Pages

Stopping The Spread With Fire Suppression Systems

By Brian Robinson


Nobody intends to get hit by disaster and nobody wants to be struck down by one. But disasters can happen to anyone, at any place, and at any time, either through sheer bad luck or through the deliberate intent of another party. As such, it is best to prepare for one beforehand. Which is why having fire suppression systems NYC just makes sense.

People can die and suffer grievous bodily harm in a fire. A building can go up in flames, taking a business and several livelihoods with it. In a dense, urban environment, having a mechanism in place to deal with one is a social responsibility. Large sections of cities have gone up in smoke because an inferno could not be controlled.

There is also a cultural consideration to make. An inferno does not care if the thing in its path has cultural significance or not, it will burn it all the same. When irreplaceable cultural artifacts burn, they are lost forever.

Being ready is always better than being caught off guard. Having a suppression system in place means that if there is an inferno, you are ready for it. But being careful to not have one break out in the first place is. Combustible or flammable materials or chemicals should be stored safety. Electrical wiring should comply with local safety standards and guidelines. Having the means to combat an inferno is all well and good, but making it redundant is even better.

Fire suppression systems are mechanisms put in place to put out a blaze and stop it from spreading throughout a building, isolating it. There are a number of methods available, each suited to different environments and varying levels of intensity. Some types are better used to combat different fuel sources than others.

The most fundamental system in place is to have multiple fire extinguishers on hand, as some cities require a commercial building to have by law, typically one for each level. The extinguisher releases foam to combat a blaze. This foam can be comprised of different chemical concoctions, each concoction suited to different types of flame based on fuel source.

Sprinklers are another widely used method. A sprinkler works by detecting a fire, either through smoke or through a significant spike in the temperature, and then gushes water about. Most commercial buildings come outfitted with sprinklers and they are generally quite effective when fitted and maintained properly.

But there are areas in which water may not be a viable means of fire prevention, like a server room. In places such as those, chemicals are instead released to douse the whole area and react with the fire. Such a method can cause serious harm or injury however, as a common means of doing so is change barometric pressure or deplete the oxygen supply, neither of which is suitable for a human body.

To have a suppression system is to be compliant with most laws. But beyond the legal requirement, having one increases the chances of survival should they become necessary. Some places can accommodate, and should be fitted with, different kinds. As such, the choice is not whether or not to have one, but which one to choose. Keep in mind that some types are better suited to some structures than other.




About the Author: