Gas Suppression System

Gaseous fire suppression, also called clean agent fire suppression, is a term to describe the use of inert gases and chemical agents to extinguish a fire. Unlike conventional system that use water, in Gas Based Fire Suppression System; water is never used and yet the fire is extinguished. Here Gas is used to extinguish the fire. Hence it is a Gas Based system. The fire gets extinguished, within a minute of activation and everything is automatic.

There are four means used by the agents to extinguish a fire. They act on the "fire tetrahedron":

  • Reduction or isolation of fuel. No agents currently use this as the primary means of fire suppression.
  • Reduction of heat. Representative agents: Clean agent FS 49 C2 (NAF S 227, MH227, FM-200), Novec 1230, pentafluoroethane (NAF S125, ECARO-25).
  • Reduction or isolation of oxygen: Representative agents: Argonite / IG-55 (ProInert), CO2 carbon dioxide, IG-541 Inergen, and IG-100 (NN100).
  • Inhibiting the chain reaction of the above components. Representative agents: FE-13, 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane, FE-25, haloalkanes, bromotrifluoromethane, trifluoroiodomethane, NAF P-IV, NAF S-III, NAF S 125, NAF S 227, and Triodide (Trifluoroiodomethane).


There are two methods for applying an extinguishing agent: Total flooding and Local application:

  • Systems working on a total flooding principle apply an extinguishing agent to a three dimensional enclosed space in order to achieve a concentration of the agent (volume percent of the agent in air) adequate to extinguish the fire. These types of systems may be operated automatically by detection and related controls or manually by the operation of a system actuator.
  • Systems working on a local application principle apply an extinguishing agent directly onto a fire (usually a two dimensional area), or into the three dimensional region immediately surrounding the substance or object on fire. The main difference in local application from total flooding design is the absence of physical barriers enclosing the fire space.

How do Gas Suppression System Function?

Gas Suppression Systems are generally used in concealed rooms. The principle used by Gas Suppression System is by breaking the Fire Triangle, the fire ceases to exist. In the room, protected by Gas Suppression System, there are various detectors placed at various locations. Each detector constantly monitors the room for signs of fire. As soon as fire is detected, an alarm is sounded, to the personnel to evacuate the entire room. Then, the a gas like, Novec, Clean Agent or Co2 is released in the enclosed room. Thus, the oxygen in the room is rapidly reduced, to a level where fire cannot exist. However, living organisms remain unharmed, because of the gas. Because of such a system, all the delicate or critical items remain untouched and unharmed by fire or water.