Fire Safety
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Fires in High-Rise Garbage Chutes are a frequent problem. These fires may be random acts, or at times can be the result of a serial arsonist. Almost all high-rise buildings have the same type of system. Trash or Garbage falls down a chute into a bin or compactor. This creates an easy means for any person to introduce fire into the building. As much of the trash and material thrown into the chute is combustible it is possible for a serious fire to occur. Two types of fires are common. The first is a quick hot fire, where the sprinkler system in the garbage room activates. A sprinkler activation can lead to incomplete combustion causing smoke and carbon monoxide, and other dangerous products of combustion The heat from the fire, coupled with the opening at the top of the chute, causes the products of combustion to move up through the building. If there is a deliberate attempt to fill the building with smoke and fire the perpetrator may prop open doors to encourage smoke migration into the structure from the chute. The second type of fire is very common, the smoldering fire, which often occurs when the trash is wet. A real concern has to be the potential for toxic products of combustion or fire to get into the building via the chute, which can operate as a chimney. The installation of the "Bennett" is the only method to control the most common type of chute fire, the smoldering fire. The Bennett remains closed unless a bag of trash is being discharged, as a result the smoke cannot go through the building from the bin or garbage room. No matter what type of fire occurs, the Bennett is designed to be a shut off gate to contain and control the fire within the garbage room and prevent the spread of smoke, toxic fumes and fire entering the chute. This Bennett was developed as a Fire Safety Device.
The Bennett is UL/ULC Labeled, approved 1.5 Hour rated fire door, Salt-spray exposure test, leakage test. Mechanical Equipment Authorization (New York City) MEA 251-02-M.
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