How Does a Fire Suppression System Work?
When safety officers shop around for fire equipment supply in Lawrenceville, GA, they often assume these systems drop water, and voila: the fire is out! However, fire suppression is more complicated than that. Your best approach to fire suppression depends on the types of fire risk faced by your business. Here are five fire suppression systems and where and how they work:
- Clean agent fire suppression: Also called a waterless fire suppression system, this system is prevalent in areas with sensitive equipment. You find clean agent fire suppression in server rooms and data centers. This system uses a combination of environmentally friendly chemicals to cut off the oxygen from the fire and put it out, or at least get it under control. It produces minimal mess, and the chemicals are safe for the environment. Since it is not water-based, it often extinguishes fires without causing damage to sensitive electronics.
- Carbon dioxide fire suppression: This method is waterless, but unlike clean agent systems, which use multiple suppressants, these systems only use carbon dioxide. They are cost-effective and efficient. Like clean agent systems, carbon dioxide makes cleanup easy and reduces downtime. It’s another popular option for industries using electronics.
- Kitchen fire suppression systems: These systems work for unique circumstances in restaurants and commercial kitchens. Manufacturers design them for grease fires, which are tricky to suppress without the correct chemicals. Unlike the dry systems, kitchen fire systems release a fine mist to cut off the fire’s oxygen supply. Dry chemicals leave a mess and can render food preparation surfaces unsanitary. These systems address grease fires and clean up quickly, allowing sanitization of prep areas.
- Industrial fire suppression systems: You find these systems in high-hazard environments that handle toxic or explosive chemicals and materials. Rather than gas or mist, these systems use dry chemicals to smother these dangerous fires. The chemical mix depends on the risk—there are different designs for liquid fuels, volatile chemicals and hazardous materials. If you need a suppression system for this type of environment, consult with an expert to make sure your choices are adequate for full suppression.
- Fire extinguisher: Even if you have a complete fire suppression system in place, keep fire extinguishers in higher-risk areas. These areas include employee kitchens, server rooms and anywhere with heavy equipment. Sometimes, fires caught and extinguished early eliminate the need for your fire suppression system. Just make sure you have the right type of fire extinguisher in each of these areas and that employees know where to find them.
Any system must include notification devices, control panels and smoke detectors. Also, consider upgrading emergency lighting and alarms to ensure your employees are able to safely evacuate if fires cause power outages. The right combination of fire suppression and emergency notification minimizes losses and vulnerability to legal liability.
AAA Fire Protection Resources, Inc. is your reliable fire equipment supply source in Lawrenceville, GA. Our products include fire extinguishers, fire suppression systems, emergency lighting and alarms. Contact us today to schedule a fire protection consultation and find the best plan for fire safety.
Categorised in: Fire Protection System
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