CO2 Fire Suppression Systems

What is the science behind it?

CO2 is stored as a liquid, under its own vapour pressure of ~59 bar at 21°C. The agent’s low boiling point means that the liquid vaporises rapidly during the discharge, providing a penetrative three-dimensional action. The rapid expansion of the gaseous agent allows fires to be targeted even in the most inaccessible areas of the risk.

Benefits of Carbon dioxide Fire Suppression Systems:

• CO2 is colourless and odourless. After extinguishing a fire it vaporises fully leaving no residue. With non-conductive properties it can be used on energised electrical equipment and safely used to protect delicate electronic equipment, antiquities or archive materials.
• CO2 is Low Cost – Carbon dioxide is a standard commercial product with many other uses and is readily available throughout the world. Because of its universal use it can be obtained inexpensively. This is an important consideration when frequent recharging of storage containers is necessary such as in local application systems, where fires may be more frequent.
• Flexible Design – The wide range of components manufactured enables systems to be either automatically or manually operated, arranged to protect single or multi-zone hazards and supplemented with a reserve discharge facility. Automatic control can be achieved mechanically, pneumatically, electrically or by any combination of these to suit site conditions. Facilities are available for providing a pre-alarm and delayed discharge as well as various methods of preventing automatic release while protected rooms are occupied by personnel.
• Total Flooding – Total flooding systems extinguish fires by rapidly discharging CO2 into an enclosed volume to create an atmosphere that is incapable of supporting combustion. This concentration of CO2 presents a serious hazard to personnel and under no circumstances should CO2 be released into areas that may be manned at the time of discharge. Our systems can offer time delays, isolating valves including distribution valves and control head lockout pins to facilitate the safe use of CO2.
• Local Application – This method of system design is used to protect hazards that are open or have only partial enclosure, situated within a larger area that would be unsafe or uneconomic to protect using a total flood system. Discharge nozzles are placed so as to provide direct agent flow at the points and areas prone to fire.