The study tries to characterize the acoustics of this extinction device, which has often been used by forest extinction services. It is a result of an agreement signed between the Environment Department of the Andalusian Council, the Physical and Environmental Acoustics Unit (University of Granada), EGMASA (Environmental Management Company), the AIFEMA association and the BEAEXTIN Company for the scientific study of the “Explosion extinguisher”.
The persons in charge of the institutions that take part in the project recommended the development of this study. The reasons for doing it were the wide use of this extinguisher, made by Beaextin S.L., as well as the high number of detonations it can reach during a fire and the lack of information about the sound effects of the device. These works grow in importance as they represent the first scientific study about the acoustical features of the explosion extinguisher, as well as the safety measures when using it.
According to researchers, the extinguisher, externally similar to a water bottle, acts by means of the detonation of an incorporated explosive charge, which causes de fire extinction within a certain radius as a result of the combinated effect of the explosion and the diffusion of the fireproof fluid. For this reason, from the point of view of safety at work, it is important to know its behaviour as an explosive and acoustic emitter.
According to the persons in charge of the study, it is basic to have an estimate of the range of the objects and the projectiles that may be moved by the explosive charge, the place and way of use and the noise emitted by the explosion. This is an impulsive and very energetic noise associated to a high sound level in a short space of time. In short, knowing these factors is vitally important to improve the working safety conditions of the group which uses it. That is the reason why this agreement has been signed.
Physical and Environmental Acoustics Unit
The Physical and Environmental Acoustics Unit (UAFA) is a group specialized in Environmental Acoustics and Physical Acoustics. The head office is in the Department of Applied Physics of the Faculty of Sciences of the University of Granada. With the advice of the AIFEMA association and taking into account its experience, the UAFA has been responsible for designing the acoustic trials and analysing the obtained databases about the levels of sound pressure and exposure. The trials were carried out the 16 of May of 2003 in the head office of INFOCA, in Jérez del Marquesado (Granada), where over fifteen detonations were carried out in different conditions and scenes. Those scenes simulated fire out in the open, fire next to a side wall (a natural wall or a house´s wall), a forest or bushes. Currently, the analysis of the data is being completed and the results of the acoustic study will be published in a specialized journal, Incendios Forestales (Forest Fires).
The UAFA of the University of Granada collaborates with AIFEMA to prepare teaching materials to train future professionals from the important graphic and sound documents obtained while developing the trials.
Reference: Professor Jerónimo Vida Manzano
Department of Applied Physics. University of Granada.
Phone numbers: 958 240 502 / 248530.
E-mail: jvida@ugr.es
– AIFEMA: Federico César Linari Melfi, 655 635 144
– Carmelo Fernández Vicente, 630 546 554
– UAFA: Diego Pablo Ruiz Padillo, 958 249 096
