Uncontrolled fires pose serious dangers to life and property, so effective measures are essential to prevent a small blaze from gaining energy and speed. In business or industrial premises, traditional firefighting methods are not always suitable, particularly if water will cause extensive damage to assets. Fire suppression systems utilise alternative agents to cut off the oxygen supply that fires need to burn while minimising the risk to property and equipment.
In this article, we’ll explore the key features, aims, and maintenance requirements of total flooding suppression systems.
What Is A Total Flooding Fire Suppression System?
A total flooding suppression system is an advanced fire protection system that is designed to rapidly fill a protected area with a specialist suppressant to extinguish or contain fires. Once a blaze is detected, the suppressant is released in a controlled manner, rapidly filling the entire space.
Commonly used in rooms or areas that contain valuable electrical equipment or infrastructure, such as server rooms or control centres, a total flooding suppression system offers a high degree of protection, without posing a risk to personnel or the environment. The clean suppressing agent used in these systems is neither electrically conductive or corrosive and leaves no residue, so is highly suitable for use in areas where electrical installations or critical machinery are present.
Total flooding suppression systems offer effective protection of small and medium-sized rooms as the extinguishing agent can be compactly stored, inside the room or in an adjacent area.
How Does A Total Flooding Suppression System Work?
As most people know, fire requires four elements to burn: fuel, oxygen, heat, and a chemical reaction. If any one of these is eliminated, the fire will cease to exist.
Total flooding suppression systems operate on the principle of oxygen dissipation. If oxygen is effectively removed, the fire will be deprived of one of the elements that it requires to burn continually. By reducing the oxygen concentration within the room, the total flooding system disrupts the combustion process, preventing the fire from spreading and causing further damage.
Important Safety Considerations
It’s crucial that clients and their contractors are familiar with safety protocols when working in a room or area that is equipped with a total flooding suppression system.
Before entering the space, the system should be switched to manual-only mode, which will prevent its accidental activation and exposure to the suppressant. Also, it is vital that personnel understand how the system operates and strictly adhere to safety guidelines to prevent unintended discharges and safeguard their wellbeing.
Maintenance And Servicing
Regular maintenance and servicing are necessary to guarantee the effective performance of total flooding suppression systems. It’s recommended that the system is professionally serviced every six months to ensure that all components are in working order, including sensors, alarms, and the suppressant release mechanism.
Professional servicing not only guarantees the system's functionality but also ensures that emerging faults are identified at the earliest opportunity so that repairs can be undertaken to keep the system in optimum working order.
Contact Us To Find Out More
At Rhino Fire Control, we offer professional and reliable installation, servicing, and maintenance of total flooding suppression systems. To find out more, please call us today on 01278 422705 or send a message to our experts.
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