When it comes to protecting your building from a fire, you probably want the best systems in place to give your property the best protection. However, it can be difficult to figure out which fire protection system is right for you. Depending on the assets you are trying to protect, a CO2 fire suppression system may be the right choice for you.
What is a CO2 system?
A CO2 fire suppression system uses carbon dioxide as a suppressant agent. CO2 works well as a fire suppressant because it works quickly to extinguish a fire. It is also colorless, odorless, electrically nonconductive, and leaves no residue.
How a CO2 System Works
When a fire is detected, the CO2 suppression system will activate and discharge a blanket of CO2 into the area where the fire is present. The CO2 displaces the oxygen in the environment which will cause the fire to be extinguished. Fire needs oxygen to continue burning and when the oxygen is being displaced, the fire cannot continue to burn.
Benefits of CO2
Installing a CO2 fire suppression system can have many advantages. Some of the benefits of using carbon dioxide include:
- Fast Acting: A carbon dioxide suppression system acts quickly to put out a fire before it can spread. This minimizes the amount of damage done in a fire leading to less downtime and more cost savings.
- Works in a Wide Variety of Applications: Carbon dioxide is a suppressant that works well in many areas. It is effective on a wide range of flammable materials making it a good choice for electrical rooms, paint booths, power plants, research facilities, and more.
- No Clean-Up Needed: CO2 is a colorless and odorless agent. When it is released it leaves no residue behind. This means there is no clean up necessary which lessens downtime.
- No Water Damage: Traditional fire sprinklers can sometimes cause more damage to your assets than the fire itself from the water that is released. With a CO2 fire suppression system, water is not used so your property will not be damaged by water.
- Environmentally Friendly: CO2 does not cause any harm to the environment. It is present in the air around us and does not contribute to global warming or ozone depletion.
Disadvantage of CO2
There is one important consideration to make before choosing a CO2 suppression system. In order for CO2 to suppress a fire, it must displace oxygen. When doing this, oxygen levels are lowered to a point where humans can’t survive. CO2 suppression systems are best suited for areas that are unoccupied most of the time.
IFP Installs Suppression Systems
International Fire Protection designs and installs CO2 fire suppression systems. We can provide you with both high and low pressure systems, depending on what your building needs. Our team can also inspect, test, and service your suppression system to keep it running properly. In addition, we offer 24-hour emergency services should your system break down unexpectedly. If you are interested in learning if a CO2 fire suppression system is right for you, contact International Fire Protection today.
