Gas Suppression
System Design
Fire Systems Products specialise in gas fire suppression systems that are Australian and International Standards compliant. Our design competency guarantees minimal risk to precious assets. The expertise and consultative approach of our design team is a significant benefit to our Australia-wide client base. In addition to our drive for perfection, using the latest technology and best products available. Our partner fire systems companies continue to be impressed with the solutions provided by our team.
Gas Fire System Design
As a market-leading fire systems and products supplier to the industry, Fire Systems Products provide advice on the best possible gaseous fire suppression system design. Furthermore, our solutions are site-specific to support the mitigation of safety risks. Our exacting standards ensure that we satisfy our customers’ needs and that the final standards-compliant design exceeds the requirements.
Gas suppression systems design is a process that requires expert knowledge, training, and experience. Above all, a successful design solution must be customised to the risks. Below is a quick guide to the specifics required.
- Depending upon the risk or asset that requires protection, you may require either:
- A design for Total Flood system.
- A design for a Local Application system.
Inert Gas Suppression systems:
- Require between 1 and 2 minutes to reach design concentrations depending on the design standard used.
- Storage can be remote to the risk area, and cylinder storage distance from this risk is less of a concern than Synthetic gas systems making inert systems preferable for protecting large risk volumes.
- The weight of inert gas agents corresponds closely to normal air and will evacuate a protected area slower than halocarbon agents after a discharge. Making it a safe choice for people and assets.
- Requires substantially more gas cylinder storage area than Synthetic gas suppression systems.
Synthetic Gas Suppression systems:
- Have a very fast ~7-10 seconds before design concentrations are reached.
- Normally require a storage area immediately adjacent to or within the risk area due to the short discharge time required.
- Bi-directional pressure relief vent systems required.
- Design concentrations vary between 6% and 16%, or 62kg to 85kg per 100m3, dependent on the agent and design standard used.
Emergency Exits
Designers should provide adequate means of emergency escape from the protected area. Therefore, doors should open outwards and be self-closing. Similarly, doors requiring security should have escape overrides fitted that allow easy opening from the inside.
Post Discharge Ventilation
A ventilation method actively facilitates the release of the agent and clears the post-fire atmosphere. If needed, extraction mechanisms should be in place. Moreover, this system must remain in a closed position under normal circumstances and should not be integrated into the standard ventilation system of the protected area.
Additionally, controls for this extraction and ventilation system should be outside the protected enclosure and key operated. For example, in some circumstances, windows and doors can form part of this post-discharge ventilation system.
Discharge Noise
The Sound Pressure of the inert gas fire suppression agent when discharged is something to be aware of when designing the system, as this can cause noise loud enough to be startling but ordinarily insufficient to cause traumatic injury.
Sound Pressure can also cause harm to HDD’s within data centres/server rooms and other sensitive electronic equipment. FPAA has a paper on Acoustic solutions for Gaseous Systems that gets into the technicalities.
Fire Systems Products recommends and stock acoustic nozzles to muffle the discharge noise when installing a suppression system in a data centre or to protect delicate electronic components.
In Addition, Acoustic Nozzles are one of several factors that can reduce sound pressure to an acceptable level, which reduces the risk of HDD damage. In addition, there are benefits to positioning nozzles, optimising room acoustics, sound-absorbing materials in room construction, and installing sound-absorbing panels. Efficient designs for any significant data storage facility should incorporate acoustic optimisations already, due to the importance of sound on HDD performance.
Turbulence
High-velocity discharge from nozzles may be sufficient to dislodge substantial objects directly in the path of the discharge. Similarly, general turbulence in the enclosure may be enough to move light objects, unsecured paper etc. Staff must secure ceiling tiles in the vicinity of the nozzles they will not dislodged during a discharge.
Visibility
Under normal conditions, an inert gas agent will not reduce visibility in the protected enclosure. However, with large amounts of smoke in a fire situation, the agent discharge will displace some of the smoke around the fire, reducing visibility in some circumstances.
Our Team
Our management team have a combined 60+ years fire industry experience. We are committed to providing proven designs and focusing on value-added engineering solutions. Furthermore, Fire Systems products has fostered strong relationships with leading manufacturers and industry partners means that our system designers regularly receive the latest product information and training to enhance the level of expertise and quality of our work.
In addition, Fire System Products has specified, designed, and commissioned high-quality gas fire suppression protection in many major institutions and commercial operations throughout Australia. These projects undertaken with our industry partners, complying with our duties as a designer under the regulations.
Information Required for Gas Fire Suppression System Design:
- Room Dimensions (Room Volume)
- Set of plans (to scale)
- Fire Panel Type and location
- Gas Suppression Cylinders location
- Pressure relief damper location
- Access requirements (steps, hoist, etc.)
- Is there underfloor protection ?
- Does the ceiling void need to be protection?
- Site location
- Site photos
- Ceiling type
- Wall type
- Type of assets to be protected
- Computer Rooms
- Subfloors
- Data Centers
- Telecommunications
- Museums
- Libraries
- Archives
- Machinery Spaces
- Switchgear
- etc
Once the Design is finalised, it is not permitted for changes to equipment, pipework, or nozzle positions to be made without the authority of the suppression system’s design engineer.
Gas Fire Suppression Agent Applications
| Agent | Primary Ingredient | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| IG-541 (Inergen) | Argon (40%), Nitrogen (52%) and Carbon Dioxide (8%) | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centres, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms. |
| Novec-1230 (Sapphire) | Fluorinated Ketone | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centres, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms. |
| HFC 227ea (FM-200) | Heptafluoropropane | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centres, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms. |
| Carbon Dioxide | Carbon Dioxide | Non-occupied control rooms, coating operations, paint lines, dust collectors, transformer vaults, live electrical equipment, flammable liquids, commercial fryers, widely used in marine & maritime applications, etc. |
| IG-55 | Argon (50%) and Nitrogen (50%) | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centres, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms. |
| IG-100 | Nitrogen | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centres, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms. |
| Water Mist | Water | All Classes of Fire (A, B, C, F) Ordinary flammables (Paper, wood, cloth), Flammable liquids, Kitchen Fires (K, F Class), Electrical Fires. |
| Water | Water | Ordinary flammables (Paper, wood, cloth). |
Limitations of Gas Fire Suppression Systems
When designing any fire suppression system, it is essential to understand its limitations. Gaseous fire suppression systems cannot protect from:
- Chemicals that contain their own supply of oxygen. For example, cellulose nitrate is used in gunpowder, nail polish and lacquer finishes.
- Mixtures containing oxidising chemicals. For example, sodium nitrate is used in fertilisers and explosives.
- Chemicals can undergo auto-thermal decomposition, where a chemical begins to decompose if it reaches a specific temperature.
- Reactive metals, e.g. the elements’ sodium, potassium or magnesium.
- Areas where large surfaces are heated (not by fire) to a temperature that breaks down the chemical structure of the extinguishing agent. The agent is then unable to extinguish a fire.