Under certain circumstances in unoccupied spaces, condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems can be a highly effective means of safeguarding commercial and industrial buildings.
Fighting fires in commercial and industrial environments rarely involves one all-encompassing solution.
Typical fire-extinguishing systems include water-based sprinklers and foam and gaseous suppression options. What may work in one setting, however, could be ineffective or even damaging in another. In short, it is crucial to deploy systems that are appropriate for any given site.
In unoccupied areas, for example, condensed aerosol fire-suppression systems have proven to be extremely effective. Experts note that they can potentially reduce collateral damage from a blaze compared with traditional suppression systems. They are suitable for fire hazards involving combustible materials such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber and many plastics, along with flammable combustible liquids or energised electrical equipment.
Likely sites for effective use of condensed aerosols include telecommunication facilities, data centres, electrical cabinets, storage vaults and engine rooms.
How they work
Fires need four elements to burn: heat, fuel, an oxidising agent such as oxygen and a chemical chain reaction.
Condensed aerosols are usually activated by a smoke or heat-detection system, or manually via a pull station. They are especially good at disrupting chain reactions, without which there is insufficient heat to maintain the fire. The aerosols generate solid particles and inert gases and distribute them through enclosed areas such as a room, cabinet or compartment. At the right densities, they are very effective extinguishants and can also prevent reignition of the blaze.
The advantages
One of the key benefits of such automatic fire-suppression systems is that they require no pipework or nozzles, which means they take up a fraction of the space of alternative gaseous options that need cylinders, pipes and other fixtures to operate.
Aerosol fire-extinguisher units are placed directly on or in the at-risk area, making installation a simple and cost-effective process. This type of suppressant has similar characteristics to gases, but unlike gases the aerosol can stay in suspension for up to an hour, which heightens the effectiveness of the fire suppression. Maintenance of the aerosol units is also relatively easy.
Potential risks
While aerosols have their place as a fire-suppression option, they may not be suitable in all instances. There have been concerns, for instance, that such a product can cause corrosion damage to sensitive electronic equipment. In addition, the protected area should ideally not be occupied because of the risk of eye irritation and reduced visibility during and after discharge. Toxic gases can also be generated, so people should not enter the site after a system discharge and until the aerosol agent has settled.
Condensed aerosol agents should also not be used in deep-seated fires or with reactive metals such as lithium, sodium, potassium, magnesium, titanium, zirconium, uranium and plutonium.
Seek advice
These risks highlight the importance of drawing from the experience and advice of fire-suppression experts when implementing such condensed aerosol solutions. Before installation, contact an expert to discuss the most appropriate aerosol fire-extinguishing systems for your site, and get them to outline the potential adverse effects of agent particulate residue on sensitive equipment. It is also important to install the aerosol units in accordance with the manufacturer’s recommendations.
Managed professionally, these condensed aerosol systems can be an important part of your fire-suppression arsenal.
Delta Fire Australasia specialises in the design, installation and servicing of commercial and industrial fire-suppression systems. Visit www.deltafire.com.au for more details.