Fire Suppression Systems - Different Types and Their Benefits

Fire is one of the most common hazards in schools and residential buildings. It causes great havoc to life and property. The most effectual way to handle a fire incident is to have a Fire Suppression System installed in your building. Fire suppression systems are all created differently. These systems basically comprises of both fire protection and fire detection instruments which assist people in dealing with both the before-and-after influences of a fire. Therefore in regards to preventing or minimizing the fire damages, having the best fire suppression systems can make a huge difference.

Fire suppression systems and kitchen equipment manufacturers in Singapore work closely to help people around the world to keep utmost safety in their kitchens.

There are various types of suppression systems available and you can choose any one or a combination of multiple systems to keep your business and employees safe in times of a fire. These systems mainly include the following types:

Fire Alarms
Extremely reliable instruments that raise an alarm in case of a fire. As soon as a fire is detected by the built-in fire detector, an alarm goes off as a warning to evacuate the building.

Gaseous Suppression Systems
Gaseous suppression systems generally consist of a wide variety of tools to suppress a fire. The two major categories are Inert Gas suppression systems and Chemical suppression systems.

• Inert Gaseous Fire Suppression: Inert gases such as Nitrogen, Argon, Argonite and Carbon Dioxide are used to reduce the oxygen levels in a room to below 15% so that a fire cannot survive. They help to maintain optimum oxygen levels in humans and animals to survive but not enough for the flame to spread.
  
  
• Chemical Fire Suppression: They extinguish fires primarily through the use of chemical agents such as NOVEC 1230 and FM200. These chemicals extinguish a fire by absorbing the heat so that the temperature falls and the flame can no longer survive, which extinguishes the fire. This method of suppression is safe to use in most areas and circumstances.

Water Sprinkler Systems
Also called as Water Mist systems, they can be used where gas suppression systems aren't appropriate. They are two types of Water Mist Systems namely Low-Pressure Water Mist Systems and High-Pressure Water Mist Systems.

• Low-Pressure Water Mist Systems (LPWM): It consists of pumps and storage tanks, which use more water at a lower pressure than HPWM systems. Copper or specialist pipework can be used for this type of fire suppression system.
  
  
• High-Pressure Water Mist Systems (HPWM): It consists of high-pressure pumps, storage tanks, and pressurized nitrogen cylinders to release water using small bore pipework and high-pressure discharge nozzles. They use a minimal amount of water but are more expensive.

Emergency Lighting Systems
These are bright emergency lights which can be easily installed in the building at any place. They are generally used to point towards emergency exits for assistance in case of evacuation and allow for a fast get-away. Emergency lights are also used in lifts and other places which should be avoided in case of a fire.

These are the basics of an effective Fire suppression System. Suppression systems are generally governed by the codes of the National Fire Protection Association and have now become a necessity to several industries as they help detect fires, control damage and loss to equipment and human lives.