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Industrial Fire Protection Systems

Industrial fire protection focuses on preventing fires before they escalate, detecting ignition at the earliest possible moment, and suppressing incidents directly at the source – particularly within high-risk machinery and process environments. In modern industrial operations, fires often originate inside enclosed equipment, material handling systems, or production lines long before they become visible at plant level.

ProDetec delivers advanced industrial fire protection services across Australia, specialising in machine-level fire prevention, early detection, and rapid suppression using Firefly fire protection systems from Sweden. These solutions are purpose-built for protecting industrial machinery where ignition risk is highest and response time is critical.

Rather than treating fire protection as a reactive measure, our approach prioritises early intervention inside the process itself, reducing downtime, asset damage, and safety risk.

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Machinery-Focused Industrial Fire Protection

Unlike traditional plant-wide fire systems, a Firefly-based industrial fire protection system is designed to protect individual machines, process lines, and material flows where ignition typically occurs.

Industrial processes involving:

  • Combustible dust
  • Fine particles
  • Fibres
  • Flammable materials
  • Mechanical friction or sparks

present a significantly elevated fire risk within machinery itself. Firefly systems address this risk by detecting ignition inside ducts, conveyors, mills, shredders, dryers, and filters – stopping fires before they can propagate through the facility.

ProDetec engineers Firefly solutions into high risk industrial fire safety systems and applications that prioritise prevention, speed, and precision, rather than relying solely on downstream suppression.

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Industries We Protect

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Wood Processing & Timber Manufacturing

Sawmills, panel board plants, MDF facilities, and biomass operations face constant ignition risk from sparks, friction, and dust accumulation. Firefly systems provide early spark detection and fast-acting suppression inside pneumatic transport and production machinery.

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Pulp & Paper Manufacturing

High-speed processes, combustible fibres, and enclosed systems create ideal conditions for ignition. Firefly technology protects process equipment before fires spread into buildings or storage areas.

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Recycling & Waste Processing

Shredders, conveyors, sorting lines, and waste-derived fuel systems are highly susceptible to fires caused by lithium batteries, metals, and foreign objects. Machinery-level industrial fire suppression systems are critical to preventing catastrophic incidents.

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Biomass & Renewable Energy

Pellet plants, biomass handling systems, and fuel feeding lines rely on continuous operation. Early detection inside conveyors and silos reduces shutdown risk and protects critical assets.

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Food & Feed Processing

Dry food products, grains, and powders present combustible dust hazards. ProDetec designs industrial fire safety systems that protect dryers, mills, and pneumatic transport without contaminating products.

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Range of Fire Protection Products/Solutions

Turbine Solutions

Turbine Solutions

The greatest fire hazards in power generation turbines come from lube oil. The normal turbine temperature operation, on bearings and some pipes, is higher than the ignition temperature of the lubrication oil used for these equipment. This fuel-temperature operational condition produces a risk that should be eliminated by an accurate, fast and automatic fire prevention system.

Fires normally occur at the turbine bearings, lube oil piping, below the turbine deck and the lube oil reservoir. The Firefly TurbineGuard system, with its punctual design, could extinguish an emerging fire in the hazardous areas of the equipment’s or even prevent the occurrence of fires in power generation turbines.

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Silo Solutions

Silo Solutions

The MGD detector contains extremely sensitive sensors that react fast on the gases released in a very early stage of a fire, even before the presence of visible smoke or flames. The MGD detector can be used in extremely harsh environments such as storage silos, conveying systems, and mining sites but also in electrical rooms and turbines. 

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Paper Solutions

Paper Solutions

An IR-dryer is the most dangerous and common source of a fire in the paper industry. A fire in the IR-drying area can result in long and costly downtime. Firefly’s IR-Guard™ solution is a Quick Suppression System and includes quick flame detection and water mist suppression, providing optimal protection of one of the most valued links in the production chain. Firefly protects paper mills and filters with IR-radiation detection of sparks and hot particles and extinguishing using water spray, isolation with CO2 or water mist suppression.

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Tissue Solutions

Tissue Solutions

The worst and most feared scenario is that ignition sources created by a production-related problem, such as sparks and hot particles from the Yankee Hood, are embedded within the tissue reel and transferred to the warehouse. The typical frequency of this scenario is low but when it happens, the consequences are devastating. 

Firefly offers detection of sparks and suppression of flames within seconds around the Doctor Blade and Yankee dryer using a combination of the Spark Detection and Quick Suppression system with optical flame detectors that can detect small flames at an early stage, over a large area, combined with water mist suppression. 

In the Log Saw enclosure it is vital to detect and suppress flames within seconds because a fire in this area can spread very quickly. Firefly’s Quick Suppression System offers a solution that combines optical UV/IR fire sensors that can detect small flames at an early stage, over a large area, with fast water mist suppression. 

