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Fire alarm system installation. 40 | D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 3 Fire Protection Systems P H OTO G R A P H Y BY B R E T T H I TC H I N S/CO U RT E S Y H O U L E EL EC T R I C A new era in the world of fire protection systems by ROBIN BRUNET A rguably, there is not a sin- gle element in the design and construction of commercial, institutional, and multi-family residences that doesn't address some aspect of fire prevention or detection – especially as the cost of development continues to rise. Therefore, providing all-in-one service is more important than ever. One example is Vipond and its fire suppression, alarm, life safety and security divisions. Thanks to its breadth of scope and techni- cal expertise, Vipond is able to provide leading-edge design and engineering resources to support on- time delivery and budget targets. Design teams deliver reliable, code compliant, and economic design solutions (including installa- tion plans and feasibility planning), which further drive efficiency and provide value to customers. In terms of products, Vipond has one of the larg- est dedicated sprinkler fabrication facilities in North America (located in Mississauga), with additional facilities strategically located across Canada. This is in addition to fire detection systems, including Notifier systems, optical flame detection, aspirated air sampling detection, linear heat detection, and specialty detectors and signals, as well as compre- hensive alarm monitoring. The technology supporting fire safety advances rapidly, prompting companies well known in the building trades to diversify over the years, incorporat- ing fire safety into their extensive range of services. Houle Electric stands out as a prime example. Rob Pinsent, project manager at Houle, points out that, "Pretty much every job we do has fire protection on it." Pinsent adds that growing trends include the use of VESDA aspirating smoke detection solutions (or air sampling products) and linear heat detection. These technologies are increasingly being deployed in accessible areas for ease of maintenance. "Even in accessible areas the use of VESDA has increased, especially when linked to multi-step, pre-action fire alarm systems," he says. Common to nearly every project it works on, Houle's team installs, services, inspects, and repairs fire alarms of all sizes and configurations. This team routinely replaces fire panels and tests new fibre optic communication networks for fire alarm sys- tems. Noteworthy among the large fire alarm projects completed by Houle are the BC Hydro Mica Dam, Royal Inland Hospital, The Stack at 1133 Melville, SFU Stadium, and Clayton Community Centre. Driving the success of fire prevention/detection companies is the research and development they undertake to bring new solutions to market, and on that score in January Vetrotech Saint-Gobain North America will unveil a new fire rated glass that could be described as revolutionary. Instead of the usual multiple layers of protective glass that dominate the market, Vetrotech has developed 120-minute rated glass with a single interlayer rather than sev- eral pieces. "What that does to our carbon footprint alone is incredible, let alone the benefits for any- one having to transport or manoeuvre fire-rated glass systems to a jobsite," says Kevin Norcross, Vetrotech's general manager. The product, which is the third generation of Contraflam, is a monochambered at-any-minute rating fire resistive glass with a new type of inter- layer the company calls Hybridcore. Notably, this product is not only lighter but also clearer, affording up to 90 percent light transmission. In a departure from earlier fire-rated glass, Contraflam doesn't have the product's previous temperature restric- tions. Its range is between minus 40 to plus 40 Fahrenheit. "Even though there's only one inter- layer, the glass will match all existing performance ratings," Norcross says. It took more than five years for Vetrotech to develop the new generation of Contraflam, and its importance to the company is such that it will be produced in a new facility in Minnesota for distribution throughout North America. "It will subsequently be available in Europe, and if it doesn't change the fire glass industry it will cer- tainly change the way people regard our company," Norcross says. "It will contribute greatly to the sus- tainability roadmap with 35 percent less embedded carbon, making it desirable for the new LEED 5 requirements and other designations." Vetrotech has also advanced its Pyroswiss safety glass to a more versatile range of UL-listed fire-pro- tective and impact-safety 45-minute applications. There are no U V-sensitive interlayers, no films or embedded wires in Pyroswiss 45, allowing the glass to realize a 90 percent visible light transmission in its low-iron option. Sound transmission values are among the lowest for its size on the fire-protective market today, with the added benefit of U V stability. Aluflam's long-term relationship with its glass supplier, Vetrotech, has entered a unique phase in 2023 with the two companies working in close co-operation to undertake the testing and qualifi- cation of a new variant of Contraflam. Meanwhile, Aluflam's fire-rated aluminum window, wall, and door systems continue to be in high demand throughout the North American market. Aluflam North America is a recognized leader in fire-rated aluminum/glass construction and has become known for its top-of-the-line vision doors, windows, and glazed wall systems. In addition to safety, the products are sought for their crisp lines, narrow frame profiles, superior choice of finishes, corrosion resistance, and ease of installation. Jerry Cucchi, sales manager at Aluflam, says, "The Ontario market has been very brisk over the past few years – lots of schools and mixed-use devel- opments. An example of the latter is 160 Front Street West in Toronto, a massive project that requires a significant amount of rated material and lots of doors, including 90-minute fire-rated doors in stair- wells." The project in question maintains the façade of a heritage building, while adding a new 47-storey office tower and 12,290 square feet of retail space. In B.C., Aluflam has been busy supplying doors and windows in the control areas of treatment plants (aluminum holds up well to the corro- sive chemicals used in these facilities), and Cucchi thinks that overall "we're on the cusp moving into 2024 of a growth period as a result of our testing of products as well as backfilling gaps in our product line. We've just finished a year that saw a nice mix of projects, and we've adjusted our capabilities to bet- ter position ourselves and extend our flexibility on behalf of clients." In The Heat Of The Moment

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