Curation Team
NOIDA: The fire department is set to strengthen its firefighting capabilities by acquiring high-pressure foam extinguishers capable of dousing fires in buildings up to 100 storeys tall.
The technology, showcased at the fire safety expo in Greater Noida last week, was recently tested by the fire department at the city’s tallest building — the 74-storey Supertech Supernova tower in Sector 94.
The Compressed Air Foam System (CAFS) technology uses a high-pressure foam delivery mechanism that can maintain pressure even at extreme heights. According to fire officials, highrise fires can be tricky as water pressure reduces drastically at higher altitudes, making firefighting very difficult.
Last month, said officials, when the fire department tested the equipment in the trial run at the Supernova tower, they were able to reach the top floors of the building with ease.
The results have convinced the fire department to move forward with its procurement, officials said.
Chief fire officer (CFO) Pradeep Chaubey told TOI that the department is in the process of completing formalities to purchase the equipment along with a compatible fire tender, which together cost around Rs 3 crore.
“Noida has the highest number of highrise residential societies in the state, and firefighting at such heights remains a major challenge. Even though our fire hoses can reach up to the 40th floor, the water pressure reduces drastically as the altitude increases. The motor is unable to maintain pressure, and by the time the water reaches the nozzle, it loses its force, making it difficult and time-consuming to put out a fire,” the CFO said.
Supernova’s height is 307 metres, which is almost four times more than the maximum reach of a fire tender hose in the city (80 metres). If the standard height of a floor is taken as 3m, ythe hose will reach up to the 26th floor.
The average height of towers in the city ranges between 50m and 100m. With realtors in the city planning taller towers, both commercial and residential , the fire department needs to be quick to modernise.
According to an official of a company that makes CAFS, the system uses compressed air to generate and deliver foam along with high pressure. “This ensures that the pressure remains intact even at higher floors, and foam is more effective than water in certain conditions as it spreads and covers the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply,” the official said, adding foam is significantly lighter than water and is safe for use even in spaces where occupants may still be present.
“The system is integrated into a fire tender. It uses water stored in the vehicle and compresses it with air to generate foam. The foam is then pumped at high speed and directed through a hose onto the fire. The foam blankets the affected area, suffocates the fire by eliminating oxygen, and helps extinguish it faster. It also uses much less water, which reduces water damage and runoff,” the official explained.
On Thursday, UP cabinet minister for micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) Rakesh Sachan inaugurated the two-day Uttar Pradesh Fire Safety Exhibition and Conference in Greater Noida.
Other key products highlighted at the exhibition included a firefighting suit designed to protect against upto 1000 degrees Celsius temperature and specially designed air-purifying helmets for firefighters that help them breathe in smoke-heavy environments.
The suit, according to an official present at the expo, is made using fibreglass fabric. “It is suitable for proximity fire industrial radiant heat up to 1000 degrees Celsius. Wearing such suits, firefighters can step into fire to save lives,” the official said.
On air-purifying helmets, a manufactuter’s representative said, “Conventionally, firefighters use a breathing apparatus which is to be carried along with an oxygen cylinder. The whole apparatus becomes quite bulky. However, this new innovation in the helmet is battery operated, and chargeable, and weighs only 1.5kg. It can be used in high-heat scenarios as well as in chemical leaks.”
Speaking at the expo, cabinet minister Sachan said, “UP govt considers fire and industrial Safety as key sectors for the prevention of accidents in the industrial as well as residential sector. Setting up disaster management units in every district, providing information through e-portals, spreading awareness among MSME workers, ensuring compliance with fire safety norms, and conducting regular checks of fire safety equipment are the key focus areas of our govt.”
