Is Your Commercial Clean Agent Fire Suppression System Due for Inspection?

Is Your Commercial Clean Agent Fire Suppression System Due for Inspection?

If you’re a business or property owner, chances are you have a fire suppression system installed to help prevent the spread of fire in the event of an emergency. Clean agent fire suppression systems are ideal for many business owners, as they work to delay the spread of fire to limit damage to property and injury to anyone inside.

Below, we’re going to go over what a clean agent system is, as well as why and when it needs to be inspected to ensure continuous functionality.

What is a Clean Agent System?

There are multiple kinds of fire suppression systems, the most popular of which are water sprinklers and clean agent systems. While both are effective at stopping the spread of fire or delaying continuous combustion of property, water can cause massive damage to the property as well as anything stored inside, especially electronics.

When a fire is detected, a clean agent system dispenses environmentally friendly chemicals that absorb heat and delay the combustion of material inside the building. These chemicals are safe and don’t carry an electrical charge, so they won’t damage equipment or your property when dispersed.

Most Common Malfunctions

While clean agent systems are extremely effective, they can malfunction if left uninspected or unserviced.

Firstly, containers used to store the fire-suppression chemicals can leak and, if left unchecked for too long, can be empty and ineffective when a fire does occur. Secondly, hoses used in the system to transport chemicals can become damaged, rendering a certain area of the property at a higher risk of fire spreading.

The dispensing nozzles or the fasteners used to keep the system in place can become loose and create the risk of personal injury or property damage. Lastly, changes or even minor damage to the building itself can cause a malfunction of the system, as each container of chemicals is rated for a specific sealed space inside the property.

Signs That It Is Not Working Properly

If you have access to your tanks, you can perform a quick check every month or so to determine if there are any visible signs of damage or defects, but this, of course, should never replace a proper, professional inspection.

If you notice that tank levels decrease over time without the instance of smoke or a fire, this can be a sign of leaking tanks or valves. Any discharge on or around the tanks is a serious concern and should be addressed immediately, as this could be a sign of a leak as well. Visible damage to any hoses or loose or disconnected hoses can present major issues and should be addressed by a professional.

How Often Should You Service It?

To maintain the proper functionality of your system, it needs to be inspected and tested at least once every 6 months. This includes checking your tanks and hose system, as well as all areas of discharge.

Conclusion

Routine maintenance and testing of your clean agent system is critical to make sure that it will function properly in the event of a fire. Conducting monthly visual inspections is great, but professional inspections are required twice a year. When you’re ready to install a clean agent system or schedule the next inspection of your current system, contact one of our trained and experienced experts for professional service and peace of mind.