Specifications

Agents, certification and testing

The chemistry and the standards below are real and published. The QuenchPod figures against them are design targets only. No unit has been built and tested, no listing or certificate has been issued, and nothing here should be read as a claim of compliance. Formulations are supplied and certified by a specialist agent manufacturer.

Models Prototype Patent filing

Suppressant specifications

Each capsule is charged with a certified agent from a specialist manufacturer. QuenchPod owns the delivery capsule and the control system; the chemistry stays with the people already approved to make it.

ABC dry chemical powder

DC-ABC

Chemistry: Monoammonium phosphate (NH₄H₂PO₄), typically 40–90 % w/w with siliconised free-flow additives
Fire classes: A, B and live electrical equipment
Charge: 6–9 kg powder per capsule, nitrogen expelled
How it works: Radical chain interruption in the flame plus a molten phosphate glaze that seals the fuel surface against re-ignition.
Standards: EN 615 (powder specification) · EN 3-7 (extinguisher performance) · UL 711 (fire ratings) · NFPA 10

Highest knock-down speed of the family. Leaves a residue, so it is specified for plant, industrial and vehicle use rather than kitchens or clean rooms.

BC dry chemical powder

DC-BC

Chemistry: Potassium bicarbonate (KHCO₃) or sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO₃)
Fire classes: B and live electrical equipment
Charge: 6–9 kg powder per capsule
How it works: Endothermic decomposition absorbs heat and releases CO₂ and water vapour; potassium radicals quench the flame chemistry.
Standards: EN 615 · EN 3-7 · UL 711 · NFPA 10

Potassium bicarbonate is roughly twice as effective by mass as sodium bicarbonate on hydrocarbon fires. Not rated for deep-seated Class A fires.

Water with wetting agent

Chemistry: Potable water plus 0.1–1 % surfactant wetting agent; antifreeze package for cold-store variants
Fire classes: A
Charge: 9 L nominal per QuenchPod R capsule
How it works: Cooling. Specific heat 4.18 kJ/kg·K and latent heat of vaporisation 2 257 kJ/kg give Q = mcΔT + mL; 9 L raised from 20 °C to steam removes on the order of 23 MJ.
Standards: EN 3-7 · UL 711 · NFPA 10 · NFPA 18 (wetting agents)

The wetting agent lowers surface tension so water penetrates baled, stacked and fibrous fuels instead of running off.

Fluorine-free foam concentrate

Chemistry: Synthetic hydrocarbon-surfactant / polysaccharide F3 concentrate, proportioned at 1 % or 3 %
Fire classes: A and B, including polar solvents in AR grades
Charge: 9 L premix or 3 % induction from a separate concentrate cell
How it works: A foam blanket excludes oxygen, suppresses fuel vapour and cools the surface as its water content drains.
Standards: EN 1568-1 to -4 (foam concentrates) · UL 162 · ICAO / MIL-PRF-32725 F3 for aviation grades · EU REACH PFAS restrictions

Fluorine-free by design so the capsule stays inside current and expected PFAS restrictions. AR grades are needed for alcohols and other polar solvents.

Compressed-air Class A foam

CAFS-A

Chemistry: Class A foam concentrate at 0.3–0.6 %, aspirated with the capsule's own gas charge
Fire classes: A
Charge: 9 L solution, expansion ratio around 8:1 to 15:1
How it works: Bubble structure holds water against vertical and overhead surfaces, extending cooling contact time and shielding against radiant heat.
Standards: NFPA 18 · NFPA 1150 (Class A foam on wildland fuels) · EN 1568 where used on Class B

Primary agent for the structural and wildland models because it wets and clings rather than running off.

Superabsorbent water gel

GEL

Chemistry: Cross-linked polyacrylate or polysaccharide gel, 1–4 % in water
Fire classes: A, plus exposure protection
Charge: 9 L gel per capsule
How it works: The gel adheres as a thick water-bearing layer, absorbing radiant heat as it boils off and shielding unburnt fuel.
Standards: NFPA 1150 · Manufacturer listing to the agent's own approval scheme

Used where the objective is to stop fire spreading to an adjacent structure rather than to knock down flame.

