Fire Extinguisher Gases: What You Need to Know

When water isn't an option—such as in server rooms or electrical facilities—gas suppression systems are the gold standard. We break down the differences between the main players: Chemical Agents and Inert Gases.

Chemical Clean Agents (FM-200, Novec 1230)

These agents extinguish fire primarily by removing heat. They are liquid in the cylinder but vaporize upon discharge.

• Space Saving: They are stored as liquids, so they require significantly fewer cylinders than inert gas systems.
• Speed: Designed to discharge in 10 seconds or less to extinguish a fire before significant damage occurs.
• Environmental Impact: Novec 1230 is often preferred now as it has a Global Warming Potential (GWP) of less than 1, whereas FM-200 is being phased down due to its higher GWP.

Inert Gases (IG-55, IG-541)

Inert gases work by lowering the oxygen concentration in the room to a level where fire cannot burn (below 15%), but humans can still breathe (above 12%).

• Natural: Composed of Nitrogen and Argon, which are naturally occurring in the atmosphere.
• Distance: Because they are stored as high-pressure gas, the cylinders can be located much further away from the protected room than chemical agents.