Fire Sprinklers Vs. Fire Suppression Systems

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When dealing with fire alarm systems, a common misconception is that fire sprinklers fall into the same category as fire suppression systems.  While they share a similar goal, they are completely different in functionality. Below outline the differences between the two:

Fire Sprinkler Systems

  • Typically, fire sprinklers are much more common than fire suppression systems. A sprinkler system uses water as an agent for extinguishing fire’sand is ideal to reduce property damage.
  • Types: There are many different types of fire sprinklers; including but not limited to, wet pipe, dry pipe, pre-action, and deluge sprinklers.Depending on the needs of your building, you can mismatch various devices. 
  • How does it work? When a fire sprinkler is exposed to a temperature at or above the temperature rating it’s designed to detect, a bulb within the sprinkler breaks activating the sprinkler. Water then flows through the sprinkler system directly to the hazardous zone. Once the temperature reduces below the desired level, it will automatically shut off.
  • There are some instances where fire sprinklers would not be the best option. This would be the case when your property contains sensitive equipment, precious objects that can’t get wet, etc.  If this is the case, your items will get destroyed causing permanent damage. In these situations, a fire suppression system is installed.
Fire Suppression Systems
  • Fire suppression systems are similar to fire sprinkler systems except they do not use water to put out a fire, instead, they use chemical, gaseous, or foam agents.
  • Types: The different types of fire suppression systems include FM200, CO2, wet chemical, and dry chemical. Each suppression system is designed based on the special hazards that need to be protected.
  • How does it work? When a fire suppression system is installed, cylinders containing the gas are stored a distance away from the area it will be protecting. They are connected to rooms throughout your space via an elaborate piping network. When heat or smoke is detected, the smoke detectors activate the control panel and an electronic signal is sent to the control unit to send the clean agent gas through the cylinders and piping network,directly to the fire affected area.
  • Fire suppression systems are effective in situations where the source of the fire is extremely difficult to extinguish or is difficult to reach, such as closed-off areas. The gas can penetrate the interior of an electrical system and all components of complex machinery more easily than water does. Fire suppression systems have become best practice in IT server rooms, equipment rooms, and commercial kitchens, as they protects the facilities, equipments, and personnel quickly and efficiently, while minimizing water damage and cleanup costs.
When deciding which type of system is right for your commercial building, you must consider what you are trying to protect and the different fire hazards present. If you are looking to install fire and life safety system in your building, you should contact an expert Fire Alarm Company to figure out which type of system is right for your facility.
Source:  https://commercial-renovation.weebly.com/blog/fire-sprinklers-vs-fire-suppression-systems

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