Wet chemical (kitchen)

WET

Chemistry: Potassium acetate / citrate / carbonate solution, alkaline
Fire classes: F (K in the US), cooking oils and fats
Charge: 6–9 L per QuenchPod S capsule
How it works: Saponifies hot oil into a soap layer that seals the surface, while the water content cools the oil below its auto-ignition point.
Standards: EN 3-7 (F rating) · UL 300 (commercial cooking) · NFPA 17A · NFPA 96

The only agent specified for the kitchen install. Cooking oil re-ignites without the sealing layer.

Long-term fire retardant

LTR

Chemistry: Ammonium polyphosphate or ammonium sulphate retardant with thickener and corrosion inhibitor
Fire classes: A, pre-treatment and containment lines
Charge: 9 L mixed retardant
How it works: On heating, the phosphate forms a char layer on the fuel that keeps working after the water has evaporated.
Standards: USDA Forest Service qualified products list (Specification 5100-304) · NFPA 1150

For the wildland model where the objective is to hold a line rather than extinguish an active flame front.

Capsule specification

Common platform figures. Design targets for the QuenchPod R reference capsule; the other models scale around the same interfaces.

Body: Drawn steel or filament-wound composite shell, powder coated
Thermal liner: Ceramic-fibre barrier between shell and agent chamber
Nominal size (R): 260 mm diameter × 410 mm high
Agent volume (R): 9 L / 6–9 kg depending on agent
Mass: 4.2 kg empty, 13.8 kg charged
Pressure source: Isolated cold-gas cartridge — nitrogen or CO₂, no combustion, no detonation
Discharge: Multi-port diffuser head, complete in under 2 s
Coverage: Approximately 5 m radius blanket
Trigger paths: Thermal element near 120 °C, supervised two-wire input, authorised radio command near 150 m
Arming delay: 0.4–0.6 s deliberate delay, longer for aerial release
Environment: −20 °C to +60 °C, IP66 ingress protection
Dormant service life: 5 years target between service intervals

Safety certification route

The standards a QuenchPod has to be tested and listed against before it can be sold or installed. None of these has been awarded yet.

Scope	Standards	Assessed by	Why it applies
Extinguishing performance and rating	EN 3-7 · EN 1866-1 (units over 20 kg) · UL 711	Notified body / UL listing laboratory	Establishes the fire rating (for example 27A 183B) that a buyer, insurer and fire authority actually specify.
Agent specification	EN 615 (powder) · EN 1568-1 to -4 (foam) · UL 162 · USDA 5100-304 (retardant)	Agent manufacturer, held by the supplier	The agent charge arrives already certified. QuenchPod references the supplier's certificate rather than re-testing chemistry.
Pressure equipment	PED 2014/68/EU · EN ISO 11114 (gas compatibility) · ISO 7866 / EN 1964 for the cartridge	Notified body, module of assessment set by volume × pressure	The capsule holds a stored-gas cartridge, so the pressure directive applies to the assembly and the cartridge.
Kitchen and commercial cooking installs	UL 300 · NFPA 17A · NFPA 96 · EN 16282-7	Listing laboratory plus local authority acceptance	Required before a wet-chemical unit may be fitted over a commercial appliance.
Detection, alert and supervision	EN 54-2 / -4 / -25 (radio components) · UL 864 · EN 12094-1 for release devices	Notified body	The installed system supervises inputs and drives a release device, so the fire-detection standards govern it.
Radio and electrical	RED 2014/53/EU · EN 300 220 · EN 301 489 · FCC Part 15 · IEC 62368-1	Notified body / accredited EMC laboratory	Covers the Clicker, the receiver and the authorisation link, including spectrum use and immunity.
Environment and enclosure	EN 60529 (IP66) · EN 60068-2 series (temperature, humidity, vibration, shock) · EN 60068-2-27	Accredited test laboratory	Proves the unit survives five dormant years on a wall, in a vehicle or under a drone.
Transport and hazardous area	ADR / IMDG / IATA for the gas cartridge · ATEX 2014/34/EU where the install is in a zoned area	Notified body / dangerous goods safety adviser	Determines how charged capsules ship and whether they can be fitted in a classified area.
Quality system	ISO 9001 · ISO 14001 · EN ISO 12100 (risk assessment)	Certification body	A listing laboratory audits the factory as well as the sample, so the quality system has to exist first.

