FireFlex Systems Receives the Innovation in Vacuum Busch Award 2026

FireFlex Systems is proud to receive the Innovation in Vacuum Busch Award 2026 for its patented VACTEC® technology. Announced by Busch on October 6, 2026, this recognition highlights a vacuum-based approach to improving the reliability of dry-pipe and preaction sprinkler installations. It also brings attention to an innovation developed in Boisbriand, Quebec, to address practical challenges in fire protection performance and durability.

Bringing Vacuum Technology into Fire Protection

Conventional dry-pipe systems generally maintain sprinkler piping under air or nitrogen pressure. VACTEC® instead keeps the network below atmospheric pressure. The FLX-PC® controller supervises the vacuum level and controls the pump. Changes in pressure allow the system to detect a change in network conditions and respond according to its configuration.

For building owners and designers, the value of this approach starts with a practical question. How can the conditions inside a sprinkler network be preserved throughout the time it remains on standby? VACTEC® addresses the environment within the piping, an important part of system performance alongside the visible equipment installed in a building.

Addressing the Conditions that Contribute to Corrosion

Oxygen and moisture contribute to internal pipe corrosion. By removing these elements from the network, vacuum technology helps limit the conditions that support deterioration. Busch identifies this management of the internal piping environment as one of the benefits behind the award.

The purpose is to help preserve reliable protection over time. Building teams assess a fire protection system both by its ability to respond when needed and by its behaviour during extended periods on standby. Managing moisture within the piping supports that broader view of performance. It focuses attention on the conditions a system experiences throughout its operating life, rather than only at the moment of activation.

Managing the Challenges of Cold Environments

Cold environments introduce another consideration. Residual water can freeze and create ice plugs that interfere with the network. According to Busch, when the pump operates to maintain the required vacuum, it also removes residual water from the riser. This helps prevent the formation of water columns and ice plugs.

That feature is relevant to projects where operating temperatures influence the choice of fire protection. The conditions within each building therefore belong in the design discussion from the outset. Understanding how spaces are used and the temperatures they experience helps the project team evaluate a configuration suited to the application.

An Integrated System with Several Configurations

FireFlex offers VACTEC® in dry-pipe and several preaction configurations, including single-interlock, double-interlock and non-interlock arrangements. The desired operating sequence and project requirements guide the choice of configuration. Preaction systems can also combine network supervision with electrical detection.

The unit brings mechanical and electrical components together in a factory-assembled, pre-wired and factory-tested package. This design allows the installation to be approached as an integrated system. It also provides design and installation teams with a documented foundation for planning connections, understanding control functions and preparing for commissioning.

Considering these elements together helps connect the equipment selection to the way the building will be operated. A project team can review the application, the intended system response and the installation requirements as part of the same discussion. This makes the available configuration options easier to evaluate in the context of a specific project.

Connecting Technology Selection with Ongoing Operation

VACTEC® uses a Busch DOLPHIN liquid ring vacuum pump to maintain the vacuum conditions required for system operation. FireFlex documentation also describes pressure supervision and the release functions associated with the electrically operated dry-pipe configuration.

Choosing the technology is part of a complete approach to system operation. FireFlex’s manual includes proper piping drainage, leak checks, testing and maintenance. These activities connect the equipment choice to actual operating conditions and the building’s ongoing service needs. For owners and operators, that means considering the documentation, commissioning process and maintenance planning alongside the initial system design.

Recognition For a Practical Fire Protection Innovation

Presented annually by the Busch Group, the award recognizes innovative applications of vacuum technology. For FireFlex Systems, this distinction highlights the work behind a fire protection solution developed to address building conditions and the needs of those responsible for their operation.

Jonathan Roger and Antoine Gousy-Leblanc traveled to Germany to receive the award on behalf of FireFlex Systems. They represented the team behind VACTEC® and celebrated the collective work that led to this international recognition.

We are proud to see VACTEC® recognized for this contribution. Interested in how vacuum fire protection could fit your project? Explore VACTEC® and speak with the FireFlex team about the available configurations and the requirements of your installation