Scott Starr, Vice President for Reacton Fire Suppression – Americas, brings 20 years of experience in the asset-focused fire suppression industry to his role.
His journey with Reacton began in late 2019 after a brief hiatus from the industry.
Scott was quickly convinced to join on by Reacton’s CEO who shared the company’s innovative approach and commitment to enhancing product reliability and durability, which Scott saw as a need in the Americas market.
Reacton, a UK-based specialist in fire suppression, has built a reputation over the past 30 years for its localized fire suppression systems, particularly in high-risk environments such as vehicle engine compartments, hydraulic systems, and electrical installations.
Unlike traditional large-scale fire suppression solutions, Reacton’s systems are designed to provide targeted, efficient protection that not only meets but often exceeds industry safety standards.
Under Scott’s leadership, Reacton has successfully expanded its operations into the U.S.
and the broader Americas, despite launching in January 2020 during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The company has gained traction in sectors like heavy equipment and harsh environments, areas that have historically been underserved by traditional fire suppression solutions.
Reacton’s focus on innovation, competitive pricing, and a commitment to quality has led to rapid growth, making it one of the fastest-growing fire suppression manufacturers in the Americas.
In this exclusive interview with Scott, FSJA Editor Iain Hoey sat down with Scott to discuss Reacton’s applications, industry standards, and the future of fire suppression.
Initially, we targeted heavy equipment, particularly in high-risk environments like waste management, forestry, and general construction.
This includes protecting city buses, on-road vehicle systems, and airport ground support equipment that operates around fueled and occupied aircraft.
It was a logical first entry point into the Americas market as not only was it at the core of our company’s capabilities, but the entrenched competitors in the space had left some opportunities in the form of unfulfilled needs.
Adding in clean agent systems opened up markets like protecting CNC metal machining operations, safeguarding the machines themselves, as well as electrical cabinets and controls in facilities with high-demand electrical needs, such as water treatment plants and food processing facilities where uptime is critical.
At its core, a fire suppression system functions to apply a suppression agent – be it foam, dry chemical, clean agent, or others.
However, what sets us apart is our advanced detection technology, which offers a robust solution across a variety of challenging environments.
One place that our pneumatic detection tubing excels is areas where vibration, extreme temperatures, dirt, and maintenance activities might compromise the reliability of traditional electronically controlled systems.
The goal of a fire system is to address the common fire risks associated with equipment like mechanical failure, hydraulic systems, and electrical components.
For example, a fire could erupt from a burst hydraulic hose spraying fluid on a hot surface or an electrical malfunction.
One of our most unique innovations is a device designed to enhance protection for heavy machinery.
While our system supresses the fire effectively, it also offers both an alert and the option to shut down the equipment, which is a common feature among most fire systems.
However, our solution includes an additional option that attaches to the pneumatic detection that automatically physically disconnects the battery at the moment of system activation.
This immediate disconnection tackles any potential electrical fire source directly, ensuring a comprehensive approach to suppression that covers combustibles, liquid fires, and with this innovation, electrical hazards.
This holistic strategy significantly increases the likelihood of effectively extinguishing fires and mitigating damage.
We prioritize obtaining listings and approvals for our systems.
These certifications are granted by independent third parties, ensuring our systems perform as promised, which is crucial for our credibility and reliability in the market.
We ensure our products meet industry standards by staying actively involved in the industries we serve.
We identify the necessary listings and approvals that are critical for each market and work to achieve them in a timely manner.
Our certifications include specialist listings like EN 107 for European buses, SPCR 183 and 199 for buses and heavy equipment, UL 2166 clean agent, AS 5062 for mining, and various listings required in the Middle East.
These approvals are tailored to meet the specific needs of the areas and markets we operate in.
It really depends.
If a company has experienced an incident, it can make a much easier discussion, but that’s not always the case.
For example, I have CNC customers who have bought multiple systems from us and have had fires where our systems worked as expected, yet they still have unprotected machines.
It often comes down to budget and how priorities are set.
The response can vary depending on who is involved.
