Automatic Fire Extinguishers

By Adrian Summers

The importance of having a reliable fire safety system should never be underestimated. In many settings, the best option is an automatic fire extinguisher. They can provide reliable and fast fire suppression in the event of a fire emergency. Understanding more about these extinguishers and which options are available can help you make important fire safety decisions for your organization and property.

How do automatic fire extinguishers work?

In some systems, the automatic fire extinguishers are going to be installed in the ceiling of your property in a network of pipes and cylinders. In other systems, you'll discover that the automatic fire extinguishers will be installed with sprinklers for doubled protection.

The big difference that separates automatic fire extinguishers from the old manual models is that the former comes with a sensor that will detect the presence of smoke or an increase in temperature. As soon as the automatic fire extinguishers detect these things, they will release an inert gas or powder to suffocate the fire. The material that they will use is dependent on what area they are located in.

What types of extinguishers are available to me?

When you are shopping for automatic fire extinguishers, remember that you will be able to select extinguishers that will differ in the methods that they use to suppress the fire. Some will use inert gases while others will use powders. The powders essentially contain chemicals, that, when they are released, will interfere with the ability of the fire to grow. They will usually change the heat, the fuel or the oxygen, without which the fire will die.

On the other hand, there are automatic fire extinguishers that use inert gases to take away th oxygen that was feeding the fire. Carbon dioxide gas might be used for this purpose or a combination of Argonite and Inergen might serve.

What fire extinguisher is right for me?

Because there are multiple types of automatic fire extinguishers available, you can choose the one that is going to make the most sense for your needs. For starters, if you are trying to decide whether to choose this type of method over manual extinguishers, keep in mind they are generally best used in enclosed environments. In these areas, the fire can do a great deal of damage and is unable to be easily stopped.

If you are dealing with an area that has computers or other sensitive electronic equipment, buy automatic fire extinguishers that use inert gas. There is not going to be any residue left behind and you won't risk damaging your equipment. If you are dealing with a marina, a garage or confined rooms that have no electrical equipment, choose the powder forms.

Having your automatic fire extinguisher installed by a professional who is experienced with fire safety systems such as these is critical. You do not want to be relying on the extinguisher to activate only to discover at the crucial time that a problem has occurred with the installation. At that point, the damage will already have been done. Consider testing the system ahead of time to make sure everything is fully functional. - 20607

About the Author:

No comments: