A tec has been providing cutting edge fire protection systems around jet engine test cells for over 40 years.
People work in and near these engine test operations. Turbine Test Cells utilize expensive control systems, engine run equipment, utility packages and enclosures. The aircraft and engines tested at these sites are hugely expensive. Fire risk reduction begins in aeroengine test cell design, where layouts and materials are chosen for careful fire and environmental advantage. Our 2017 acquisition of Vital Link, Inc., brings unexcelled experience and expertise to our engine test fire suppression pedigree. Our staff of engineers and FSRs with fire system qualifications, along with our proven fire safety suppliers, offer our customers the very best in test cell fire suppression.

Atec provides fire suppression systems turnkey, as upgrade modifications, with GFE/CFE, with packaged products, and as custom solutions. We have experience with water mist & deluge, clean agents, CO2, foams, eco-friendly inerting agents, hybrids, aerosols, powders and halon servicing. Solutions range from carefully selected hand extinguishers to computer controlled detection, alarm, release, notification and shut down systems. Atec typically works with NFPA certified fire protection specialists to specify, design, supervise, integrate, test, document and review maintenance of Atec’s suppression systems. We work to UL and other code requirements. We have refined test cell fire suppression approaches that save our customers significant NRE costs, as systems are engineered for specific applications. Vital Link’s innovations with Novec and superfine watermist in test cells is world’s best, and have gained configuration adoption by USAF and Allies worldwide. Atec has similarly set the pace in FSS for configuration of control rooms, “cowling on” applications and cell utilities subsystems. These commonalities across platforms also cuts schedules, eases installation, reduces training, and typically comes with standard parts and consumables.

Special Hazards in Fire Safety are crucial issues in many of Atec’s projects, and involve:

Atec is familiar with precision piping, nozzling considerations, valving, hangers/supports, corrosion issues, sensors, vent & leakage areas, coverage calculations and suppression agent selection. Regardless of scope of project, Atec can provide facility PLC systems that are ideal for integration with UL861 PLCs, and for applications that necessitate monitoring, controlling and displaying information graphically, allowing operators to quickly assess the status of their operations. Atec is able to provide a dedicated Facility Control Panel consisting of mechanical pushbutton control switches to interface with the separate UL861 controller. As a safety feature, activation for the Engine Emergency Stop and Fire Suppression PLC System functions can be controlled directly without requiring the engine data acquisition system to be operational in the turbine test cell.

Atec is an ISO 14001:2014 organization, and we stress compliance to eco-friendly solutions. Our experience with all types of engine test sub-systems is unsurpassed. Atec knows Brick and Mortar turbine test cells, Hush Houses, Test Cells in a Box, and Intermediate Test Stands. We have the knowledge and data necessary to implement any fire suppression system for AeroEngine Test Cell applications. Atec was one of only two well-experienced engineering, construction and integration contractors providing testimonial inputs to the USAF in late 2015 on fire systems for next generation engine test and support enclosures. We monitor NFPA, UL, NICET, SFPE, FSSA, ISO and major manufacturers to be a well-informed pacesetter for fire safety in our aerosupport niche.

Fire Suppressants:
Certain fire suppression agents have the ability to quickly suppress fires and protect sensitive equipment without causing harm to people or the environment. Such advanced suppressants usually involve engineered systems that are especially suited to suppress Special Hazard fires in areas where an electrically non-conductive medium is required, where electronic systems cannot be shut down in an emergency, where cleanup of other agents poses a problem, and in normally human-occupied areas that demand a non-toxic, no residue agent. Modern fire retardant, no-residue gases such as Novec1230®, FM200 and FE25 are gaining popularity. Ultra-fine, low volume water mists and airborne powders are also receiving attention–and Atec is at the forefront of such aviation  and industrial fire suppression solutions. Atec recently joined a team involved in deployment of new, non-PFAs foam delivery systems for naval applications, and we expect promising results from these team efforts.

Contact us to discuss your fire safety needs!

Key Considerations:

• Costs reduced with developed products and teamed engineering expertise
• 100 Atec engineers and certified fire safety supplier partners working together
• 40+ years of Fire Suppression/Safety experience
• Familiar with leading edge and legacy suppression systems
• Facility design merged with environmental, health and safety considerations to offer comprehensive solutions per ISO 14001
• Digital/Computerized management systems for facility and operations controls and subsystems – a specialty of Atec for 65 years

Sample Projects:

• Navy JAX F404/414 modernization, with early Novec® no residue, eco-friendly retardant
• Rolls Royce/Indy A250 and RR300 Phoenix TCIBs uses Novec®/Sapphire®
• 15+ fire suppression systems tasks for USAF test cells
• T9s at Tinker AFB for JSF F135 engine testing utilizing water deluge/mist
• T4 at Laughlin AFB for USAF testing T38/J85 engines utilizing CO2
• T10 at Hurlburt AFB for indoor T21/T56 engine testing utilizing FM200