Engines, hydraulics, fuel and electrical installations on buses face the greatest fire risks. Fires spread so fast and leave little time for 
passengers to evacuate the bus, while in the engine bay it is hard to tackle with a hand-held fire extinguisher. The first response in an emergency is a tested and certified fire suppression system in combination with efficient fire detection. With fire detecting systems becoming mandatory in European buses, it remains a distant dream in the Indian bus segment. This is evident from the recent bus fires which claimed over 50 lives in India.
In view of the huge potential and demand for fire detection and suppression systems in India, Dafo, the leading European fire equipment maker, has partnered Safex Fire Services Ltd. to make it distributor for the Indian market. Headquartered in Mumbai with branches across the country, Safex supplies fire protection equipment in India. Swedish company Dafo offers a comprehensive range of fire extinguishing systems for heavy vehicles, ships and buses and is one of the biggest players in the field globally, with over 90 years of experience.
Dafo is keen on entering the Indian market for quite sometime now. It participated in Busworld Mumbai and BC India shows earlier this year. The company had been in talks with Safex after Busworld Mumbai before agreeing to join hands for its Indian market operations.
Talking to MOTORINDIA at the recent Busworld Kortrijk fair in Belgium, Mr. Holger Pfriem, Export Manager, Dafo Brand AB, stated: “The interest for our products was very high in the Indian market, as seen during our participation at Busworld India and BC India. Frankly speaking, we did not expect India to be a local market for our products and had mainly targeted potential export opportunities. At Busworld India, we found the right connect with Safex and have partnered them as our Indian distributor. We look forward to a successful association with them in the coming years.”
Dafo has been in talks with the major vehicle makers in India and is expecting a breakthrough very soon. “Our products are safe and very affordable. We have been discussing with major vehicle OEMs in India and hope to bag some big orders very soon”, said Mr. Pfriem.
Though the Indian market is yet to mandate the fitment of fire detection and suppression systems in buses, many of the export markets catered to by the Indian bus manufacturers have made proper fire equipment on vehicles mandatory. Dafo is looking to tap into this huge potential but also realises the need for localizing components to be cost competitive in India. “Some of the buses exported from India require a compulsory fire system that provides a good opportunity for us. The next focus for us is on making our products more price-attractive for which we need to localize. We have started identifying the components that could be produced locally in India and will continue moving in this direction”, he added.
Dafo has also been in discussion with the Automotive Research Association of India (ARAI) on making fire extinguishing systems
mandatory in all buses as part of the bus code regulations. In India, some buses have a fire detection system which could help passengers evacuate the vehicle in time, though the vehicle itself might end up in flames during fire accidents. The best solution in any case would be a fire detection-cum-suppression system which detects the fire and extinguishes it completely, saving both the passengers and the vehicle. Dafo is looking at supplying both the detection and suppression systems for the Indian market, depending on the customers’ choice.
Dafo Forrex fire suppression systems respond rapidly to any rise in temperature. The system is developed to be used worldwide in extreme climatic conditions, both cold and hot, and designed after the international guidelines SPCR 183 and Swedish guidelines SBF 127, which specify three litres of extinguishing agent for one cubic metre of protected space. This flexible, fully automatic system detects and extinguishes fire quickly.
On the spot fire detection is made with a linear heat detector wire. The liquid agent is released through a PTFE (perfluoropolyether) system with specially designed nozzles that effectively cover the protected areas. The liquid used in the Forrex system is specially developed for putting out fires in combustible engines and is highly effective for fires in flammable liquids like petrol, diesel and hydraulic oils, as also in burning solids like wood, chips and peat.