Lattice Communications Offers Fire Suppression

Safety Detection, Prevention & Protection

Do you ever wonder if fire suppression systems were created because of the great Chicago fire in 1871? If Mrs. O’Leary’s barn had been equipped with a suppression system, perhaps Chicago’s history would have changed. Or maybe someone else’s cow would have kicked over the kerosene lamp in their barn instead and Chicago would have had the same fate. We will never know the answer to that but we can’t help but wonder, what if?

What is a fire suppression system you might ask and how does it work? Fire suppression is using a system to deploy a water-based or dry chemical agent to help diminish the fire and prevent it from spreading. Automatic fire sprinklers were the first form of fire containment created in the late 1800’s. Depending on your business and equipment, water based systems may not be right for you. Electrical components could easily be damaged by the water and cause more business downtime. In cases like that, dry chemicals or gaseous fire suppression systems are a better alternative.

Dry chemical systems coat equipment with a chemical powder designed to stop the fire. Vehicles of all types will require a chemical suppressant system because of the flammable fuels and oils used in them. These systems can be applied to a single item or to an entire room if needed. Full room application is useful in instances where hazardous and flammable liquids are stored and fire spread would be dire. 

Another alternative is a gaseous form of fire suppression, also known as a clean agent suppression system. This method does not coat equipment with a chemical nor does it damage it by water. It is designed to eliminate certain factors that cause a fire, such as oxygen or carbon dioxide. Because these systems eliminate oxygen from the air, they are not recommended for use in an occupied business.

Water based systems are the most commonly used form of fire suppression due to their reliability and effectiveness. We at Lattice Communications are a proud partner of Kiddie Fire Systems and we can help you find the right system today. Contact us for more information on what we have to offer. If only Mrs. O’Leary had utilized a fire suppression system back in 1871…