What places are carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing mainly used in?

As a key technology in the modern fire protection field, the gas fire extinguishing system, with its efficient and environmentally friendly characteristics, plays an irreplaceable role in protecting the safety of important places. The system quickly reduces the oxygen concentration in the fire area or interrupts the combustion chain reaction by releasing inert gases or chemical gases, such as carbon dioxide and heptafluoropropane, thereby effectively controlling the spread of the fire. Its design is precise and response is rapid, especially suitable for environments sensitive to equipment damage and with low personnel density, such as data centers, libraries, archives, etc.

Then, what places are carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing mainly used in? What are the advantages and disadvantages of carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing systems?

Applicable places of carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing systems

Carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing systems are widely used in fighting various fire scenarios due to their unique fire extinguishing mechanism. Its main applicable places include:

Electrical fire places: such as transformer rooms, oil switches and circuit breakers, rotating equipment, electronic equipment, communication machine rooms, etc.

Solid surface fire places: such as deep-seated fires of some solids such as cotton wool, fabrics, paper, etc., commonly found in painting production lines, rolling mills, printing machines, etc.

Liquid fire places: such as fires on the surface of liquids or fires of meltable solids such as paraffin and asphalt, suitable for environmental protection filtration equipment, industrial cleaning equipment, painting workshops, spray booths, etc.

Gas fire places: suitable for gas fires where the gas source can be cut off before fire extinguishing, such as gas stations, oil depots, etc.

It should be noted that carbon dioxide is not suitable for fighting fires of active metals and their hydrides, fires of chemical products containing oxidants, etc. At the same time, because carbon dioxide has an asphyxiating effect on the human body, the system is generally only used in unoccupied places. In the design and use process, factors such as fire type, fire source location, and fire size should be fully considered to ensure fire extinguishing effect and safety.

Characteristics of carbon dioxide gas fire extinguishing systems

1.High fire extinguishing efficiency

Dual effects of asphyxiation and cooling: Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing systems mainly extinguish fires through asphyxiation and cooling. When carbon dioxide is released into the protected area, it will quickly reduce the oxygen concentration, making combustion impossible to continue, and at the same time absorb heat from the fire site, reduce the temperature of the fire site, thereby effectively extinguishing the fire.

Wide application range: suitable for fighting various types of fires, including electrical fires, solid surface fires, liquid fires (such as fires of meltable solids such as paraffin and asphalt) and some gas fires (when the gas source can be cut off before fire extinguishing).

2.Environmental protection and no pollution

Naturally existing gas: Carbon dioxide is a naturally existing gas, leaving no traces after fire extinguishing and will not pollute the environment.

No residues: Compared with some chemical fire extinguishing agents, carbon dioxide fire extinguishing systems will not leave any harmful residues, no damage to equipment, which is conducive to the rapid recovery and use of the protected area.

3.High safety

Safe design concentration: Within the specified design concentration, carbon dioxide is basically harmless to the human body. However, it should be noted that at high concentrations, carbon dioxide can cause suffocation, so the system is usually used in unoccupied places or when personnel have evacuated.

Automatic alarm and linkage: The system is typically integrated with automatic fire alarm systems, enabling early fire detection and rapid response, improve fire extinguishing efficiency and ensure personnel safety.

4.Excellent system characteristics

Good electrical insulation: Carbon dioxide is a good insulator, suitable for fighting fires of live equipment, and will not cause secondary electric shock accidents.

Convenient storage and transportation: Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent has a wide source, can be liquefied and stored in steel cylinders, which is convenient for transportation and storage.

Low maintenance cost: The system structure is relatively simple, the maintenance cost is low, and the fire extinguishing agent can be refilled and used repeatedly, reducing long-term operating costs.

5.Limitations

Not applicable to certain fires: such as fires of active metals (such as potassium, sodium, magnesium, etc.) and their hydrides, fires of chemical products containing oxidants, etc.

May cause suffocation risk: at high concentrations, carbon dioxide has an asphyxiating effect on the human body, so it is necessary to strictly control the concentration and ensure the safe evacuation of personnel during use.