4 Types Of Suppression Systems For Your Business
Posted on: 14 March 2015
Does your business's facility need a fire suppression system? A suppression system, also sometimes referred to as a sprinkler system, is a very effective way to protect your building, your equipment, and your inventory. Just having one in place can also reduce your insurance premiums, as a the system greatly reduces the potential loss that could be caused by a fire. There are many different types of systems, so it's important that you take the time to find the one that best fits your needs. Here are four of the most common types of fire suppression systems:
Wet Pipe Systems. This is one of the most common types of systems. Pipes line the ceiling of your facility and water sites in those pipes at all times. The system has sensors that can detect heat levels and the presence of smoke. When the system detects excessive heat or smoke, it deploys the water. Wet pipe systems are effective because water is available immediately. However, they may not be a great choice if your facility gets cold because the water could freeze and the pipes could crack.
Dry Pipe Systems. These systems work much like wet pipe systems. The biggest difference is that water doesn't sit in the pipes. Rather, water is pulled from a nearby water tank as soon as the system detects heat or smoke. The most important thing with a dry pipe system is that the water source is nearby. The farther the source is from the sprinkler heads, the greater the delay will be before water is distributed over the fire.
Foam Systems. As the name implies, a foam system doesn't release water at all, but rather releases a fire retardant foam. The foam expands over the fire, snuffing it out before it has the chance to spread. Foam systems are often used in facilities where a fire is likely to start in one specific area. For example, if there's an area where your workers handle flammable chemicals, you may want to use a foam system there. If the fire breaks out, the foam will limit the flames to that area and will slowly snuff the flames out.
Gas Systems. A gas system is a good solution if your facility cannot get wet. In some laboratories and other businesses, water from a sprinkler system could do as much or more damage than a fire. A gas system makes for a good choice because the gas system does not release any water. Instead, it releases gas that will replace all of the oxygen in the facility. Without oxygen, the fire will quickly die out. An alarm will go off warning all employees that the gas is being released. That will give them time to exit before the oxygen is removed from the facility.
For more information, talk to a suppression systems dealer. They can inspect your facility and recommend the best option for you.
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