FAQ

Bandit has excellent experience in fogging relatively small areas, in one case we have supplied a leading ATM provider with Bandits for over 400 of their little shop/ATM bunker sites.

With the Bandit being the only system using a Patented, pre-pressurized cartridge (not pump-driven), the following benefits were observed:

Instant activation (just 0.1-second delay between intruder detection and fog ejected at a full output capacity of 28 cubic metres per second) meant that there was no time for an intruder to approach the fogging unit and smother it/divert the fog or attempt to damage the unit.  Pump systems can take several seconds to prime before activating thus giving the intruder such opportunities.

One Bandit fog cartridge can provide up to 25 activations in small volume (circa 50 cubic metres) rooms.

One fog cartridge has a four-year life span unless depleted in the meantime (open fill pump systems require an annual fluid flush-out and renewal).

A room of such a small size means the fog dissipates more quickly through the point of entry thus the Bandit’s ability to continue re-activating if an intruder is re-detected was of immense importance considering the cash levels often held in their ATM’s.

The Bandit’s 24/7 self-diagnostic status checks meant that if any area of the Bandit failed this would be instantly be reported (an extreme rarity!) and thus rapidly rectified.

When the patented BANDIT system is activated a special liquid, the formula is heated and ejected under high pressure. As it ejects it instantly vaporises into a thick, dense “fog” which quickly expands to fill the area being protected.

The HY-3 Cylinder Pack is a clean filled and hermetically sealed unit.  The fluid is thus retained in an oxygen-free, pressurised, pH stabilised, de-ionised environment, so it does not degenerate thus proving a 4-year, maintenance-free lifespan unless depleted in the meantime as follows:

A full HY-3 Cylinder Pack can generate a minimum of 50 seconds worth of high-density fog (reduces eye to object visibility down to 25cm) at a rate of 28 cubic metres a second with a maximum single activation time of 18 seconds.  The BANDIT is thus present according to the size of the room being protected, i.e., a 56 cubic metre room would be pre-set for a 2 second (56 ÷ 28 = 2) burst or a 504 cubic metre room for the maximum 18 seconds (504 ÷ 28 = 18) burst.  One HY-3 is therefore capable of anything between 3 and 25 activations before requiring replacement.  Your BANDIT dealer provides an exchange refill service.

The Bandit has been in use for nearly 20 years now, and in that time, there has NEVER been a claim for health, residue or contamination problems.

The predominant reason for this is that just ONE millilitre (one-thousandth of a litre) of the fog fluid (mainly a mixture of water & food grade glycol) produces ONE THOUSAND litres of fog. The concentration levels are therefore so tiny that the fog itself has been certified, by an officially recognised testing laboratory, to comply with European Indoor Air Quality Regulations and is not only harmless generally but also totally safe to breathe.

The advanced technology incorporated in the Fog Bandit precisely converts 28 millilitres of fog fluid per second to produce 28 cubic metres (28,000 litres) of fog with a density level (eye to object visibility range) of no more than 30 cm. So, a Bandit installed in a 280 cubic metre room would be set to activate for precisely 10 seconds to produce the required 280 cubic metres of security fog.

Over the years the Bandit has been used in all forms of applications including protecting sensitive electronic equipment (including main-frame servers using fragile optic-fibre connections), pharmacies, antique shops,  jewellery shops (stocking precious metals and stones) and high fashion stores such as Louis Vuitton & Hermes (stocking v. high-quality textiles) which have all used the Fog Bandit with no detrimental effect.

Yes, the BANDIT can be easily configured to work as a “stand-alone” system, as well as to work in conjunction with a conventional intruder alarm system.

Yes, the BANDIT can be configured in several different ways, to allow for differing types of intruder alarm panel signals.

Yes, the BANDIT can easily be configured to operate for robbery use only, burglary use only, or both options together if required.

Yes, for areas over 504 cubic metres as many BANDIT units can be linked to function in unison as required.

Statistics indicate that most burglaries and robberies are completed within just a few minutes, while sheer logistics dictate that it typically takes much longer than this for the police or other security services to respond.

During those first few minutes or the so-called “window of opportunity,” an intruder can operate virtually unhindered unless there are some means of preventing this such as the BANDIT.

The BANDIT security fogging system instantly delivers a visually impenetrable curtain of “fog” the moment an intruder is detected to deter them from progressing with their intended crime – “what can’t be seen can’t be stolen!”

While other fogging security systems can effectively produce fog using a pump or aerosol driven system, BANDIT’s unique & internationally Patented, high pressure ‘HY3’ system, instantly (just 0.1 second reaction time) produces much higher density fog, many times faster.

It has also been specially designed from the outset to be more durable, more reliable, has fewer moving parts yet be competitively priced.  It also has an in-built self-diagnostics system to warn of potential irregularities which could cause the system to fail and a self-cleaning system to alleviate problems of nozzle clogging.  The life expectancy of a Bandit system is 15+ years.

This is extremely unlikely as the speed at which the fog is ejected (jetted over 6 metres in the first 2 seconds alone!) makes it impossible for an intruder to approach the system.

Also, when installed the BANDIT is typically mounted inside the area to be protected with appropriate detectors activating it well before an intruder can approach the unit.  Then, due to its high power, horizontal fog ejection, the blanket of fog will have travelled 6 metres (standard Bandit) or 10 metres (narrow nozzle Bandit) in just the first 2 seconds alone.  Because of this, intruders are not only unable to approach the unit; they are also forced away out of the protected area in a matter of seconds.

The BANDIT can also be configured to activate if the system’s connection wires are cut.  There are also built-in “tamper protection” circuits to detect any form of system tampering or interruptions to the power supply.  Lastly, the extremely well-insulated heat exchanger means that even if mains power were to be cut, the Bandit would be able to provide a full activation for up to 2 hours from when power was lost.

The Fog Bandit’s onboard electronics perform system diagnostics 24/7 and monitor 10 areas critical to the Bandit’s functionality.  This includes the monitoring of fuses, tamper, mains power supply, back-up battery condition and fog fluid levels to instantly and reliably provide any system status changes to the alarm panel or stand-alone reporting system.

In the event of a fire in the vicinity of the Bandit, a built-in digital temperature sensor prevents the unit from activating when the ambient temperature reaches 70˚C.  Furthermore, the HY-3 fog cartridge has a safety “release plug” to allow completely safe venting of the pressure and fluid from the cartridge if the surrounding temperature reaches 95˚ C.  The Bandit may also be installed with an integrated link to the Fire Alarm system, so that in the event of a fire a signal from the Fire Alarm system can be used to withhold the Bandit from activating.

Yes.  BANDIT has CE approval and is certified to fully comply with European Standard EN50131-8 (which has now superseded the previous British Standard BS7939:1999) together with approvals and registration for use issued by Belgium, Dutch and French government bodies.  Materials Safety Data Sheets are also available.