An integral part of any fire protection system is a fire suppression system. In the engineering world, fire suppression refers to engineering units that fight fires. You can achieve this by using an extinguishing agent such as water, foam, or chemical compounds. This article will discuss the many uses of a fire suppression strategy. Site teams and building owners must comply with fire safety regulations so building occupants, as well as tenants, can feel safe.
What is the working principle of a fire suppression system?
Fire suppression systems will include components that detect fires as soon as they occur. These components will detect the presence of smoke and flames. The suppression system will then trigger an alarm to stop the flames from spreading. Fire suppression systems are active fire protection systems because they activate when a fire occurs. Also within a suppression system, there are various components that actively extinguish flames and smoke.
What’s the difference between fire suppression and a fire sprinkler?
Sprinkler systems and fire suppression systems both can extinguish or control fires. They are activated by heat or smoke. However, a fire suppression system doesn’t use water because it may not be effective in certain types of fires. Water would not be a good choice for a facility that burns combustible oil or gas. Fire suppression systems are much more popular in industrial settings than traditional water sprinklers.
Why choose an automatic fire suppression system instead?
An automatic fire suppression system is similar to a traditional system. It will include an element that detects heat or smoke, and a container containing a suppression agent. Many manufacturers include a manual activation system rather than relying on automatic activation.
An automatic fire suppression system eliminates the need for human intervention or activation. This reduces the risk of injury to occupants and is ideal for extinguishing fires in difficult or remote areas of a property or building.
Automatic fire suppression systems can be a great investment in industries that contain flammable materials and high-value goods. Insurance providers may be open to this preventive measure, and they might offer lower premium rates for landlords or business owners who take it.
What is the best time to install a fire suppression system?
In buildings where a sprinkler system is not the best method of protecting against fire, fire suppression systems are recommended. These rooms could include rooms with a lot of electrical equipment, irreplaceable items, or perishable objects that are susceptible to water damage.
There are no legal requirements for installing fire suppression systems. However, property owners (commercial or residential) are responsible for hiring experts to perform fire risk assessments. This assessment can be done internally or externally and may indicate the need for a fire suppression device. You can find more information in our article about who is responsible for Fire Safety legislation.
It is important to understand how active and passive fire protection systems interact to extinguish flames when deciding on the best option. This knowledge is essential for risk management and to reduce the chance of structural damage. It also protects the occupants of a building.
Different types of fire suppression
There are five major types of fire suppression systems. Each one has its environmental benefits and properties depending on the space that needs protection.
Gas systems
Gas suppression systems contain nitrogen-pressurized liquids that can suppress fires. These liquids contain FM200, a chemical agent that quickly suppresses flames. These systems do not require water and are especially useful for rooms that have a lot of electrical equipment, such as switchboards and server rooms. These systems are easy to transport and store because the gaseous agent is first condensed in liquid form.
Wet chemical foam systems in kitchens
Wet chemical foam systems have been specifically developed to suppress kitchen fires. This kitchen fire suppression system emits a water-based chemical agent quickly into a small area. They are typically placed under the covers of cookers. A manual switch or heat link activates them. This link is attached to a wire and breaks when heated, activating the foam release valve.
Water mist systems
Water mist systems are a viable option for areas that can’t be exposed to high levels of water. These systems produce droplets much smaller than traditional sprinkler systems. This steam creates a layer that quickly reduces the temperature in the area. They are more durable than traditional sprinklers because they use less water. In our article on emerging technology, we explore water mist systems more in detail.
Foam deluge systems
Protecting areas containing flammable liquids is one of the most difficult aspects of fire suppression. Foam deluges are the best way to stop the spread of this environment. They are often found in industrial warehouses, aircraft hangers, and refineries. These types of environments can cause fires to spread very quickly. Using foam deluge systems on suppressive materials is fast and straightforward.
To quickly cool flammable liquids, foam deluge systems use a mixture of foam and water. Foam deluge systems use a mixture of foam and water to create a thick blanket that blocks oxygen from fires and prevents the release of flammable gasses, effectively smothering them. They are similar to conventional fire extinguishers in this respect.
Pneumatic heat detection tubes
The design of pneumatic heat detection tubes is very similar to fire extinguishers. As a result, they are the most portable and compact fire suppression system available. Two components are essential to these tubes: a pipe and a valve. Taking the pipe to a high temperature and placing it around the source of fire is the best way to put out the fire. It emits a suppressive substance directly onto the flames via a valve.
As fires spread, heat detector tubes with pneumatic valves detect them in small spaces with little movement. They are ideal for dealing with fires in cupboards and cabinets, boats, and other small areas. However, they are not suitable for controlling large fires.
What industries use fire suppression systems most often?
All industries use fire suppression systems to protect their workers and reduce property damage. However, some sectors have particular requirements that make it more important to have a fire suppression system that is fully compliant.
- Industrial and Manufacturing – While this article has made numerous references to highly flammable material in industrial settings, it is also important to mention that both industrial and manufacturing plants contain large quantities of raw materials. A fire suppression system is a crucial investment because of the disruption of supply chains. This makes fire safety a non-threatening risk.
- Storage and warehouse – Storage facilities are likely to make the best use of space provided that they comply with safety and health regulations. A fire suppression system can effectively reduce the danger of large quantities of potentially flammable items being nearby and provide sufficient coverage to protect large commercial spaces.
Server rooms and data centers – Fires are the most common cause of data center outages. The average downtime for data centers is over 24 hours. This can have a devastating effect on businesses and organizations that rely on them for their operations. Server rooms and data centers also house a lot of sensitive electronic equipment, which is extremely sensitive to temperature changes. A fire suppression system is a must-have investment for both these reasons.
