Fire suppression systems use water, inert gases, or chemicals to put out or prevent fires. They can be automatic or manual and may pose safety risks. Water is commonly used in sprinkler systems, while inert gases are used in sensitive areas. Chemical systems may be used when water or gas is not safe.
The purpose of a fire suppression system is to put out a fire or prevent it from spreading. These systems are often used in conjunction with fire alarms and smoke or heat detectors to safeguard people and physical structures. The three main categories of fire extinguishing systems use water, inert gases or various chemical agents to suppress a fire. These systems can also be automatic or manual, depending on whether they require external intervention to activate. Some suppression systems can be dangerous to anyone in the vicinity, including the asphyxiation hazard associated with pumping inert gases into an area to starve a fire of oxygen.
Water tends to be one of the most commonly used types of fire suppression and is typically used in a sprinkler system. This type of fire extinguishing system can be both wet and dry. A wet sprinkler system is constantly loaded, which means there is always water in the pipes. This type of fire suppression system can be automatic and will activate if the system detects smoke or an excessively high temperature. Dry sprinklers are manual systems that can only be activated after a water source has been connected to a standpipe.
Another method of fire suppression involves filling an area with inert gas. Since fires require oxygen to burn, this can have a smothering effect. These systems are commonly used in sensitive areas where water could potentially damage items such as computer equipment or documents. Computer server rooms are one area where inert gas, such as argon, is often used to suppress fires.
The inert gas can put out a fire without damaging electronics or other equipment, but it can also pose other health and safety risks. In some cases, an inert gas fire extinguishing system can lead to asphyxiation. Most of these systems have alarms to warn personnel to leave the area before the gas is released. Another potential problem with these systems is pressure, as the sudden introduction of a previously compressed gas into a small space can potentially blow out windows or walls.
Both wet and dry chemicals can also be used in fire suppression systems. These systems are typically automatic, although they may also have manual controls to trigger the release of firefighting chemicals. Some materials may react poorly to the presence of water or inert gases, in which case a dry or wet chemical fire extinguishing system is often the safest option. Because these chemicals can be hazardous to human health, a delay is often incorporated to allow anyone in the area to escape.
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