 Fire prevention systems aim to minimize potential fire hazards.

 Fire protection reduces damage and helps to safely evacuate a building.

 Fire suppression systems are intended to extinguish the flames.

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

 A fire suppression system is, to a degree, precisely what it
sounds like – a system used to suppress and/or extinguish a
fire within a building.
 Similar in style, function, and purpose of fire sprinklers, fire
suppression systems “suffocate” the fire with chemical, gaseous, or
foam agents, rather than water. Since dry fire suppression
systems do not use water, they typically cause minimal damage
to valuable assets and will stop extremely hot, chemical-based
or grease fires quickly.
 A fire suppression system is an integral part of any fire protection
infrastructure.
 A fire suppression system is an integral part of any fire
protection infrastructure. ‘Fire suppression’ is a collective term
for any engineering groups of units that are designed to put out
a fire. This can be achieved by applying an extinguishing
substance such as water, foam or chemical compounds.
 Most commonly, a fire suppression system has built-in
components that detect fires at the beginning stages through heat,
smoke, and other warning signals. These are attached to an
alarm system that will alert you when the fire has been
detected and initiate steps for action to further suppress the
fire.
 The majority of fire suppression systems will automatically release
the application of an external substance to extinguish the fire
after the detection and/or alert. However, some fire suppression
systems have a manual application release.
 A fire suppression system, like a fire sprinkler system, is used
to extinguish or control fires, and is activated by heat, smoke,
or a combination of the two. However, a fire suppression
system uses gaseous, chemical, or foam fire suppression
agents to suppress the fire, rather than water.

FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM
 NOVEMBER 15, 2021

(Because water can damage some types of property, such as electronics, areas like server rooms
or semiconductor manufacturing facilities would benefit from a fire suppression system rather than a sprinkler
system. For facilities that deal with highly combustible substances or oil and gas, a fire suppression
system is also necessary, since water is not effective as a fire suppression agent when oil and certain
other substances are combusted.)

Note that fire suppression systems are different than fire sprinkler systems. Fire sprinklers always use
water in copious amounts to extinguish and/or control a fire. Water damage to the contents of the
room/building can often occur as a result, but lives are saved, as is the structure.

With fire suppression systems, however, they use other types of suppressing agents besides water.
These suppressing agents include CO2, chemical, or inert gases. These agents have unique
properties that are ideal for protecting sensitive equipment and contents within a building even while
suppressing a fire.

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

A suppression system aims to take action before a fire gets a chance to grow and spread, truly
minimizing potential damages. This often means that these systems activate at a much earlier
stage in the fire’s development than do fire sprinklers.

FROM FIRE CODE:

Automatic Fire Suppression System
- An integrated system of underground or overhead piping or both connected
to a source of extinguishing agent or medium and designed in accordance
with fire protection engineering standards which, when actuated by its
automatic detecting device, suppresses fires within the area protected.
Fire Suppression Systems
ii. Description of authorized major changes to FALAR 1.
iii. Calculations for major changes (maybe included in appendices)

HISTORY

Fire sprinkler systems have been around since the late 1800s. But, believe it or not, some of
the first fast-acting fire suppression systems appeared not much longer, even as early as 1910
when the Pyrene Manufacturing Company of Delaware filed a patent to use carbon tetrachloride to
extinguish fires.

World War II spurred their development as air forces were losing a significant percentage of
aircraft to fire. Carbon tetrachloride, a dry chemical, was the common fire suppressing agent of
choice. However, over time, it was discovered that it caused severe health effects. 1

By the early to mid-1960s, another option was developed, and “clean agent” systems (more on that
shortly) appeared. The first “clean agent” chemical developed was Halon 1301, which could more
ARCHITECTURAL BUILDING UTILITIES ASSIGNMENT
2 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM 1
effectively suppress fires without leaving a residue behind and seemed to have no harmful effects.
For about 20 years, Halon systems reigned supreme in the fire suppression industry.

