Choosing the right fire-suppression system for the right site can mean the difference between disaster and saving lives and buildings.
To the uninitiated, all fires look similar. However, different classes of fire have dramatically different characteristics and require their own unique fire-suppression systems or strategies to bring them under control. A restaurant blaze, for example, is likely to ignite for different reasons to a data centre fire. The former typically occurs when oils and greases flare up during the cooking process, whereas the latter could start courtesy of an electrical short or perhaps an accident with gas storage. From Class A fires (involving solid materials such as wood, paper or cloth) to Class B (flammable liquids such as fuel and paints) Class K (cooking oils and grease),), Class E (electrical) and Class D (metals in industrial areas), each environment requires a flexible but informed approach to prevent or extinguish a fire.
Water systems
Traditional sprinklers in buildings are one of the most common fire-suppression systems. They simply wet surrounding surfaces that come under threat during a fire and, if they are effective, douse the blaze. Sprinklers and water can make a mess, however, and in some circumstances they are not the best option if a site has irreplaceable or expensive items or equipment. Water systems also do not work well in the event of electrical or grease fires.
Foam fortification
Foam suppression systems are often used in conjunction with a wet system and can provide an extra level of protection if a fire breaks out. As such, they have become an integral part of modern fire suppression.
The foam systems mix a foam concentrate at specific proportions with water to, in essence, create a foam blanket that is designed to smother a fire and cut off its supply of oxygen and separate the fuel from the heat source. They are usually delivered through a special open sprinkler, nozzle or foam generator and are renowned for working well in, for example, petrochemical plants where large quantities of flammable product is stored.
An extensive array of firefighting foam concentrates exist that are suitable for a wide variety of fire risks, including hydrocarbon-based liquids, wildfires, aviation and marine fires.
Gaseous agents
Special hazard fire-suppression systems use clean agents such as halocarbon (Novec 1230 and FM200) and inerts (IG-55 and IG-541), a colourless and environmentally friendly agent that is electrically non-conductive and safe for humans.
These agents work in direct ways includingcooling and lowering the oxygen to a level fire can’t sustain a fire.
Clean agents are especially suited to combatting electrical fires, such as those in a data centre, and are unlikely to damage sensitive electronic equipment such as servers, telecommunications equipment or control panels. This means there is likely to be minimal interruption to a business if a fire event occurs.
Seek advice from qualified suppliers
Building owners and site managers should be conscious that there is often no perfect option for fighting fires, but there is no doubt that some solutions are better suited to certain environments.
For that reason, it is essential to carefully assess all options and seek the assistance of experienced fire-suppression experts to assess a site and determine the best possible solution. This risk-management approach can protect the lives of staff and customers of at-risk buildings and help management protect assets and minimise costly downtime.
To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial fire-suppression systems that safeguard many of the country’s premier restaurants, businesses and industrial sites. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.