| Fire systems have three inherent goals: detection, | | | | a ready source of fuel or at high temperatures |
| prevention and suppression. Sensors detect fires, | | | | will carry on strong, though their progress will |
| alarms alert people and prevent the loss of life - | | | | probably be slowed considerably. |
| then suppression systems kick in and neutralise | | | | Unfortunately, for chemical fires, electrical fires, |
| the hazard. | | | | burning gases, liquids and even oil or fat fires, a |
| Because fire causes billions of dollars of property | | | | sprinkler system can be pretty ineffective or |
| damage and kills hundreds of people every year, | | | | have undesirable effects. This can range from |
| fire systems are an area of technology that is | | | | causing destruction to more property than is |
| under constant development. Existing fire systems | | | | necessary (soaking a computer does it no |
| are continuously being improved upon and new | | | | favours) to the disastrous spread of non-soluble |
| technology introduced to each element, finding | | | | flammable chemicals or substances around an |
| new ways of both detecting fire and fighting it. | | | | area. |
| One of the areas which has been nearly entirely | | | | Where complicated plumbing fails though, |
| transformed by the march of scientific progress | | | | chemistry has provided an answer... |
| is fire suppression. | | | | Modern fire systems can make use of gaseous |
| Naturally, fire has always had one natural enemy - | | | | fire suppression agents, otherwise known as |
| water - and in all fairness it's a very effective | | | | 'Clean Agent' systems. These smother fires by |
| weapon in a fire fighter's arsenal. With the | | | | removing their available oxygen rather than |
| advance of engineering though, its role has come | | | | attempting to alter the temperature of the flame |
| a long way from the bucket chain. As you might | | | | or fuel - and they can be very, very effective. In |
| imagine this has been a mainstay of fire fighting | | | | short, these are chemically inert gases that |
| systems both used by emergency services and | | | | neutralise all combustible materials. They're usually |
| those installed in buildings. | | | | fitted to industrial areas where dangerously active |
| Sprinkler systems have been around for nearly | | | | chemicals or extensive electrical systems are |
| 200 years now and they are still heavily used to | | | | common and usually they completely eradicate |
| this day. In some countries they're even a | | | | any fire that hasn't already spiraled out of control. |
| mandatory feature for new buildings. Generally | | | | It may sound a little academic on paper but it's a |
| speaking though, they're not the most effective | | | | big deal in terms of fire safety. Choosing the right |
| suppression systems - they're usually much | | | | type of suppression system for your fire defense |
| better at controlling the spread of fire by wetting | | | | can be the difference between losing a desk or |
| all of the combustible material in an area. Smaller | | | | an office and losing an entire building. |
| fires may be extinguished instantly but those with | | | | |