Fire extinguishing gas: installations, system and modules. Automatic gas fire extinguishing systems

In modern conditions of ubiquitous electrification far from every fire will turn out to extinguish ordinary water. Some materials do not tolerate contact with liquids, so quenching water does them no less significant harm than fire.

In offices with expensive electrical equipment, museums, libraries, as well as on ships and aircraft, gas fire extinguishing systems are used.

Historical reference

For the first time as a fire-extinguishing agent, gas began to be used in the second half of the XIX century. The first gas used for this purpose was carbon dioxide. Today it is used in gas fire extinguishing systems only in archives and cash storages. Halocrosses became more widespread. For the first time in Russia, gas fire extinguishing was carried out in the 30s of the XX century.

Briefly about the equipment and the field of its application

Gas fire extinguishing is one of many ways to combat fire, in which the following extinguishing agents are used : compressed gases (for example, nitrogen and argon) and chladones.

The automatic installation consists of the following elements: a gas tank, a pipeline with nozzles, a receiving and monitoring device, a central control unit, detectors.

The key element of the system is the gas fire suppression module, consisting of a tank with a gas and a starting device. As a rule, a gas cylinder can be refilled several times after use. If the system is complex and consists of more than one module, they are united by special devices - collectors.

The principle of the gas fire extinguishing system

Gas fire extinguishing is carried out according to the following principle: incombustible gases are supplied to the fire zone under the influence of high pressure, which expels oxygen from the air. As is known from the school course of chemistry, in the absence of oxygen in the air, the combustion process slows down, and ignition stops.

Premises equipped with gas fire extinguishing systems are also equipped with special sensors that transmit to the control panel information about the fire that has started. After the received signal, the control unit starts the firefighting scenario: ventilation is blocked in the room, non-flammable gas is supplied through the pipes through the spray guns. The higher its concentration, the faster the fire will be extinguished. As a rule, gas fire extinguishing lasts less than one minute.

Automatic installations of gas fire extinguishing systems, their types

Automatic UGPs are generally used in non-residential premises, where it is problematic to notice a fire without an automation system, as well as in warehouses with explosive and combustible substances. The main criterion in the classification of automatic fire-extinguishing systems is mobility. On this basis, they are divided into mobile, portable and stationary.

In the first case, the equipment will be installed on the chassis or tracks; It can be either self-propelled or towed.

Stationary installations are located directly in the customer's premises and are controlled by a remote control.

Portable are found more often than others. These are fire extinguishers, which are required for each room.

Mobility is not the only criterion for automatic installations. They are also classified by the method of controlling and feeding a non-combustible substance, as well as by the total volume of quenching.

There are a great many ways to manage the fire extinguishing installation, besides they can be combined with each other. That is, each manufacturer decides by himself how exactly this or that model of the automatic fire extinguishing system will be controlled .

A non-combustible mixture can be supplied in two ways: modulously, with removable cylinders or centrally, from a common reservoir.

According to the volume of extinguishing, automatic gas extinguishing installations are local or complete extinguishing. In the first case, the substance is supplied only to the source of ignition (for example, a gas fire extinguishing system can be organized only in this way), in the second - along the entire perimeter of the room.

Design, calculation and installation of gas fire extinguishing systems

The installation of the gas fire suppression system requires careful compliance with all norms of the current legislation and full compliance with the requirements of each projected facility. Therefore, it is better to entrust such a complicated and painstaking business to professionals.

When installing such a system, it is necessary to take into account a number of factors: the number and area of all rooms, the features of the room (such as a false ceiling or false walls), general purpose, humidity characteristics, and ways of evacuating citizens in case of an emergency situation.

In addition, in this case there are some nuances. For example, when installing the equipment in a room with a large cross-country capacity, the installation should be carried out in such a way that when the fire extinguishing system is activated, the oxygen concentration in the air remains within the limits allowed by the norms of values.

It must also be remembered that each gas fire extinguishing module must be protected from external factors.

Current maintenance of gas fire extinguishing systems

In order to ensure that the gas fire extinguishing installations function properly during their entire service life, they need preventive maintenance from time to time. Every month, all nodes of the system must be checked for their tightness, and the ignition sensors - for operability.

After each activation of the fire extinguishing system, it is necessary to refuel the containers with gas and reconfigure the warning system.

All the above-mentioned preventive works are carried out directly at the customer's site, that is, they do not require constant reinstallation of the system.

In addition, routine maintenance of the gas fire suppression system includes regular technical inspection of the modules. Each module of gas fire extinguishing must be checked at intervals of once every 10-12 years.

What is included in the installation work?

Before installation of the gas equipment it is necessary to be convinced of presence of certificates of the state sample at the manufacturer. It will not be superfluous to verify the license of the contractor that is installing it.

Then, you need to make sure that the ventilation systems are working and only then start working.

All modules of the device are combined into a single system, which is responsible for the operation of the device in case of fire, and control of the situation in the room. At this stage, the owner must make sure that the design offered by the master not only suits him aesthetically, but does not interfere with the work of the staff.

After installation of the system, the contracting firm draws up an acceptance certificate, which includes test reports and technical documentation for each of its elements.