Fire Suppression System
What is a Fire Suppression System?
A fire suppression system is any product designed to stop a fire from spreading. It gets the name suppression system as it aims to hold back the fire and the damage it may cause. Preventing the fire from spreading mitigates losses and allows time for emergency personnel to respond.
While sprinkler systems are the most common type of fire suppression system, some applications require special hazard fire suppression systems that do not use water. These systems are unique in that they can deal with hazards where water could actually do more harm than good. Within fire science, there are several classes of fires: class A, B, C, D, and K. The fuel of the fire will dictate what can put it out. Class A fires, for example, involve wood, and a sprinkler system would work well. A Class C fire, on the other hand, is an electrical fire and that may get worse by trying to suppress it with water. In summary, the specific environment will determine which system will work best.
Inert Gas | Novec 1230 | FM-200 | |
Type of Compound | A mixture of the inert gases: nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide (CO2) | A fluorinated ketone containing carbon, fluorine, and oxygen | A hydro fluorocarbon (HFC) compound containing hydrogen, fluorine, and carbon |
Storage | Stored as a gas | Stored as a liquid | Stored as a liquefied compressed gas |
Discharge Time | 60 seconds | 10 seconds | 10 seconds |
Clean Up | None | None | None |
Types of Fire Suppression Systems
Engineered vs. pre-engineered fire suppression systems also need discussion. Engineered fire suppression systems will protect an entire room. for example, clean agents that are safe with electronics and can be inhaled without doing any harm to a person.
Pre-engineered systems are used to protect small compartments or micro-environments. Engine compartments and electrical panels are good examples of where these types of systems would provide protection. They are also useful for suppressing fires in CNC and EDM machines.
Direct Release Systems
How it works: In a direct release system, the suppressant will come through the hole in the tube directly.
Common applications: Direct release systems are recommended for electrical panel and server rack protection.
Here’s how they work:
- During a fire, the portion of the tube nearest the point where the most heat is detected ruptures, forming a spray nozzle.
- The pressure decreases as the tubing releases fire suppression Agent from the cylinder through the spray nozzle (burst hole) to effectively suppress the fire.
- A direct release system can be installed to protect multiple enclosures using a single cylinder by routing additional tubing to each enclosed space.
Key benefits: The direct release system works well for protection of electrical hazards, because it does not rely on any metal components installed within an electrical enclosure. Metal components, like nozzles, can cause electrical arc faults, which actually increase your fire risk. Because direct release systems rely entirely on the tubing, a plastic material, fire risk is reduced.