CO2 Fire Suppression Systems

Our company carries out the design, installation and maintenance for CO₂ fire-suppression systems.

The CO₂ systems can be used in areas intended for the production and processing of goods in general, along with server rooms, painting booths, where there is equipment containing flammable liquids, in cement factories, research institutes and laboratories, electric generators, printing systems, electrical transformers, engine rooms, machine rooms and automatic storage rooms.

COMPONENTS OF A CO₂ EXTINGUISHING SYSTEM

The fixed CO₂ fire-fighting systems installed by us essentially consist of:

• A 60-bar high-pressure cylinder battery with a 67-litre capacity or a special refrigerated tank if large quantities of extinguishing agent are required;
• A manifold to which the cylinders are connected via hoses;
• A distribution network with metal pipes connecting to the area to be protected, specially designed;
• Discharge nozzles uniformly positioned in the protected space to allow the extinguishing agent to be dispensed.

The system can be operated electrically or manually. Typically, the system is enslaved to a fire detection system.

HOW CO₂ GAS WORKS

CO₂ suffocates the fire, thus reducing the concentration of oxygen to values such as to prevent combustion (from 14% to 5% oxygen), as well as by cooling, meaning heat is subtracted from the flame and the materials concerned thanks to the vaporisation process. The extreme cooling capacity facilitates use also to protect objects, in the absence of a true closed volume (on-site application).

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Advantages

CO₂, or Carbon Dioxide, is a colourless and odourless inert gas, having been widely used in the fire-fighting field for decades. It has numerous advantages, including:

• Very low cost and extensive availability;
• It is non-corrosive;
• It does not conduct electricity, making it ideal for protecting electrical cabins and panels;
• It does not generate substances from acid decomposition when in contact with fire (as happens with HFC chemical gases);
• It leaves no residue after discharge, thus no cleaning or plant shutdown actions are necessary;
• It protects even partially-open or fully-open spaces through local application;
• There are no issues regarding environmental impact (as is the case for HFC gases);
• An overpressure damper is generally not required since the extinguishing discharge takes place over longer times than inert gases.

Disadvantages

• Thermal shocks could be caused during discharge due to the high cooling power;
• It is extremely dangerous for occupants – it despite being non-toxic, can become lethal for humans hence any people present in the room must absolutely evacuate the area before discharge;
• It requires a Door Fan Test if used in total saturation.

Since an Italian technical standard is not available, design of the system is carried out following the NFPA 12 “Standard on Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems” and can be signed off by our Fire-fighting Professional upon request.

As it is not possible to breathe in environments saturated with carbon dioxide, it is advisable to combine this type of system with a smoke detection system in order to prevent any unnecessary discharges, along with an optical-acoustic alarm system to promptly signal both the principle of fire and the imminent discharge of the extinguishing agent so as to best safeguard the safety of any personnel present in the protected areas.

Our company is also one of the few companies in Northern Italy able to maintain the efficiency of the system by following the strictest maintenance protocols and correctly verifying the protected volume, thanks to the availability of its own Door Fan Testequipment.