Automatic Fire Extinguishers

No matter who you are or where you live, having a reliable fire safety system is of the utmost importance. In most places, this means investing in automatic fire extinguishers, which are very reliable and can provide you with fast fire suppression should a fire occur. There is quite a bit to know about automatic fire extinguishers, and know what is available to you can help you make the choices that will save your property and company.

What are automatic fire extinguishers?

For the most part, automatic fire extinguishers are installed in the ceiling along with a series of pipes and other cylinders. In some cases, you may find that they are installed with sprinklers to maximize their fire suppression potential.

The big difference between automatic fire extinguishers and manual fire extinguishers is the fact that the former come with sensors that allow them to detect things like a sudden increase in temperature and the presence of smoke. As soon as these factors are detected, the automatic fire extinguishers will release powder or inert gas, which will move forward and suppress the fire as quickly as possible.

Types of Extinguishers Available

There are several different forms that your automatic fire extinguishers may come in. First consider what is inside them. The ones that release powders create a chemical reaction that will interfere with the heat, fuel and oxygen of the fire. When these components are interfered with, the fire will not be able to continue its destructive path. In this case, the most obvious thing that they do is that they suffocate the fire.

With the inert gas models, carbon dioxide or a mixture or Inergen and Argonite, will take the place of the oxygen feeding the fire. As a result, the fire will be unable to sustain itself and will go out.

What fire extinguisher is right for me?

Those are the two main types of automatic fire extinguishers that are available, so make sure that you choose the one that best suits you. First, do you want automatic fire extinguishers or do you want the manual model? Automatic fire extinguishers work the best in an enclosed space. When dealing with areas like this, the fire can do a great deal of damage and it needs to be stopped right away.

If you are dealing with an area that has computers or other sensitive electronic equipment, buy automatic fire extinguishers that use inert gas. There is not going to be any residue left behind and you won’t risk damaging your equipment. If you are dealing with a marina, a garage or confined rooms that have no electrical equipment, choose the powder forms.

Always make sure that your automatic fire extinguishers, no matter what model you choose to use, is installed by a professional. There’s is nothing more upsetting than putting in a good system only to have it fail, and always make sure that you check the automatic fire extinguishers on a regular basis and that you test them to make sure that they are in good working order.