Basic Guide to Fire Suppression System

Restaurants and commercial kitchens remain equipped with a variety of high-tech systems. Fire is a major danger in large kitchens. To eliminate the risk of kitchen fire, restaurant owners install fire suppressions systems. Constant cooking produces a lot of smoke, heat and grease in a kitchen. As a result of this, the kitchen environment becomes hot and the risk of fire increases significantly. If kitchen fire is not controlled in time, the fire can spread very fast and engulf the entire restaurant. This can lead to a big loss of property as well as human lives. A high quality and properly installed fire suppression system keeps the kitchen workers and restaurant visitors safe and protected against potential fire hazards.

In this article, we will discuss the different types of suppression systems, their essential components and how these systems function in order to keep a commercial kitchen safe from the danger of devastating fire. 

So, this basic guide is meant for the owners and managers of large kitchens, cafeteria, restaurants, cooking facilities etc.

Why a Commercial Restaurant Needs a Fire Suppression System

Cooking and food preparation goes on in a commercial kitchen for an endless number of hours. That is why such places remain vulnerable to different types of fire hazards including those fires that generate from the deposits of grease. Being highly flammable, greasy fire is very dangerous.

Kitchen fires cannot be controlled with water. To control this type of fire, you will need to install a fire safety system in the kitchen. Which fire protection system will be ideal depends on the type of cooking you do. As per your exact needs, you don’t just need to invest in the right type of fire protection system, but you also need to have the design customized. If you plan to install the system, you should consult with an expert or a trusted company that provides the installation and customization services of fire suppression systems such as Nationwide Fire Protection, which caters to restaurant owners throughout Denver, CO.

In order to protect kitchen workers as well as comply with the fire safety and building codes, you will need to get an advanced fire suppression system installed in your large, commercial kitchen. These systems are highly effective at detecting smoke and fire and contain or kill it at the source itself.

A fire suppression system is made up of various essential components and uses various types of extinguishing agents to contain kitchen fire. There are fire protection systems that use wet or dry chemical agents to suppress fire originating in a commercial kitchen due to various reasons. As a responsible restaurant owner or manager, you should understand the utmost importance of a fire suppression system and get it installed to stay safe and code-compliant. For more details, feel free to talk to one of our experts at Nationwide Fire Protection.

Different Types of Fire Protection Systems

To suit different needs, you will come across many different types of systems for proper protection against kitchen fire. Before you choose an option, you should have some knowledge about these systems as well consult with an expert in order to find out the details and make the best decision.

Water Sprinkler System

A water sprinkler system is fitted into the ceiling of a commercial kitchen. Consisting of nozzles, the system is designed to sprinkle water droplets as fast as there is a sign of a smoke or slightest fire. The nozzles do not only help extinguish flame, but they also economize the usage of water.

Ansul Fire Suppression    

When it comes to fire protection, Ansul is one of the most trusted brands in the market. The company manufactures a wide range of fire suppression products and systems to contain different types of fire.

Ansul manufactures fire extinguishers, fire protection products and fire extinguishing agents including dry, chemical, foam and gaseous agents. Two most well-known and highly effective fire protection systems designed by Ansul Piranha and Ansul R-102 Liquid Agent. Piranha system deploys two types of extinguishing agents; one is wet chemical and the other is foam.

Ansul R-102 liquid agent system is a powerful system for protection against fires that can breakout in a restaurant kitchen. The system is fitted with nozzles, particularly in sensitive areas for best results.

Amerex Fire Suppression

Amerex is a popular and trusted brand that specializes in the manufacturing of a wide range of fire suppression systems. The company designs products both for vehicles (on-road and off-road) and restaurant kitchens. Whether you look for wheeled fire extinguishers or a fully automatic fire suppression system for restaurants, Amerex is the right choice to go for.

CO2 System

A fire protection system that deploys CO2 to contain and extinguish fire is commonly known as a CO2 system. When the system is activated, it releases CO2 in a way that covers the entire surface area. As a result of this, the existence of oxygen is reduced and the fire is instantly put out.

Inert Gas System   

The fire protection system consists of nitrogen, CO2 and argon. Using two or more chemicals, the system works very fast and reduces the amount of oxygen in the place of fire and puts out the fire as a result.

Key characteristics of an inert gas fire suppression system include safety and ease of operation. In fact, the system offers a very natural way of containing and putting out fire in a restaurant kitchen. Also referred to as gaseous fire suppression system, an inert gas system is one of the most preferred solutions for fire protection because it has an environment-friendly approach. The fire protection system is available in multiple designs. If you plan to install an inert gas fire suppression system in your facility, you should talk to an expert for useful advice.

How a Restaurant Fire Suppression System Works?  

