3 Facts about Fire Suppression Systems
Fire detection and suppression are vital aspects of social and infrastructure safety. The systems in place to protect people, buildings and the environment from fire need to be capable of both detecting fires and beginning the process of containing them or putting them out. Here are three facts about fire suppression systems.
1. National and Regional Standards
Fire safety must follow strict standards across countries, with possible regional variations within each country, depending on what types of fires are most likely in each region. For example, fire detection and suppression New York will be much the same as in Pennsylvania, while there will be more stringent measures against wildfires specifically in western states, such as the Dakotas.
2. Fire Sprinklers
Sprinkler systems are the first line of defense in case of an indoor fire. This is because these systems are able to automatically detect out-of-control fires and douse them and the surrounding area with water before the fire can spread. They’re common in public and business-related buildings, but less so in private homes. It’s unlikely that regular uses of heat and flame will set off a sprinkler system, as they’re activated by high heat from larger sources.
3. Controlled Suppression
Modern fire detection and suppression systems are highly controlled so as not to damage an area further when controlling a fire. Sprinkler systems, for example, will activate one sprinkler at a time, beginning closest to the source of the blaze, and it’s highly unlikely more than one sprinkler will need to be activated before the fire is under control or put out.
These systems are in place to protect everyone and everything as best they can from fires, but remember only some of these protections are automatic. You should make sure you understand as much as you can about fire safety so you can do your part in preventing fires.