Mining equipment operates in demanding environments, where fire protection, maintenance and the management of critical fluids all contribute to the safety, reliability and productivity of an operation. For Advanced Fire Suppression Technologies (Advanced FST), this has driven an expansion beyond its established vehicle fire-suppression offering to provide a broader range of solutions to the mining industry.

“Advanced FST has always been synonymous with vehicle fire suppression on mining equipment,” says CEO Armand Barnard. “That stays our core offering.”Advanced FST is the master distributor for ANSUL vehicle fire-suppression systems, while its offering has expanded to include fixed fire-protection systems for applications such as conveyor belts, substations, lamp rooms and server rooms. The company provides design, fabrication, installation and maintenance across these solutions.

The business has also added RAASM automatic lubrication systems, for which it holds an exclusive distributorship in South Africa and the rest of the continent. Its offering further includes Flomax fuel-management and fluid-transfer solutions, as well as Mammoth thermal exhaust and turbo covers for mining equipment.

The broader portfolio is backed by Advanced FST’s technical and after-sales service network, which gives the company reach across the country and the continent. Barnard says this, together with a stable of expert partners, including fire engineers, fire investigators and engineering specialists, allows Advanced FST to develop bespoke protection for unique mining risks.  

Protection Designed for Mining

Barnard says the starting point for any mine choosing a fire-suppression system should be whether it has been designed and tested for the conditions it will operate in.

The ANSUL LVS NF-40 system has been in development for more than two decades, evolving from a supplementary product into a standalone fire-suppression system over the past decade. It now carries FM 5970-2022 approval, addressing performance testing specific to mining equipment and environments. Barnard says the system was the first in the world to achieve this certification. It is built to protect equipment ranging from smaller underground machines to large mining excavators.

Certification aside, reliability ultimately comes down to correct system design, quality installation and strong after-sales support once a system is on site.

Advanced FST has also worked with customers on bespoke protection for stationary applications, including generators, hydraulic power packs and compressors. The system can be paired with supplementary technology such as battery isolation and remote fire-system monitoring, extending protection to electrical risks on mining equipment.

Environmental considerations have also informed the system’s development. Its NF-40 suppression agent is non-fluorinated and environmentally friendly, offering an alternative for customers looking to reduce environmental impact.

Supporting Reliability and Productivity

Advanced FST’s equipment offering also extends into technologies aimed at improving maintenance consistency and cutting avoidable downtime.

RAASM automatic lubrication systems deliver a precise amount of grease to specified components at the right time, reducing reliance on manual lubrication. This lowers the risk of lubrication points being missed, over-greased or under-greased, supporting both equipment lifespan and maintenance consistency.

Flomax fuel-management and fluid-transfer systems tackle a different challenge, helping mines cut spillage and contamination of diesel and hydraulic fluids. In addition to protecting equipment and engines, the systems help mines reduce fuel losses through theft and unauthorized dispensing.

These technologies work alongside fire protection rather than in competition with it – each addressing a different piece of how mining equipment is operated and maintained.

Broader Safety Ecosystem

Advanced FST can also draw on the wider Advanced Group to extend its capabilities or bring in adjacent expertise where a customer’s needs call for it. Advanced Group’s other companies include Industrial Fire & Hazard Control, which manufactures bespoke firefighting equipment, from large industrial fire engines to skid- and trailer-mounted units and FlameBlock, which supplies passive fire protection, including intumescent coatings.

Beyond fire protection itself, the group also provides emergency and medical response through Medi Response, fire and emergency services through Rural Metro Emergency Management Services and risk-management, root-cause and injury investigation services through IRCA Global.

Advanced FST will be at Electra Mining Africa, giving mining companies the chance to engage directly with its technical specialists on operational challenges specific to their sites. Visitors will also be able to watch the ANSUL LVS NF-40 system demonstrated through live fire demonstrations.

Barnard says the exhibition is as much about existing relationships as new ones. “If you feel you have a challenge or your current needs are not being met, come and have a chat with us,” he says.