1. Design Your Fire Protection System with Adherence to NFPA Standards
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) is an international nonprofit organization that’s committed to reducing property damage, economic loss, injury, and death due to fire hazards. The association has established an extensive list of codes and standards that provide guidance on how to best prevent and respond to fire hazards in the workplace — and they even have a special set of standards and training for fire protection in industrial buildings.
2. Understand Fire Protection Systems & Which May Be Best for Your Application
Industrial fires always are extinguished with basic, water-based fire suppression systems. Instead, they require a different approach: A clean agent is any type of fire extinguishing agent that’s electrically non-conductive, volatile, or gaseous, and that doesn’t leave a residue upon evaporation. It uses an inert gas or chemical that’s stored in a container until released when trying to extinguish a fire.
There are a number of clean agents out there, but depending on your application, you may find that one would be more suitable for your facility than the others. Three of the most common clean agents include:
- FM-200 – A non-toxic, colorless gas that uses heat absorption to extinguish fires and leaves no residue.
- INERGEN – A combination of three inert gasses (nitrogen, argon, carbon dioxide) to lower the oxygen content in a room
- below the level that supports combustion, while still allowing people to breathe.
- Novec 1230 – Another non-toxic, colorless agent that extinguishes fires without leaving residue and disrupting high-value assets.
The main consideration here is to do your research into which clean agent is best for your facility, the materials that are stored there, and the people who work there.
