A diverse range of fire-suppression systems are available for commercial premises, but property owners and managers need to consult carefully with experts to ensure they make the right choices and safeguard their employees and the business itself.
Not all fires are created equal.
While the layperson often thinks all fires are pretty much the same, they can differ dramatically in terms of their causes and how they should be extinguished. Sophisticated fire-suppression systems are the key to protecting your business – and people – against blazes and any resulting damage or disruption. It is important to know what systems are available and which solutions are best suited to certain environments. Following are some of the main options.
Water-based sprinklers
Sprinklers in buildings are a common means of fire suppression, for good reason. They are typically very effective at dousing fires that are fuelled by wood and paper, and the water itself does not pose a threat to people on site.
However, water-based systems are not usually recommended for electrical or grease fires. They can also make a mess and damage property, electronics and other important assets in your building. Such damage could also result in your operations coming to a halt for longer than necessary.
Aerosols
Condensed aerosol fire-suppression systems may be a smart choice in unoccupied areas of facilities where sufficient space is lacking for a suppression system to be stored. They can potentially reduce collateral damage from a blaze compared with other systems, and they are suitable for fire hazards involving combustible materials such as paper, wood, cloth, rubber and many plastics, as well as flammable combustible liquids.
Clean agent systems
Clean agent fire-suppression systems extinguish a fire quickly and do not leave any residue behind that needs to be cleaned up. This is particularly important for critical assets such as telecommunication facilities, data centres, electrical cabinets and storage vaults., These agents are colourless, environmentally friendly, electrically non-conductive and widely used in many buildings and facilities. Best of all, they do not present a threat to people in your building.
Foam suppressants
Foam suppression systems are often used in conjunction with a wet system and have become an integral part of modern fire suppression. They mix a foam concentrate at a pre-determined percentage with water to create a foam blanket that smothers the fire and separates the fuel from the heat and flames. They are typically delivered through specific equipment designed to enhance the foam, including monitors, sprinklers and foam generators, and are renowned for working well in environments where there may be several different types of flammable and combustible liquids.
Choose your provider carefully
Cutting costs with fire suppression can backfire badly if a fire breaks out, possibly resulting in human injuries or even death. Inadequate protections can also result in extra downtime that could bring a business to its knees.
For that reason, it is essential to carefully assess all fire-suppression options and seek the assistance of proven experts to assess a site and determine the best possible solution. Poor choices are likely to be costly in the long-term.
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.