Built-in safety

A new and innovative fire fighting tool is now available to the public.

Called the Haven automatic fire extinguisher — this device does far more than an ordinary extinguisher, said Spartan Fire Protection’s chief operating officer, Ben Rosentreter. "It’s actually been on the market for about three years, but really took off when it was featured on Dragon’s Den a little over a year ago," said Rosentreter. "It’s not a portable fire extinguisher, but rather a fire extinguisher that can be placed anywhere fire protection is needed. The face plate faces down from the ceiling and looks like a smoke detector, but does much more."

Should room temperature exceed 57 C, the Haven will automatically activate and shoot out a pressurized cloud of dry chemical. Once deployed from the unit, the chemical can cover an area five metres by five metres in size.

Rosentreter said the great thing about the Haven is that it can be installed easily. "It really couldn’t be simpler," he said. "A five-and-three-quarter-inch hole can be cut in the ceiling with a regular hand-held keyhole saw, and the Haven just slides easily into the hole between joists (placed within a poly bucket that’s completely sealed). No plumbing or wiring is required, and you can put it in hot or cold spaces."

Once installed — units can be installed in every room in a home, if desired — the Haven provides effective fire suppression protection without all the hassles or expenses associated with putting in a water sprinkler system. "Units are very affordable at $250 each," said Rosentreter. By comparison, sprinkler systems are much more expensive. For example, the cost to install a sprinkler in a 2,600 sq. ft. home would be about $16,000. The Haven is a much more affordable alternative to sprinkler systems."

The Haven is also more user-friendly, added Rosentreter. "Unlike water suppression, the dry-chem agent in the Haven does no damage when discharged, so there’s no water damage, which is usually the biggest cost insurance companies have to deal with in the aftermath of a fire. The dry-chem agent is also non-toxic — it’s essentially a form of baking soda, so it’s safe when discharged. It also cleans up easily with a vacuum in the event of a discharge."

If left alone after installation, the Haven can protect spaces (kitchens, bedrooms, hallways) in homes, cottages and garages for 10 years — provided batteries are changed regularly.

"The great thing about the Haven is it’s always on duty," said Matt Fontaine, Rosentreter’s sales partner at Spartan Fire Protection. "If placed in an appropriate spot, it will either put out the fire, or buy home owners five minutes of time — time they need to get out of their home safely."

At the very least, the Haven is an insurance policy against unnecessary loss of life in a fire, he added. "Statistics have shown that flashovers in fires can happen in two-and-a-half to three minutes. They can reach 1200 F, and are unsurvivable. The cost-effectiveness of the unit speaks for itself, and its effectiveness in supressing fires in testing is proven. People often say ‘it will never happen to us.’ If a fire does happen in your home, having a Haven unit installed could very well save lives."

And those lives can be saved both inside and outside the city, said Rosentreter. "It’s a fire suppression tool that could save lives in remote areas such as northern communities. It’s affordable, effective and easy to install, and is an option homeowners in the city and rural areas should consider. It’s a tool that can either put out a fire, or suppress it to buy time for firefighters. It’s an investment that can save lives."

tlewys@mymts.net