In the waste and resource recovery sector, the threat of fire is a critical concern. Fires can escalate rapidly, causing millions in losses and operational downtime by the time emergency crews arrive. As Nick Boyd, Founder and CEO of FlameSmart, notes: “Firefighters have told me that by the time they arrive at blazes at waste facilities, it’s already a write-off.” 

This pressing issue demands a swift solution to prevent small incidents from turning catastrophic.

Industrial sites face unique challenges: a small thermal event can spiral out of control in minutes. The combination of combustible materials and often inadequate response times creates a need for a robust and rapid intervention system. 

Enter FlameSmart: A Cutting-Edge Solution

“This is essentially a first responder – a fireman on the wall – that prevents a small incident from becoming a disaster.” 

This powerful statement from Nick encapsulates the mission of FlameSmart, an innovative fire suppression system designed to detect, verify, and extinguish fires faster than human responders.

Nick's vision for FlameSmart was ignited by personal experiences during the devastating Black Summer bushfires in Australia. Watching families forced to evacuate their homes left a deep impact, and he realized it was technologically feasible to create a system that could autonomously detect and extinguish fires. 

Flir Technology: The Heart of FlameSmart

Protected waste transfer site viewed from Flir A50 camera rear angle for optimal monitoring

At the core of FlameSmart’s capabilities is the Flir A50 smart sensor. This technology offers precise thermal imaging, enabling the detection of even the smallest heat signatures before they can escalate into larger fires. Key features include:

Precise Heat Detection: Accurate identification of temperature changes for early intervention.

Seamless Integration: Easily connects with existing fire suppression systems to enhance effectiveness.

Industrial Durability: Built to withstand the demanding environments typical of waste management facilities.

Thermal view of the same scene as above, captured from Flir A50 camera.

Nick emphasizes: “It thinks and acts the same way a firefighter would, which is a new approach based on AI image recognition.

“The Flir A50 thermal cameras used in FlameSmart are the ‘smart eyes’ of our technology. Their 95-degree field of view minimizes the number of cameras and processing power required and enables our system to react immediately to any fires which occur. Their high-quality thermal images allow us to perform complex AI processing to direct the water jet from our fire monitors precisely onto the fire.”

With the system’s AI-driven responses, FlameSmart operates 24/7 to keep industrial sites safe.

Preventing Catastrophic Outcomes

The FlameSmart system not only detects fires but acts swiftly to suppress them. Flir thermal cameras provide the vision, detecting the earliest heat signatures and sending data to the AI “brain.” The system then activates water monitors and alerts emergency contacts—continuing suppression even if communications fail. With capabilities to extinguish a typical fire in as little as 25 seconds after ignition, it connects directly to local industrial fire mains to deliver a high-pressure water flow, projecting up to 2800 litres per minute, projected over 65 meters. 

Proven in Real-World Conditions

FlameSmart underwent rigorous live fire trials to ensure reliability and effectiveness. Challenges like false alarms triggered by sunsets were solved through advanced thermal cropping, proving the system’s precision.
Nick reflects, “It was fascinating conducting the trial because you learn so much about the details of the equipment. It’s highly precise equipment, and it does a great job.”

Integrating with Emergency Services

Once the fire brigade arrives, FlameSmart enhances operational efficiency by integrating seamlessly into pre-incident plans. Firefighters can quickly take control or operate in tandem, ensuring that initial containment efforts have already paid off.  Nick explains, “They are happy to turn up and see that the critical first battle has already been fought and won”.

Value Beyond Fire Safety

FlameSmart is more than a fire prevention tool; it represents a strategic investment in business continuity and risk mitigation. As Nick points out, “A catastrophic fire can put a business out of operation on that site for potentially two years during a rebuild.”

Growing interest from the insurance industry validates FlameSmart’s role as a legitimate risk reduction tool, potentially leading to lower premiums and reduced financial exposure.

FlameSmart, powered by Flir technology, stands as a pioneering solution to the challenges posed by fire in waste management - offering a reliable and rapid response that protects both lives and investments.