Fire Suppression Systems

A fire suppression system is any product designed to stop a fire from spreading. It gets the name suppression system as it aims to hold back the fire and the damage it may cause. Preventing the fire from spreading mitigates losses and allows time for emergency personnel to respond. One example of a fire suppression system is a fire sprinkler system. Clean agent and dry chemical systems, like those offered by Firetrace also qualify as fire suppression systems.

While sprinkler systems are the most common type of fire suppression system, some applications require special hazard fire suppression systems that do not use water. These systems are unique in that they can deal with hazards where water could actually do more harm than good. Within fire science, there are several classes of fires: class A, B, C, D, and K. The fuel of the fire will dictate what can put it out. Class A fires, for example, involve wood, and a sprinkler system would work well. A Class C fire, on the other hand, is an electrical fire and that may get worse by trying to suppress it with water. In summary, the specific environment will determine which system will work best.