The only objective of any fire suppression system is to extinguish a fire as quickly as possible. Firstly, the system should alert occupants of the site to the presence of a fire, then the system will begin to emit a concentrated substance to suppress the flames.
The exact nature of this substance can vary, based on the environment the system is designed to protect. Common examples include inert gas, as well as a range of liquid agents.
Pirahna Systems
One of the defining features of fire suppression systems is that they don’t use water. There are exceptions, such as water mist suppression systems, or the Pirahna Systems for commercial kitchens, which use a combination of mains water & wet chemicals.
It's this 'usual' lack of water that makes suppression systems ideal for use in spaces that are particularly susceptible to water damage, such as rooms with large amounts of electrical equipment, as well as sites such as galleries and museums, as they usually contain highly valuable and fragile materials.
three-stage process
KSS can understand Fire Prevention, Protection, and Suppression as a three-stage process
Fire suppression is the final measure put in place to fight the spread of fire. In this context, KSS can understand Fire Prevention, Protection, and Suppression as a three-stage process, with each stage containing specific measures to prevent and fight fires.
Therefore, KSS all have a responsibility to regularly review and assess each part of the system, so KSS can quickly identify risks and rectify any damage or neglect.
main differences
To briefly summarize, here are the main differences between fire protection, prevention and suppression:
- Fire Prevention Systems: Fire prevention systems aim to minimize potential fire hazards.
- Fire Protection Systems: Fire protection reduces damage and helps to safely evacuate a building.
- Fire Suppression Systems: Fire suppression systems are intended to extinguish the flames.