Fire Suppression Systems
FM200® Gas Extinguishing
FM200® is chosen to protect occupied areas such as computer rooms and now the fast expanding telecommunications market. Its low extinguishing concentration of seven per cent by volume for Class A risks, its high level personnel safety and absence of toxicity makes it a very attractive option. Very little cylinder storage space is required which can be an important consideration in city centre sites where floor space is at its most expensive.
Perhaps most in the FM200® favour though, is the fact that it out performs the majority of other gaseous systems in terms of speed of reaction to fire. FM200® is effective within 10 seconds of initial discharge. FM200® has some significant advantages over other alternative agents. The rapid discharge time means that there is effective knockdown of flame and the fire is quickly extinguished. The amount of damage, toxicity effects and decomposition products of combustion are minimised. The safety percentage factor between the design concentration and toxicity levels the largest margin of any fixed gaseous extinguishing systems and conformity exceeds that of Halon 1301.
Argonite Gas Extinguishing
Argonite is an equal blend of two naturally occurring inert bases, Nitrogen and Argonite. It has neither ozone depleting nor global warming potential and it's the most environmentally acceptable of all gaseous extinguishing agents. Argonite also complies with the NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agents as it is electrically non-conductive and leaves no trace, unlike non-brominated agents, which can produce a harmful decomposition product upon contact with a flame.
Argonite is easily configured to suit the requirements of BS6266: 1992 for either space or in cabinet protection. As a result of its ability to rapidly inert a space, Argonite is suitable for extinguishing fire in most applications where a surface is involved. When discharged into an area, the oxygen content is reduced from its ambient atmospheric level of 21% to 12% and at this reduced level; fires in most flammable materials are extinguished in 30 to 45 seconds. Odorised and non-toxic for extra safety, the effect on humans at oxygen levels of 12% and 14% is minimal and medical research has shown that there are no short or long term influences on the body. Argonite contains no carbon dioxide and its toxic atmosphere potential is therefore zero.
The absence of fogging during release helps vulnerable personnel to remain calm and unaffected during the evacuation process, but for extra safety, an Argonite system may be 'odorised' to ensure that personnel are alerted to the presence of the gas in either a discharge or leak situation.
CO2 Gas Extinguishing
Carbon Dioxide as an extinguishing agent is swift and thorough. Within seconds, it smothers a fire and holds damage to a minimum. Stored under pressure as a liquid, carbon dioxide quickly expands to vapour and a state of fine particles of dry ice, much like snow. This snow absorbs heat rapidly changes to a vapour under normal temperature conditions, and even faster in the presence of fire. The carbon dioxide vapour chokes off combustion, and the snow effect reduces the ambient temperature to help prevent re-ignition. Moreover, carbon dioxide is a three dimensional agent, enabling it to penetrate the entire hazard area, including electrical cabinets. Low-pressure and high-pressure carbon dioxide systems have equal extinguishing capabilities when each is designed to handle a specific hazard.
Products Available
- FM200® Gas Extinguishing
- Argonite Gas Extinguishing
- CO2 Gas Extinguishing