Automatic Fire Extinguishing Systems

2024 Author: Gavin MacAdam | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 13:38

Burning fire is one of those things that you can look at forever, but only if this process is controlled by a person, does not cause material damage, and also does not harm the life and health of people

Otherwise, this process is called a fire, which must be liquidated as soon as possible in order to avoid serious and sometimes irreparable consequences. The most popular assistant for people in the fight against the "red rooster" is a fire extinguisher, which must be present on fire shields.

Types of automatic fire extinguishing systems

But what if there were no people around during the fire? Who will resist the fire? Its spread outside the premises should be prevented by a fire door, and fire extinguishing should be carried out by an automatic fire extinguishing system.

These systems are designed to be ready around the clock to fight the raging elements. The activation of their actions is completely controlled by sensors, and they differ in the type of substance used and are: gas; powder; aerosol; water; foamy.

Each of them has its own advantages and disadvantages. Let's get acquainted in general terms with each of the systems:

Gas

The principle of operation of systems of this type consists in lowering the oxygen concentration at the place of ignition by displacing it with a non-combustible gas. A huge advantage is that when extinguishing a fire, the system fights exclusively with fire, without causing harm to the room itself, the equipment located in it, as well as the environment. The disadvantages include the limited scope and high cost of installations.

Powder

The principle of operation consists in supplying powder to the combustion center. These systems are very easy to install, however, they cannot be used in rooms where people work, as inhalation of powder can lead to suffocation, and visibility during operation of the system can be reduced to zero.

Aerosol

Such systems are a combination of the first two types of systems: aerosol is formed from the combustion products of chemicals - as a result, a jet of gases and solid particles fills the volume of the flame, thereby eliminating it. The advantages include low cost, absence of toxic elements, high penetrating power, as well as a long settling time of the suspension. However, the use of such systems is ineffective in extinguishing smoldering materials capable of spontaneous combustion, as well as chemical compounds that can burn without oxygen.

Aquatic

The principle of operation of water systems is clear from the name - the fire is extinguished with water, which is sprayed under pressure onto the fire site. They are very effective, ideal for places with a large crowd of people, however, they can cause serious material damage, the bay is not only a fire, but everything that is under them.

Foam

During the operation of foam fire extinguishing systems, a large amount of special foam is supplied to the fire site, which isolates the fuel and makes the combustion process impossible. Systems of this type are widely used in chemical and oil refining plants.