What You Should Know About Fire Suppression Systems Before Investing In One For Your Business
Are you considering investing in a fire suppression system for your business? Here are a few things you should know first.
The Difference Between Suppression and Extinguishing Systems
While both fire extinguishing and suppression systems work to extinguish fires as they erupt, the way they put fires out is different. Fire extinguishing systems use water to put fires out, which is effective in most cases but can also be very damaging to buildings and items that might be inside of a structure during a fire.
On the other hand, fire suppression systems typically use some type of chemical, gas, or foaming agent to extinguish fires. These agents are usually more effective when it comes to putting out specific types of fires, such as grease fires, than a traditional fire extinguisher is. So commercial buildings would likely benefit more from the use of a suppression system rather than an extinguishing system.
The Different Types of Suppression Systems
There are a few different types of fire suppression systems available on the market. The one your business will benefit from the most depends on the type of business you run and the type of building you're dealing with. Some options to consider include:
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CO2 Systems – Oxygen levels are reduced by the suppression system using heavy doses of gas, but the gas is not safe for humans so this system is best used in places like storage warehouses.
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Inert Gas Systems – A combination of agents including argon and nitrogen are used to suppress oxygen levels in a building so combustion becomes impossible and a developing fire cannot sustain itself.
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Clean Chemical Systems – People-safe fluids are used to suppress fast-acting fires without damaging even the most susceptible of items, such as artwork.
Your service provider will help you determine what type of fire suppression system would be the best fit for your particular type of business.
Ongoing Maintenance
There will be some maintenance to keep up with after installing a new fire suppression system in your workplace. Depending on the humidity levels, the work environment, and other factors of your building, you may have to replace some components of the system over time to keep it in reliable working order. Your service provider can inspect your system on a regular basis to make sure everything is working properly and to identify any components that may need to be repaired or replaced before those components lead to a breakdown of your fire suppression system overall.
Reach out to a company like Echo Fire Protection to learn more.