Test plan

Status: none of the tests above have been carried out. This is the plan the programme is costed and scheduled around, and the sequence a certification body would expect to see.

Phase 1 — Rig and safety characterisation

Prove the capsule discharges predictably and safely before anyone stands near a fire with it.

Static discharge characterisation
Method: Instrumented rig, high-speed video, load cells and pressure transducers on the cartridge and chamber.
Pass criterion: Full discharge under 2 s; chamber pressure within design envelope; no shell deformation.
Distribution mapping
Method: Witness-card and collection-pan grid at 1 m intervals to 6 m radius.
Pass criterion: Agent density adequate across a 5 m radius with no unfilled sector.
Burst and proof pressure
Method: Hydraulic proof and burst testing to PED requirements on sacrificial units.
Pass criterion: Proof at design factor with no leak; burst above the required margin.
Reaction force and projectile risk
Method: Free-standing and bracket-mounted discharge with high-speed tracking.
Pass criterion: No component leaves the capsule; residual movement below the accepted limit.
Trigger integrity
Method: Thermal element bath tests, radio link range and interference tests, false-trigger soak.
Pass criterion: No unintended activation across the full soak; arming delay repeatable at 0.4–0.6 s.

Phase 2 — Fire performance

Establish a real fire rating with each agent, at an accredited laboratory.

Class A wood crib ratings
Method: EN 3-7 / UL 711 A-rated crib fires.
Pass criterion: Rating achieved and repeatable; no re-ignition during the observation period.
Class B tray fires
Method: EN 3-7 B-rated heptane trays; EN 1568 burnback for foam agents.
Pass criterion: Extinction within the standard time; burnback resistance to the foam standard.
Class F cooking oil
Method: EN 3-7 F rating and UL 300 appliance tests for the wet-chemical unit.
Pass criterion: Extinction plus no re-ignition through the full cool-down period.
Cooling and re-ignition
Method: Thermocouple array in the fuel bed and on adjacent surfaces, monitored for 20 minutes after discharge.
Pass criterion: Surface temperatures held below fuel auto-ignition for the observation window.
Compartment discharge
Method: Instrumented compartment fires with the unit placed and remotely activated.
Pass criterion: Measurable reduction in heat release and compartment temperature; visibility and toxicity recorded.

Phase 3 — Environmental and life

Show a unit still works after five years on a wall or in a vehicle.

Temperature and humidity cycling
Method: EN 60068-2 cycling from −20 °C to +60 °C with damp heat.
Pass criterion: No leakage, no pressure loss, discharge still within specification.
Vibration and mechanical shock
Method: EN 60068-2-6 and -27 profiles representing vehicle and drone carriage.
Pass criterion: No loosening, no activation, mount integrity retained.
Ingress protection
Method: EN 60529 IP66 dust and jet testing.
Pass criterion: No ingress into the trigger module or agent chamber.
Accelerated ageing
Method: Long-term pressure retention and agent stability with periodic sample discharge.
Pass criterion: Pressure and agent condition within limits across the five-year target.

Phase 4 — System, network and human factors

Prove the installed system fires the right zone, only when authorised.

Zone addressing
Method: 20-unit test network; commanded discharge of a single zone with inert cartridges.
Pass criterion: Only the addressed zone actuates, in every trial.
Security of the authorisation link
Method: Replay, jamming and spoofing attempts against the radio command path.
Pass criterion: No discharge from an unauthorised command; loss of link reported as a fault.
Supervision and fault reporting
Method: Induced open circuit, short, low battery and unit removal.
Pass criterion: Every fault raised at the panel and the Clicker within the standard's time limit.
Operator trials
Method: Timed trials with firefighters and site staff using the Clicker under load, in gloves and in smoke.
Pass criterion: Correct zone selected and activated without error; no accidental activation.

Phase 5 — Certification and field trial

Convert test evidence into listings and a supervised deployment.

Third-party witnessed testing
Method: Repeat of the rating tests under notified body or listing laboratory witness.
Pass criterion: Listing issued for the tested configuration and agent.
Factory production control audit
Method: Quality system and production audit as part of the listing.
Pass criterion: Audit closed with no major findings.
Supervised field trial
Method: Installed and portable units in service with a partner brigade or site, under a monitoring agreement.
Pass criterion: Documented in-service performance and no unintended activation over the trial period.