Eco-friendly suppression agents offer safer, cleaner, and more sustainable fire protection solutions for facility owners rethinking how they protect their buildings and personnel. These green suppression agents are also becoming more commonplace with increased national and international regulations banning suppression agents containing harmful chemicals. And while water is an effective extinguishing agent, in certain environments such as data centers, labs, or electrical rooms, water can cause irreparable damage to sensitive or valuable equipment and is therefore not an option.
Increased fire suppression innovations in eco-friendly suppressing agents mean more ecological solutions to helping facilities achieve code compliance without compromising sustainability and safety.
What makes a suppression agent “eco-friendly?”
For a suppression agent to be considered “eco-friendly,” the agent must have an Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) of 0, have low Global Warming Potential (GWP), leave no residue, not harmful to people, have a short atmospheric lifetime, and comply with certain federal regulations and climate goals.
Specifically, these suppression agents cannot contain Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs), chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), or halons, as suppression agents.
Environmentally friendly suppression agents like some clean agent systems, water mist systems, and inert gases, are free of these chemicals, making them safer for the environment and our health.
Eco-Friendly Fire Suppression Agents
There are a variety of types of eco-friendly fire suppression agents, each uniquely designed for specific hazards and applications. Some systems use water along with an extinguishing agent while others use foaming chemical agents or naturally occurring gases to suppress and cool fire.
Water mist systems
Water mist systems are highly effective at cooling fires by producing fine droplets that increase the water’s surface area and pose no environmental risks since these are water-based systems. While some water mist systems can contain harmful chemicals, most rely exclusively on water. Eco-friendly options like AquaMist fire suppression systems also use less water in addition to containing no harmful chemicals. Systems like these are ideal for minimizing water damage in areas such as engine rooms and data centers.
Clean agent systems
Eco-friendly clean agent systems use non-toxic chemical agents that interrupt a fire’s chemical reaction primarily through suppressing combustion. The agent is a stored as a gaseous fire suppressant supplied by pressurized gas or liquid cylinders. These agents leave no residue and are safe for use in occupied spaces.
Older clean agents like Halon were banned due to their ozone depleting nature. Even some newer clean agents like FM-200 have been found to have a higher GWP and as a result are being phased out.
Clean agent systems are commonly used in areas such as museums, control rooms, archives, and data centers to protect valuable assets and prevent downtime.
Some popular eco-friendly clean agent suppression agents include Novec™ 1230 and Fluoro-K. These agents have zero ozone depletion potential and GWP of less than one in most cases.
Inert gas systems
Inert gas systems use naturally occurring gases such as nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide to suppress fires by lowering oxygen concentration enough to stop combustion. These gases are stored and remain in gaseous form when discharged. Since they leave no residue, require no cleanup, are safe for occupied buildings, and have zero environmental impact, these systems are a top eco-friendly solution.
Inert gas suppression is ideal for occupied areas like control rooms, archival rooms, and healthcare facilities. Unlike CO₂ systems, which can pose risks in enclosed spaces, inert gas systems are safe for both people and the environment.
Popular inert gas systems include Kidde’s Natura ™ Inert Gas System, Ansul’s Inergen Gaseous Clean Agent Fire Suppression System, and Fike’s Inert Gas Fire Suppression System.
Environmental and Operational Benefits
Aside from the obvious environmental benefits of switching to eco-friendly suppression agents, there are also operational benefits for facility owners. Clean agent and inert gas systems protect sensitive equipment and assets without water or messy chemical agents. The result is no residue, no mess, and little to no downtime in operations after discharge.
By switching to eco-friendly suppression, businesses can meet sustainability goals and even reduce insurance risk, while maintaining code-compliance.
Fire Systems: Leading the Southeast in Sustainable Fire Protection
As a trusted regional provider, Fire Systems, specializes in the design, installation, and maintenance of clean agent and special hazard fire suppression systems, including Novec 1230 and inert gas solutions. Our team helps businesses across the Southeast protect their people, property, and the environment.
If your facility handles sensitive equipment, valuable data, or critical operations, an eco-friendly suppression system may be the best investment you can make. Contact Fire Systems today at 770-333-7979 or visit our website to learn more about clean agent and special hazard fire suppression systems.