FAQ

Is fog produced by your systems toxic?

Not at all. It is well within the health & safety guidelines specified for exposure limits. There is no need to wear masks or breathing apparatus unless very dense smoke inhalation is considerable over long periods of time.

What type of generator would you suggest for my application?

Every application for fog is different. Please contact us and we'll be happy to advise you on the most suitable type of fog generator for your needs.

Will your fog machines set off smoke detectors?

Yes! But not heat detectors -- so check which type of alarm your building uses.

Do your fog systems leave a residue?

No - the smaller the particle size of the fog, the lower its settling velocity (the rate at which a particle will fall, due to gravity). A fog particle of unit density, 0.2 micron in diameter, will fall at 8mm per hour, compared to a 2 micron particle, which falls at 468mm per hour. In essence this means that the smaller the particle of fog you produce, the less chance there is that deposition of fog particles will occur.

Why is particle size so important?

Most fog systems available today are derivates of machines used in the entertainment industry, where fog concentrations are generally not required to be very high (i.e. the fog is not very dense). In entertainment terms the fog is generally used to enhance the lighting effects.

Generally, bigger fog particles will settle in still air more quickly than smaller ones. A typical 0.2 micron diameter particle will settle at around 8mm/hr, compared to 468mm/hr for an industry typical 2 micron diameter particle.

In terms of chemical usage, one also uses dramatically less chemical to achieve the same fog concentration / visibility using smaller particles than larger ones, with corresponding benefits in terms of running costs and relative safety.

How is the fog produced?

Inside our fog machines the fog chemical is heated above its boiling point and turned into vapour. When that vapour exits the heat exchanger and hits the colder atmospheric air, it expands and cools rapidly, condensing to produce the aerosol particle.

What is Artificial Smoke?

The sort of "fog effect" produced by our generators is actually a fog or aerosol, comprising of millions of tiny liquid spheres. The refraction and diffraction of light through these particles creates a "fog effect".

How do you produce such a small particle size?

The vast majority of conventional fog systems use cast alloy or aluminium platen style heat exchanger technology. These are effective, but generally produce a particle size in the range 1 - 5 micron. This type of heat exchanger has a low production cost.

Our own mains powered fog systems use heat exchanger blocks with much greater density, machined to tolerances as low as 0.001" / 0.025mm. Our heat exchangers are guaranteed for "Life". The exceptionally tight tolerances that we machine to ensure a consistent particle size time after time, an order of magnitude smaller than most conventional systems.

How safe is fog?

We have a comprehensive technical library, including independent reports analytical laboratories, research organisations and authorities (such as the Health and Safety Executive) to demonstrate that the fogs produced by our systems represent the safest in their class. If you have a specific query relating to the suitability of artificial fog for your application, please give our technical department a call.

Is fog effective outdoors?

Oil based fogs, such as the Phantom Turbo are dramatically more effective in external applications than water based systems. However, it is very dependent on environmental conditions. If the wind speed is high, the fog effect is quickly blown away however persistent it may normally be in an enclosed volume. In these conditions, if a trail of fog is required, water based fog is particularly unsuitable, as it evaporates rapidly. Oil based fog from the Phantom system will leave a highly visible trail in all but the worst conditions.