Types Of Fire Suppression Systems If you’re reading this, you probably already know what a fire suppression system is, but just in case you’re still not sure, here’s a brief overview. The purpose of a fire suppression system is to either stop a fire or stop it from spreading. More often than not, you’ll find this type of system is used in conjunction with a fire alarm and smoke/heat detectors to ensure the safety of people and physical structures in the area. There are three main types of suppression systems; these are water, inert gases and chemical agents. They can be manual or automatic, and that generally depends on what is required to activate them. Fire suppression systems can be hazardous when not used properly, with the dangers of asphyxiation very real if you’re trying to starve a fire of oxygen in a small, confined space. The Three Types Explained Water Systems This is the most commonly used fire suppression system and is what is mostly used in buildings in the form of sprinkler systems. This type of system can be wet or dry. A sprinkler system is always ‘charged’, meaning that there is water in the pipes at all times. It will generally be automatic and will activate if the sensors sense smoke or high temperatures. A dry system is a manual system; it will only work once it is connected to a standing pipe. Another type of water system is an aqueous film forming foam that can be sprayed over the fire. It acts very quickly and will cool the flammable materials fuelling the fire quickly and efficiently. It will also stop flammable vapours from emerging, further reducing the fire until it is out. Inert Gases This type of system involves filling an area with an inert gas. Fires require oxygen to breath; by filling an area with an inert gas, you can smother the fire.
This type of system is used in areas where sensitive information could be damaged by water or chemical systems., such as computers or documents. Inert gases will suppress a fire around electronics or documents without damaging them, but can cause severe health and safety issues to anyone in close proximity at the time they are used. If not used properly, an inert gas fire suppression system can cause asphyxiation. This type of system should always be fitted with an alarm to warn anyone nearby that it is about to be used. Chemical Systems Chemicals can be either wet or dry. Generally, this type of system is also automatic, although can be set up to be manually activated. In some situations, materials may react badly to a water or inert gas system, so a chemical system is best used. This type of fire suppression system is very hazardous to humans, so most of these systems will have a delay mechanism built in to them to allow people time to get away before the system is deployed. When it comes to fire suppression systems, it pays to do some research and determine which system will best suit your situation. Talk to the team at QTEC Fire Services today. They can help you determine what is the best system for your needs.