However, by the 1980s, Halon 1301 came under fire for potential negative consequences to the
environment, since the ’90s, between the demand for even better, more precise agents for each
unique industry and the demand for environmentally friendly agents, a wide variety of fire
suppression and clean agent systems have been developed.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

A fire suppression system will have built-in components to detect fires as early as possible.
These components will first identify the presence of flames and smoke. The suppression system will then
initiate an alarm, so the blaze can be subdued before it has the chance to spread.

A fire suppression system works to extinguish fires through the application of a substance that

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

eliminates either the oxygen or the temperature that fires need to survive. Fire suppression systems
do this through the operation of a group of engineered components that first detect fires at the very
beginning stages. They do this, most commonly, through rising temperatures or smoke. Once a
warning signal has been detected, the fire suppression system will trigger an alarm to alert you to
the presence of a potential fire. This helps you, your employees or residents have time to
evacuate safely and take action to extinguish the fire. In addition to initiating an alarm, some
fire suppression systems should also automatically release a substance to extinguish the fire
while some need to be manually triggered.

TYPES OF FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

Gaseous Fire Suppression Systems (clean agent

– Carbon dioxide is a clean and non-flammable gas

that is commonly used as a fire-extinguishing agent for
areas that are not typically occupied by people. CO2
efficiently and effectively extinguishes fires without
leaving any toxic or liquid residue that might damage
property or equipment.

Foam Fire Suppression Systems

– Foam extinguishing systems are effective for

rapidly controlling and extinguishing flammable
liquid fires.

RESTAURANT FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS 2

Restaurant fire suppression systems are specifically designed to extinguish fires fueled by grease
and in a kitchen environment. They use wet chemicals in a fine mist to quickly extinguish fires and
offer a quicker clean-up than dry chemicals.
INDUSTRIAL FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS

Industrial plants are high hazard environments and industrial fire suppression systems are designed
to confidently extinguish fires fueled by chemicals, liquid fuels, or hazardous materials. For this
reason, industrial fire suppression systems use dry chemicals.

Different Types of Fire Suppression Systems & Where They Are Used Most

o FM 200 Fire Suppression System – the most common of type of suppression systems for all
multi- site, large-scale companies, the FM 200 releases a safe chemical gas that inhibits the
chemical reaction of the combustible materials and oxygen. It is the fastest system
(reaches extinguishing levels in 10 seconds or less), requires no cleanup, leaves no residue.
Safe for people, flammable liquids/combustibles, and electronics.
o Wet Chemical Suppression System – discharges a vaporous liquid over a burning surface
that quickly reacts with fats and oils to produce foam that cools the surface, extinguishes the
fire, and prevents re-ignition. Ideal for restaurant and other commercial kitchens. Safe for

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

people, flammable liquids/combustibles.
o Dry Fire Suppression Systems – releases a dry chemical powder (much like an ABC fire
extinguisher) onto the fire when activated. Safe for people, flammable liquids/combustibles, and
electronics.
Dry Chemical Fire Suppression Systems
– Pressured dry chemicals, used in conjunction with the proper detection system, can extinguish a
fire before it becomes detectable to the eye, thus protecting resources from damage
and businesses from any major interruptions.
o Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Suppression System – works by displacing/taking away the oxygen that
fire needs to survive. It is also very cold, which cools the fire. It is colorless and odorless.
Not safe for people, but regularly used for engine/generator rooms, flammable liquid storage
rooms, power stations, large industrial machines.
o Water Mist Systems – Improve upon the traditional water sprinkler system by producing ultra-
fine water droplets and using 50 to 90 percent less water than a fire sprinkler, resulting in
little to no collateral damage. Water mist systems may be connected to a building’s water
supply for continuous fire-fighting capability, or in remote locations, may be connected to a tank
or reservoir.

What Types of Agents are used for Fire Suppression?

Today, several fire extinguishing and suppressing agents are used in many different types of fire
suppression systems.

 Clean Agent: a clean agent is discharged in gas form and leaves no residue, requiring no
cleanup (thus “clean”). These gases are safe for use in human occupancies. They are 3
favored wherever
sensitive equipment or materials are kept, such as server rooms, telecommunications rooms, marine
applications, critical military operations, rooms with medical equipment, museums, and any
other enclosures that could be deemed of high-value assets.
 CO2: CO2 systems use a massive amount of CO2 gas to suffocate a fire. It is extremely
unsafe for humans, and so its use is usually very localized and only in spaces where human
occupants are common.

As clean agent fire suppression systems are the highest in demand and have a wide range of
applications, the rest of this post will explore these systems in greater detail.

What is a Clean Agent?

A clean agent is a gas-based agent that is electrically non-conducting and which leaves no
residue upon evaporation.

This is what makes the clean agent systems special. While some of the above-mentioned fire
suppressing agents would not be safe or effective to use around electrical and sensitive equipment
and materials, a clean agent is.
Among the category of clean agents, there are two main types:

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

 Chemical agents: chemical agents include chemicals such as 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection
Fluid or FM-200. These agents are stored in the cylinder as a compressed liquid and quickly
changes to a gas form when discharged. To ensure that they discharge as gas, the cylinders
must discharge within 10 seconds, regardless of the cylinder's size.

 Inert agents: inert agents are naturally occurring gases. They are stored within cylinders in gas
form for use in suppression systems and are discharged as a gas.
Because of the level of pressure required to store the inert agents, these cylinders will
discharge the agent entirely within 60 to 120 seconds.

Where is Clean Agent Systems Typically Installed?

Essentially, facilities and businesses that cannot afford to lose their sensitive electronic equipment
because of the value of the hardware and the value of what may be stored on that hardware (the
data necessary to run the business) rely on clean agent suppression systems. These systems
activate well before the heat from a fire could do serious harm to the sensitive equipment and
suppresses the fire with an agent that won’t itself cause damage.

In addition to these industries, you will also find clean agent systems in places like museums, libraries,
archives, and the like. The materials they store would be damaged and lost if covered in water,
foam, or other suppressing agents that leave a residue.

Are Clean Agents Dangerous to Human Health?

Clean agents are safe for use in human-occupied facilities. 4

When clean agent systems are properly designed to have the correct concentration of
chemicals/gas for the space it is protecting, a person who happens to be stuck in the area at the
time of discharge may have adverse effects due to their human makeup, but in most cases, once the
person is exposed to fresh air,
 those effects can go away. Still, they should not be severe or long-lasting in most cases. But it is
always a good idea to seek medical attention as a safeguard. The systems are tested and regulated
by the NFPA to have limited adverse effects on anyone exposed.

Generally speaking, clean agents are safe, and exposure is unlikely to cause noticeable adverse
effects. However, it is always important to remember that there are many variables regarding the
unique setting and the system’s needed concentration levels, the agent, and the individuals' physiology
and their level of exposure.

WHEN IT IS REQUIRED?

Fire suppression systems should be installed in buildings where a sprinkler system may not be
the most effective method of fire protection. These can include rooms which contain a large amount of
electrical equipment, or perishable items that could be susceptible to water damage.

FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

When identifying the best option for your specific needs, it’s advisable to know how both active
and passive fire protection systems work in tandem to extinguish flames. This is vital for risk management,
reducing the risk of structural damage as well as safeguarding a building’s occupants.

BENEFITS

o A dry application technology - fire suppression system won't damage property and is
ideal for application in computer rooms or areas with electrical equipment
o Eco-friendly firefighting equipment
o The gases are inert and won't affect breathing
o Compact cylinders, thus less space is occupied
o Extinguishes fire quickly and efficiently

REFERENCES:
https://www.keystonefire.com/blog/what-are-fire-suppression-systems-and-how-do-they-work/
https://amptec.ca/the-most-common-types-of-fire-suppression-systems/
https://www.confires.com/blog/infographic-types-of-fire-suppression-systems/ 5
https://www.variex.in/blog/types-of-fire-suppression-systems/
https://blog.koorsen.com/introduction-to-fire-suppression-systems
https://clmfireproofing.com/the-difference-between-fire-protection-prevention-and-suppression/