Gas supression systems are typically used in computer rooms or critical environments where water damage to assets by fire sprinkers will result in extensive finacial loss and downtime to a business.
Typically when gas supression is installed it is desirable for the sprinklers to be removed from the protected space. In order to remove the sprinklers the construction of room needs to be a 2 hour fire rated. It is important to provide a pressure relieving vents to the room to allow excess gas to escape from the space. Failure to provide adequate pressure relief can result in damage to the room or sensitive equipment.
The below promotional video shows acomputer room fire extibguished with gas supression and the same room extinguished with convential sprinklers.
The Australian Standard that covers the requirements for gas supression installations is AS 4214-2002 Gaseous fire extinguishing systems.
The gas to these environments will be realeased after two (2) separate smoke detection systems have been activated due to the presence of smoke in the environment .
As the name suggest’s the gas operates by supressing the ability of the fire to combust therfore ensuring that fire will not take hold in the environment.There are a few gases on the market that use slightly different methods to achieve the same result of supressing fire.
There are 2 main types of Gases/Agents used supression in computer rooms within commercial building spaces. (click on the below links for further information)
- INERT GASES (Inergen, Argonite, Proinert)
- HALOCARBON AGENTS (FM-200, Novac)
See Gas Agent Comparison Table page for the general outline and differences in the gases
Calculation guide for Supression Systems
Basic Components of a Gas Supression System.
The basic components of a Gas Supression system are:
- Gas Bottles
- Sub Fire Indicator Panel
- Smoke Detection systems
- Gas Piping
- Gas Nozzels
- Solenoid Actuator Valve
- Gas/Agent
- Pressure Relief Vents
Australian Building Services 