To avoid dust filter fires and explosions, ignition sources in the extraction system need to be detected and extinguished. By installing Firefly Spark Detection system you get extremely fast IR sensors that can detect sparks and hot particles. Depending on the process, the aim of the system is to eliminate ignition sources by extinguishing with water, using isolation and CO2, or diverting the air flow. 

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Wood Pellet Protection

Wood Pellet Protection

As the bioenergy industry grows, so do its fire problems. There are several high-risk zones in which fires or dust explosions may arise, both in pellet production and in power plants. Firefly has many Spark Detection and Quick Suppression solutions for pellet production and power plants. By tailoring a fire protection system using fast IR-radiation and flame detection in combination with effective water spray extinguishing and water mist suppression, Firefly aims to avoid costly fires and dust explosions in the bioenergy industry.

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Wood Finishing Solutions

Wood Finishing Solutions

The fine dust generated by a sanding machine can, when ignited, give rise to severe dust explosions and rapid spread of fire. Firefly’s SanderGuardâ„¢ system solution is designed for all types of sanders. Firefly’s SanderGuardâ„¢ system solution includes quick flame detection inside the sanding machine and water mist suppression, providing optimal protection of this important link in the production chain.

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Baking Solutions

Baking Solutions

Firefly”s BakeScan Solution is a Quick Suppression System designed to detect and extinguish glowing pieces and flames on transportation belts of bakes product processes, including biscuits, tortillas, baked crisps and cereals.

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Wood Panel Solutions

Wood Panel Solutions

It is well-known in the wood panel industry that a fire in a press spreads extremely quickly. A small flame can, in just a couple of seconds, develop into a large-scale press fire with devastating consequences/losses.

Combustible material (wood fibres, dust, various types of oil and wax), oxygen and ignition sources (often generated due to friction) are always present in and around a press. Considering that these are the parameters needed to start a fire, the question to be asked would not be if a fire will occur in a continuous press, but rather when.

The Firefly PressGuard®, is a Quick Suppression System that consists of a detection- and water mist suppression system. The detection system is built upon a range of different detectors suitable for usage in different areas of a press, this to ensure the best possible accuracy and reaction time. The water mist suppression system uses a lower amount of water to minimise secondary damage/losses.

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High Speed Woodworking Solutions

High Speed Woodworking Solutions

FIRE PROTECTION OF HIGH SPEED PLANER

Planing at high speeds leads to an increase in friction heat, making the process vulnerable to fire. Firefly’s Quick Suppression System PlanerGuardâ„¢ solution for high speed planers focuses on detecting ignition sources at an early stage. Non-invasive water mist suppression is used to quickly and effectively suppress the fire with the aim to avoid costly downtime and damage to the planer.

FIRE PROTECTION OF OPEN PLANER

In many cases, large amounts of shavings are accumulated in and around the open planer. When ignited, these shavings can cause rapid fires resulting in considerable damage. Firefly’s PlanerGuard™ solution for open planers monitors the machine by using flame detectors installed local to the area. Non-invasive water mist suppression aims at quick and effective suppression of the fire, even in the closed areas of an open planer.

FIRE PROTECTION OF MOULDER

A moulder is often installed in a production area adjacent to other machinery. The consequences of a fire in a moulder can therefore be extensive and cause damage to surrounding equipment. Firefly’s PlanerGuardâ„¢ solution for moulders detects sparks or incipient fire at a very early stage. Non-invasive water mist suppression aims at quick and effective suppression of the fire, even in the closed areas of a moulder.

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Conveyor Solutions

Conveyor Solutions

FIRE PROTECTION OF CONVEYORS

A fire in a belt conveyor is often hard to extinguish and can spread very quickly. In worst case it can spread to surrounding material stacks and could last for weeks, causing major loss of revenue and production downtime.

The purpose of the Firefly ConveyorGuardTM-solution is to automatically detect and suppress a fire at an early stage and to stop the conveyor belt as quickly as possible. The Firefly ConveyorGuardTM-solution can be complemented with Firefly open area flame detectors and/or LTS cable

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Recycling Solutions

Recycling Solutions

Frequent fires in shredders often result in production downtime and loss of revenue. A fire in a shredder can spread very quickly. Therefore, Firefly has developed Firefly ShredderGuard, a Quick Suppression System that can withstand the tough conditions in and around a shredder. The main focus of the Firefly ShredderGuardâ„¢ solution is to detect and extinguish a fire in a shredder as quickly as possible. This is why a Firefly safety system always consists of three main integrated functionalities: detection, extinguishing and control. By integrating different techniques (flame detection, True IR-detection, full-cone water spray extinguishing and water mist suppression) into one solution, Firefly provides optimal safety for the protection of shredders.

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Water Mist Solutions

Water Mist Solutions

Firefly PowerImpactâ„¢ extinguishing is used in process ducts and chutes, it has a unique design spraying from different directions into a chute or duct utilising Full cone spray nozzles. Large water droplets for more momentum and penetration with a minimum of three water nozzles and solenoid valves per zone. Each water nozzle uses a Quick-connection and flexible hose that makes it easy to test the system without releasing water into the process

Firefly Water Mist Suppression Systems have remarkable flame suppression capabilities, utilising a small amount of water. The unique design of the hydraulic system enables a very quick system response time.

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Our Clients

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Industrial Fire Protection Systems for Process Equipment

An effective industrial fire protection system is not a single product – it is a coordinated combination of detection, prevention, and suppression technologies, engineered around the process itself.

ProDetec designs systems that may include:

  • Spark and ember detection inside ducts and conveyors
  • Fast-response suppression directly at the ignition point
  • Isolation and diversion mechanisms to stop fire spread
  • System integration with machine controls and shutdown logic
  • Event logging and diagnostics for compliance and optimisation

These industrial fire protection systems are designed to operate continuously in harsh industrial environments, with minimal disruption to production.

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Early Fire Detection: Preventing Escalation at the Source

Using advanced optical detection technology, sparks and hot particles are identified and suppressed within 300 milliseconds – long before flames develop. Suppression is then triggered automatically, extinguishing the ignition source inside the process flow.

This approach complements other safety layers, including flame detectors used in open or visible hazard areas, and may operate alongside gas leak detection systems where combustible gases are present. Together, these layers form a comprehensive industrial fire protection strategy.

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Industrial Fire Suppression Systems for Machinery

Unlike traditional building suppression, Firefly-based industrial fire suppression systems are designed for precision application, using minimal extinguishing agents exactly where it is needed.

Common suppression approaches include:

  • High-speed water mist suppression within 300 milliseconds
  • Directional extinguishing inside ducts or conveyors
  • Targeted extinguishing zones matched to material flow

This reduces collateral damage, avoids unnecessary water usage, and allows production to resume quickly after an incident.

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Understanding Fire Risk in Industrial Processes

Fire risk within industrial machinery is often driven by:

  • Mechanical friction
  • Metal-to-metal contact
  • Overheating components
  • Contaminants entering process lines
  • Foreign objects such as batteries or stones

These risks are dynamic and change with production conditions. ProDetec engineers industrial fire protection systems that reflect real operating hazards, not theoretical assumptions – ensuring protection remains effective under actual workloads.

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Australian Standards & Compliance

While Firefly systems focus on prevention inside machinery, compliance remains a critical requirement for Australian operators.

ProDetec ensures industrial fire protection services align with:

  • AS 1851 maintenance and inspection requirements
  • National Construction Code (NCC) obligations where applicable
  • Insurer and risk-engineering expectations
  • Site-specific safety management systems

Importantly, Firefly-based solutions support compliance by reducing ignition likelihood, lowering incident frequency, and demonstrating proactive risk control – a key factor for insurers and regulators.

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Cost, Risk & Operational Value

Industrial fire protection is often viewed purely as a safety expense. In reality, effective systems deliver significant operational value.

Benefits include:

  • Reduced unplanned shutdowns
  • Lower asset replacement costs
  • Improved insurance risk profile
  • Enhanced workforce safety
  • Protection of production continuity

By preventing fires at the machine level, ProDetec’s industrial fire suppression systems help customers avoid catastrophic losses that traditional systems may only respond to after escalation.

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Why Choose ProDetec for Industrial Fire Protection?

ProDetec is a specialist provider of industrial fire protection services, not a generic fire contractor. Our partnership with Firefly Sweden enables us to deliver world-class machine protection solutions backed by local expertise.

Customers choose ProDetec for:

  • Proven Firefly technology tailored to machinery risk
  • Deep understanding of industrial processes
  • Australian standards and compliance expertise
  • Nationwide service and support
  • Long-term partnership approach

We design industrial fire safety systems that perform where it matters most – inside the process, at the moment of ignition.

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Protect Your Operations Before Fire Escalates

Industrial fire protection is most effective when fires are prevented, not merely controlled. ProDetec delivers advanced industrial fire protection systems that detect and suppress ignition at the source – protecting people, machinery, and production continuity.

Speak with ProDetec today to design an industrial fire protection system that aligns with your process risks, compliance obligations, and operational goals.

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Frequently Asked
Questions

What is industrial fire protection?

Industrial fire protection involves systems designed to prevent, detect, and suppress fires in high-risk industrial environments, particularly within machinery and processes.

How is machinery fire protection different from building fire systems?

Machinery protection focuses on early detection and suppression inside process equipment, while building systems typically respond after fire escalation.

Are industrial fire protection systems mandatory in Australia?

Requirements depend on industry, risk profile, and insurer expectations. Many high-risk operations require documented fire prevention measures.

How often do systems need servicing?

This is all dependent on the system design. At minimum a ProDetec accredited service technician will service systems once a year. However, we provide further preventative maintenance services, which can be periodically scheduled bi-annually, or even quarterly, depending on relative operating conditions.

Can Firefly systems integrate with existing safety systems?

Yes. Firefly solutions integrate with machine controls, alarms, and broader industrial fire safety systems.

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