Actuation
Due to the harsh environments in which heavy equipment operates, a stored pressure fire extinguisher can easily lose pressure or become compacted. If either of these conditions occur, the system may not discharge.
That's why the AFEX Vehicle Fire Suppression system uses a side-cartridge system design to reduce the risk of pressure loss or compaction.
The agent is stored in a non-pressurized tank, and a separate cartridge contains the compressed nitrogen gas. In the event of a fire the system is actuated automatically upon fire detection, or manually by the vehicle operator. The actuation releases the compressed nitrogen and the tank is briefly pressurized to discharge the agent.
In addition to being more reliable, the AFEX system can be easily serviced in the field and requires no special tools.