adverse impact on the ozone layer. Alternatives have been developed to mitigate environmental concerns while still providing effective fire suppression capabilities.

Bromotrifluoromethane, commonly known as Halon 1301, R13B1, Halon 13B1 or BTM, is an organic halide with the chemical formula CBrF3. It is used for gaseous fire suppression as a far less toxic alternative to bromochloromethane.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arjun (tank)</span> Main battle tank

The Arjun is a third generation main battle tank developed by the Combat Vehicles Research and Development Establishment (CVRDE) of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), for the Indian Army. The tank is named after Arjuna, the archer prince who is the main protagonist of the Indian epic poem Mahabharata. Design work began in 1986 and was finished in 1996. The Arjun main battle tank entered service with the Indian Army in 2004. The 43rd Armoured Regiment, formed in 2009, was the first regiment to receive the Arjun.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Defence Research and Development Organisation</span> Government agency in India

The Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) is the premier agency under the Department of Defence Research and Development in Ministry of Defence of the Government of India, charged with the military's research and development, headquartered in Delhi, India. It was formed in 1958 by the merger of the Technical Development Establishment and the Directorate of Technical Development and Production of the Indian Ordnance Factories with the Defence Science Organisation under the administration of Jawaharlal Nehru. Subsequently, Defence Research & Development Service (DRDS) was constituted in 1979 as a service of Group 'A' Officers / Scientists directly under the administrative control of Ministry of Defence.

Halomethane compounds are derivatives of methane with one or more of the hydrogen atoms replaced with halogen atoms. Halomethanes are both naturally occurring, especially in marine environments, and human-made, most notably as refrigerants, solvents, propellants, and fumigants. Many, including the chlorofluorocarbons, have attracted wide attention because they become active when exposed to ultraviolet light found at high altitudes and destroy the Earth's protective ozone layer.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane</span> Chemical compound

1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane, also called heptafluoropropane, HFC-227ea, HFC-227 or FM-200, as well as apaflurane (INN), is a colourless, odourless gaseous halocarbon commonly used as a gaseous fire suppression agent.

Trifluoroiodomethane, also referred to as trifluoromethyl iodide is a halomethane with the formula CF3I. It is an experimental alternative to Halon 1301 (CBrF3) in unoccupied areas. It would be used as a gaseous fire suppression flooding agent for in-flight aircraft and electronic equipment fires.

A fire class is a system of categorizing fire with regard to the type of material and fuel for combustion. Class letters are often assigned to the different types of fire, but these differ between territories; there are separate standards for the United States, Europe, and Australia. The fire class is used to determine the types of extinguishing agents that can be used for that category.

PhostrEx is a fire suppression agent developed for use in aviation applications to replace halon, a greenhouse gas (GHG). It was developed by Eclipse Aviation for use aboard their Eclipse 500 very light jets as an engine fire suppression system, and is now being marketed to other aviation manufacturers.

High Energy Materials Research Laboratory (HEMRL) is one of the premier laboratories of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) located in Pune Maharashtra. Main area of works of the lab include research and development of high energy materials and related technologies. HEMRL is organised under the Armaments Directorate of DRDO. The current director of the lab is Dr A P Dash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Fire extinguisher</span> Active fire protection device

A fire extinguisher is a handheld active fire protection device usually filled with a dry or wet chemical used to extinguish or control small fires, often in emergencies. It is not intended for use on an out-of-control fire, such as one which has reached the ceiling, endangers the user, or otherwise requires the equipment, personnel, resources or expertise of a fire brigade. Typically, a fire extinguisher consists of a hand-held cylindrical pressure vessel containing an agent that can be discharged to extinguish a fire. Fire extinguishers manufactured with non-cylindrical pressure vessels also exist but are less common.

Defence Research & Development Establishment (DRDE) is an Indian defence laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Located in Gwalior, it is primarily involved in the research and development of detection and protection against toxic chemical and biological agents. DRDE is organised under the Life Sciences Directorate of DRDO. The present director of DRDE is Dr. Manmohan Parida.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Abhay IFV</span> Indian Infantry Combat Vehicle

Abhay is an Infantry Combat Vehicle (ICV) being developed in India by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). Abhay is being developed as a technology demonstrator for replacing Indian Army BMP-2s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Automatic fire suppression</span> Automatic Emergency Systems

Automatic fire suppression systems control and extinguish fires without human intervention. Examples of automatic systems include fire sprinkler system, gaseous fire suppression, and condensed aerosol fire suppression. When fires are extinguished in the early stages loss of life is minimal since 93% of all fire-related deaths occur once the fire has progressed beyond the early stages.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BEL Battle Field Surveillance Radar</span>

The PJT-531 Battle Field Surveillance Radar – Short Range(BFSR-SR) is a man portable 2D short-range battlefield and perimeter surveillance radar developed by the Indian Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). The BFSR has been designed by DRDO's Bengaluru-based laboratory, the Electronics and Radar Development Establishment (LRDE) and is being manufactured by Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Pentafluoroethane</span> Chemical compound

Pentafluoroethane is a fluorocarbon with the formula CF3CHF2. Pentafluoroethane is currently used as a refrigerant (known as R-125) and also used as a fire suppression agent in fire suppression systems.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Combat vehicle</span> Military vehicle designed for combat

A ground combat vehicle, also known as a land assault vehicle or simply a combat vehicle or an assault vehicle, is a land-based military vehicle intended to be used for combat operations. They differ from non-combat military vehicles such as trucks in that they are designed for use in active combat zones, to be used in mechanized warfare and mobile infantry roles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Condensed aerosol fire suppression</span> Particle-based form of fire extinction

Condensed aerosol fire suppression is a particle-based method of fire extinction. It is similar to but not identical to dry chemical fire extinction methods, using an innovative pyrogenic, condensed aerosol fire suppressant. It is a highly effective fire suppression method for class A, B, C, E and F. Some aerosol-generating compounds produce a corrosive by-product that may damage electronic equipment, although later generations lower the effect.

This article consists of projects of the Defence Research and Development Organisation.

References

  1. ↑ "DRDO". drdo.gov.in. Archived from the original on 8 August 2014.
  2. ↑ CFEES Historical Background Archived 16 December 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  3. ↑ CFEES Areas of Work Archived 8 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ Techmonitor.net report Sep-Oct 2006 Archived 15 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine .
  5. 1 2 3 4 Subramanian, T.S. (29 March 2007). "Spin-offs from defence research". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  6. ↑ Products and Technologies developed by CFEES Archived 10 August 2007 at the Wayback Machine
  7. ↑ Subramanian, T.S. (29 March 2007). "Spin-offs from defence research". The Hindu . Archived from the original on 29 October 2010. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
    A.K. Kapoor, Director, CFEES, said "We want to popularise these products. They have more applications in the civilian sector than in the defence sector. We would like them to be produced for civilian benefits,".
    Dr. W. Selvamurthy, Chief Controller, R&D, DRDO, said "These products have not only national but international market,".
  8. ↑ "Integrated Fire Suppression System for MBT Arjun". DRDO Technology Focus. 6 (3). June 1998. Retrieved 6 November 2007.[ dead link ]
  9. 1 2 3 "CFEES Transfers Technologies To Industry Partners" (PDF). DRDO Newsletter. 26 (9): 1–2. September 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 February 2007. Retrieved 6 November 2007.
  10. 1 2 3 Techmonitor.net report Sep-Oct 2006 Archived 15 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine . Report sourced from The Hindu

28°42′14″N77°13′01″E / 28.704°N 77.217°E / 28.704; 77.217

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