Extensive research and development to prevent and mitigate fires and explosions in hazardous process industries such as oil & gas, agriculture and fertilizers, pulp and papers, explosives and ammunition, mining, ect, has led to the implementation of advanced Automatic Fire & Explosion Systems (AFES). The technology, which has been originally developed and successfully implemented for military vehicles, has been further developed to address unique industrial safety requirements.

Fast Optical Detection (in less than 5 milliseconds) of the fireball at its initiation in the process vessel enables discharge of the extinguishing agent within several milliseconds and by special dispersion means (a special profile deflector) enables homogeneous discharge (total flood) in the protected vessel and provides suppression as well as inertization of the hazardous area.

The present paper discusses the stringent requirements of fire & explosion detection and suppression in several industries, the various types of Automatic Fire & Explosion Systems (AFES) developed for unique applications, including test results of various discharge patterns and development of optimal dispersion means.