We’ve had a safety officer from a globally recognized company who was fully on board with our solution for a specific area in their facility, but once it reached management, the interest quickly faded.
On the other hand, when management identifies a need, the process can move very quickly.
Yet in sectors like agriculture, if the equipment didn’t come with a fire suppression system, it can be a tough sale, even if they’ve experienced a fire.
It truly is.
As we evolve and drive more value into critical assets, we’re often inadvertently increasing the fire risk.
A prime example is heavy equipment.
As we push for better emission standards in vehicles like buses and heavy machinery, we’re generating more heat to achieve cleaner burning environments.
This, in turn, creates a hotter environment, significantly raising the risk of fire.
The same applies across various sectors.
In machining operations, for instance, there’s a push for greater efficiency, tighter tolerances, and better finishes.
Machines are being pushed to run faster, often with oil-based cutting fluids instead of aqueous ones.
While oil-based fluids allow the machines to run harder and achieve better results, they also carry a higher fire risk.
Facilities like water treatment plants and food processing centers are under pressure to operate at peak efficiency.
A small electrical fire in such facilities can cripple operations.
However, a well-placed fire suppression system can quickly extinguish the fire, turning what could be a major incident into a minor issue, allowing the facility to continue running with minimal disruption.
The purpose of fire suppression systems is to ensure that when a fire occurs, it’s swiftly contained, enabling redundant systems to keep the operation going.
In many established industries, there’s a strong tendency to stick with traditional methods, simply because that’s how things have always been done.
When someone follows the usual approach and something goes wrong, they aren’t blamed because it’s the standard practice.
However, if they suggest something new and it doesn’t work out, that failure falls upon their shoulders.
This reluctance to innovate is common, particularly in industries with specific risks.
It’s a cultural issue where often people prefer to “cover their bases” by not deviating from the norm, rather than exploring potentially better solutions.
Fire suppression is increasingly focused on smaller, more targeted asset protection, addressing fires right at their source.
In the past, fire department response was sufficient, but as buildings continued to burn and people got hurt, automatic sprinkler systems became standard, reducing risk and increasing safety.
However, even these systems can be too broad or may create unacceptable ancillary damage, such as when water damages sensitive areas like data centers, leading to the adoption of gaseous suppression systems.
As society’s tolerance for risk decreases, there’s a growing need for smaller, more focused fire suppression systems that target critical areas where fires are most likely to start.
We recognize that certain parts of a facility, like electrical panels, hazardous storage areas, charging stations, and machinery, are more prone to fire.
Instead of relying solely on handheld extinguishers, which require human operation, we can now install fixed, automatic systems that are always ready to respond precisely when and where they’re needed.
Reacton aims to continue leading this evolution by providing cost-effective, reliable fire suppression solutions that meet these focused needs.
Reacton offers proven systems specifically designed for various environments.
Our wide range of systems can be customized to fit specific applications, whether it’s mining, construction, or other industries.
While large fire suppression systems have been around for years, there was a gap in the market for cost-effective solutions for smaller equipment like skid steers and mini excavators.
Reacton introduced a system that requires no electrical input, is easy to install, and operates independently.
It’s not just a gimmick—our technology has been rigorously tested, approved, and validated to ensure it’s functional, reliable, and trustworthy.
If they have an application that they think would be protected well by a Reacton system, whether it’s one of our core applications or something a little different, start by giving us a call.
We can discuss your needs and if Reacton is a good fit, we can help you find an excellent partner in your area – a distributor of that equipment with expertise in your specific industry to provide installation and support.
Thankfully Reacton has distributor partners across the US, each with their own areas of expertise ready to help.
Within the applications that Reacton covers, whether it’s fire suppression for heavy equipment, protecting electrical assets in an industrial environment, or specialty CNC machines, it’s imperative to choose a partner who knows the equipment and how to implement a system that won’t interfere with operations or maintenance.
Write that I gave you a knowing smile and said: “You’re going to be very impressed with what we’ve got coming just around the corner.”
