Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems

Make safety a priority with an indirect high-pressure (IHP) CO2 system. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless, electrically non-conductive gas that is highly effective at suppressing a wide variety of Class A, B, and C fires.

In areas with delicate electronic equipment, such as server rooms and data rooms, and storage areas with potentially combustible materials, sprinkler systems are not the ideal extinguishing agent. Typically, in those environments with valuable machinery and lots of people working you will find clean agent fire suppression systems. These use manufactured, inert gasses to suppress fires. However, in areas with no building personnel like engine rooms, power stations, and around large industrial machines, CO2 fire suppression systems may be the most effective fire protection systems.

CO2 fire suppression systems can either be used in a total enclosure or in a local application. In the total enclosure, all of the CO2 is discharged into an enclosed space, flooding it completely. In a local application, the CO2 can be used to concentrate suppression on a single component or piece of equipment, such as an. CO2 is the only gaseous agent that can be applied locally in this way. CO2 can be stored in two ways:

1. High-pressure spun steel cylinders (known as HPCO2 suppression systems)
2. Low-pressure light wall refrigerated tanks (known as LPCO2 suppression systems)

Firetrace’s CO2 fire suppression system is highly versatile, available for use in a wide range of scenarios to suppress a variety of fire hazards, including total flooding and local fire protection applications. It relies on sensitive control panels to quickly detect fire before it spreads.

1. Our high-pressure fire suppression system releases a CO2 discharge that penetrates all areas within a protected enclosure in seconds.
2. This lowers the level of oxygen below the combustion point, preventing a fire from growing.
3. The CO2 discharge also leaves no residue, eliminating the need for agent cleanup and helping reduce downtime.

Please note: Always use caution when considering a CO2 fire protection system because a person must never occupy the protected areas. Even small amounts of CO2 can be harmful or fatal if inhaled. Generally, CO2 fire suppression systems flood the protected space with a 34% concentration of CO2. A 7.5% concentration is considered hazardous to humans.

Due to the health risks posed by high levels of CO2 discharged from the suppression system, a number of life safety devices and mechanisms are put in place in and around the protected spaces.

One such device is a pneumatic siren that is used to alert personnel when CO2 will be discharged from the system. In addition to these safety mechanisms, it is critical to train all employees and personnel in the building on the health risks of a CO2 fire suppression system, as well as appropriate evacuation procedures in the event of a fire.