FAQs

Water sprinklers are installed in the space, why is clean agent protection necessary?

Water sprinklers do offer effective fire protection for buildings and structures. They are expected to keep a fire contained long enough to allow firefighters to respond and arrest a fire before a total building loss can occur. Unfortunately, water will also ruin electronics, artwork, and more--the very things you wanted to protect. By comparison, a clean agent system provides fire protection for critical or irreplaceable assets contained within a structure. It's designed to detect and suppress fires at their earliest stages.

Are clean agent safe for occupied spaces?

Clean agents remove heat energy from fire, not oxygen from the environment. Validated by extensive human inhalation and mammalian toxicology studies. It is comforting to know that people who might be in the room during a clean agent discharge can continue to breathe normally. Clean agents have never adversely affected anyone in countless system activation around the world. Systems are designed to activate quickly before fire has a chance to grow and place people in risk.

Why is sealing of the protected area important?

Clean agent systems are designed for protected areas in low concentrations. Due to potential agent loss in the event of a fire, all six sides of the space should be sealed including door sweeps, HVAC dampers, walls extending deck to deck, and conduit run sealing. 

Is there a business disruption for the installation? 

In most cases, clean agent system installations do not require a timely business interruption. With planning and approved submittals/design drawings, a typical installation will take a day or two. Clean agent piping runs will typically be kept to a minimum due to large nozzle coverage areas and a small cylinder footprint. 

How is the price of new system determined?

Clean agent system pricing is usually determined on the size of the proposed protected area. Total flood systems are designed to provide a uniform agent supply based on engineered quantities and applicable codes. Detection packages are affected by client needs and expectations. Various types of detection systems are available, a site survey will help determine the best options for protection.

If ordered today, how soon could the installation be expected?

Systems can be ordered either through a construction drawing package provided by an Architectural/Engineering firm or a site survey provided by a special hazard fire protection contractor. A site survey for room readiness and material placement is conducted to commence the flow/engineering calculations. C.A.D. drawings are submitted for approval within a week, following approval, material is placed on order and expected to arrive within 1-2 weeks. During that time, municipal installation permits and AHJ approvals are attained. Installation is then scheduled.

What are the related installation trade costs/issues for a clean agent protection system?

Special hazard fire protection contractors are typically low voltage electrical and fire protection mechanical tradesmen. 120 vac dedicated power feed wiring for the control panel, HVAC shutdown, damper control and base building fire alarm connection wiring is normally excluded.

In some cases, general contracting for room sealing may be required. 

What is the expected cost of system ownership?

Following the acceptance testing and turnover to ownership, a semi-annual inspection price and agreement will be provided. N.F.P.A. codes require a qualified, trained personnel inspect the system at least semi-annually. In terms of warranty, the system is required to be inspected by a factory authorized service group. Replacement parts with the exception of stand-by batteries are generally not required.

It is not feasible to protect the entire room with a gaseous system, are other protection options available?

Specialty detection packages, high sensitivity smoke detection (HSSD), in-cabinet clean agent systems, linear heat detection are all options to standard fire protection systems.