Firefighting should be done effectively to avoid wide destruction that makes a big budget for recovery. Effective firefighting in this era correlates to a firefighting suppression system that uses gases. One of the popular methods is inert fire suppression systems. What is this? Will, its danger for humans and nature? Let’s find out.
Fire Fighting Suppression Agents
Water could use as a suppression agent, as it can lower the temperature and stop the fire. Water source also unlimited and it could found anywhere. But in the cases of fire that happen to electronic equipment and fuel, water will make the wildfire worse. Water will break the electronic equipment so that after the fire, it couldn’t use anymore. The recovery will take the budget. For rooms that keep expensive equipment, water firefighting is not recommended. Water also not recommended for fuel fire. Fuel weight is lower than water, so it will flow on the water. When water sprouts into the fuel, it will help the fuel separated, so that the fire will reach a wider area.
People seek for better ways to stop the fire. Once, Halon gas use for the need. But after it is known that Halon gas depleted the ozone layer, it is forbidden to use. Then, people found other gases, for example, FM200, Novec, and inert fire suppression systems.
The point of firefighting is to break the fire circle. The fire circle is a cycle of oxygen, fuel, and heat. When the circle is broken, the fire will be stopped. The inert fire suppression systems use gases that don’t easily reach. This will stop the fire.
The Effective Suppression Agents
Inert gas is gases that don’t react easily, especially with the free radicals that come from the fuel and the oxygen on the air. Inert fire suppression systems work by covering the fire and push the oxygen out from the burn area. At this point, the fire circle will stop.
An inert gas that usually uses as a firefighting system is the combination of Argon, Nitrogen, or Helium gas as the main fire suppression. Some firefighting company combines them with carbon dioxide, too. All those gas are chemical sources that stabile with their natural condition so that they don’t easily react with others. For comparison, Chlorine gas is the opposite of inert. Chlorine gas will very easily react to others.
Inert fire suppression systems could apply with the proper system that operates manually, also could apply in an automatic system. Each of them has benefits for the building owner to overcome fire, although they need equipment and piping. This will be very useful in the building that has wide areas of electronic equipment, expensive stuff, data storage, hospitals, and many more. But for narrow covering purpose, portable fire extinguishers will be enough.
The fire suppression system needs to maintain regularly. The maintenance will make sure that all of the parts in good condition, so that anytime it necessary to use, it will be ready.
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