In most commercial establishments, the fire suppression system starts functioning with a fusible link. When the fuse melts due to a specified degree of temperature, it gets disconnected. As a result of this, the system gets activated and the fire extinguishing material is instantly released to contain fire at its source.  As soon as the fire protection system detects smoke or flame, it immediately shuts off the fuel supply to the kitchen. Fire needs a constant supply of fuel to spread. When there is no fuel supply, kitchen fire fails to spread and in other areas of the restaurant.

Modern fire systems are extremely efficient in detecting even a slight amount of smoke. Installation of these systems is a surefire way of complying with the fire safety code and protecting the kitchen, workers and visitors coming to the restaurant. Different fire protection systems work in different ways.

Key Components of a Fire Suppression System

A restaurant fire suppression system consists of many different components, each of which has a unique function to perform. Though the actual design of a fire protection system may vary a little, the basic components of the system always remain the same. Given below are the key components of a fire suppression system installed in a commercial kitchen or restaurant.

Alarm Valve:

The role of the alarm valve is to start the alarm via a water motor gong bell. The function of this device begins when the fire sprinkler system is activated. One of the most important roles that alarm valves play is to control the flow of water in the fire sprinkler pipes.

Motorized Alarm:

When a kitchen fire starts, the first thing that needs to be done is alerting the employees inside the kitchen. This is exactly what the motorized alarm does. The sound of the alarm helps the people evacuate the kitchen of the building as fast as possible so as to avoid major damage.

Sprinkler Heads:

This is a visible part of a commercial kitchen fire system. The function of this device is to control the flow of water in the area where fire is happening. Sprinkler heads are designed to restrict the release to a limited area where it is most needed.

Stop Valve:

Marked in red color, the stop valve is used to stop the flow of water to the fire protection system. If the sprinkler fails to stop, the stop valve does its job and stops the flow of water.

Fire Alarm Panel:

This is the central and the most important part of a fire suppression system. It is through this panel that all the different components of the system communicate with one another.

Initiating Device:

As the name suggests, the role of the initiating device is to activate the fire protection system. The initiating device can either be manual or automatic. If the device is manual, it will require a human to start the system. Automatic initiating devices do not require any human support.

Primary Power Supply:

Any fire suppression system needs a power connection to operate. The main source of power for a kitchen fire suppression system is known as the primary power supply. Usually, the main power supply unit has batteries, a generator and a power device.

Secondary Power Supply:

A second power backup is always a great idea to have. Every fire suppression system should be equipped with a plan A and plan B. If in the case of a technical error the primary power supply fails to supply power, the secondary power supply initiates its job to efficiently power the fire protection system so that there is no delay of action in controlling fire.

Notification Appliances:

Fire suppression systems have different notification appliances to alert people or the restaurant visitors about any fire hazards. These appliances consist of fire alarms, strobe lights, audio devices and others to convey a prompt warning of any fire accident.

If you have a question in regard to the various components that make up a commercial kitchen fire suppression system, you should not hesitate to reach out to Nationwide Fire Protection for accurate answers.

How to Choose the Right Fire Suppression System

When you start looking for a fire protection system for your commercial kitchen, you will likely get overwhelmed with so many options available out there. Before you decide to invest in a product, you should know and understand the specific needs of your kitchen, cafeteria or food preparation facility in a crystal-clear manner. If you end up installing the wrong type of fire protection system in your cooking facility, you may not be fully protected against potential fire hazards.

When it comes to selecting the most ideal fire suppression system for your restaurant kitchen, you should consider these parameters:

• Ability to perform
• Simplicity
• Ease of operation
• Accessibility
• Ease of installation

An ideal fire protection system is that, which is not complex to understand. The entire system should have a simple design. The system should also be easy to install, operate and maintain. Most of all, the fire suppression system you install should offer the highest level of reliability in the event of a fire breakout. You need to install a system that is extremely effective at the detection of fire risk and controlling the fire before it can take a terrible shape and spread to other areas.

When purchasing a restaurant kitchen fire system, you should also consider the cost of installation as well as its ongoing maintenance and repair charges in a timely manner in order to ensure smooth operation.

Talk to a Fire Suppression System Specialist

To choose the right fire suppression system for your commercial kitchen, you should factor in its function, efficiency and maintenance. If you have a question or look for professional fire protection services, get in touch with one of our professionals at Nationwide Fire Protection in Colorado and Utah. We specialize in the installation, maintenance and repair of different types of fire sprinkler systems, restaurant fire systems, fire alarm systems, fire extinguishers etc. Plus, we provide fire extinguisher inspection and restaurant fire restoration.

For your free consultation, you can call our office phone number or write us an email using the contact form on our website.