What are the various types of fire suppression systems available today?
Today’s fire suppression systems offer various levels of protection not found with traditional water sprinkler systems. These special hazard fire protection options can be categorized as:
- Chemical Clean Agents– Include FM-200 (HFC-227ea), 3MTM NovecTM 1230 Fire Protection Fluid and others, all of which offer fast-acting, and most importantly, people-safe fire-suppressing solutions. Clean agents protect irreplaceable assets, such as computers, servers, electronics, artwork, archives and more, as they produce none of the damage often associated with traditional water sprinkler systems.
- Inert Gases – Include nitrogen, argon and CO2, or a combination of two or more, and reduce oxygen levels to a point where combustion cannot be sustained. These gaseous agents are safe for both people and the environment.
- CO2 Systems– Provide a heavy blanket of gas that reduces the oxygen level to a point where combustion cannot occur. Because it’s unsafe for people, CO2 is only recommended for localized applications or areas generally inaccessible by employees or customers.