Start with what you protect. For a single electrical panel, server rack or machine, a tube based system is usually enough: a pressurised heat sensing tube runs through the enclosure and bursts at the hot spot, 150 to 180 C in the Ceasefire range. Direct systems use the burst tube as the nozzle and discharge right at the fire, while indirect systems use the tube only to detect and send the agent through separate nozzles, which suits larger or compartmentalised enclosures such as CNC and EDM machines, dry type transformers and DG sets. Ceasefire, Kanex (Firetrace tubing), Minimax (FIRESPOT), Savemax and HD Fire (HD-RAKSHAK CO2) all offer panel systems, and Honeywell ECS kits come in direct (1.13 to 4.54 kg) and indirect (1.36 to 6.35 kg) versions with FK-5-1-12. For server racks, the Ceasefire SQRS and the Honeywell Rack Mount unit, for racks of 1.5 to 3 m3, combine smoke detection and agent in one unit.
For whole rooms such as server rooms, data centres, UPS rooms and record rooms, choose total flooding, where detectors signal a panel that releases agent through pipes and nozzles into the room. Clean agent options are Ceasefire HFC 227ea and fluoroketone systems that reach extinguishing levels in 10 seconds or less, Kanex engineered FM-200 or Novec 1230 systems, Honeywell FK-5-1-12 systems at 25, 34.5 or 42 bar (with INFERNO SHIELD for large, high risk volumes) and HFC-227ea systems at 25 or 42 bar, and the ceiling mounted 10 kg Minimax Grenoz 1230 unit for small unmanned rooms. Inert gas systems lower the oxygen level instead: the Ceasefire VdS approved system scales up to 240 cylinders, HD Fire HD-INERTSYS uses IG55, IG541, IG100 or IG01 in 80 and 140 litre cylinders at 200 or 300 bar, and Honeywell IG-541 works at 200 or 300 bar with 30 to 140 litre cylinders. Without a large pipe network, the Ceasefire Atom X and M Series link ceiling units of 2 to 15 kg into one flooding system.
Then match the agent to the equipment. Clean agents (FK-5-1-12, Novec 1230, Grenoz 1230, HFC 227ea or FM-200, HFC 236fa or FE-36) are electrically non conductive and leave no residue, for electronics and live panels, and Honeywell presents its HFC-227ea, INFERNO SHIELD and IG-541 systems as suitable where people are present. CO2 cools and reduces oxygen in panels, transformers and machines, with Kanex cylinders from 4.5 kg to 45 kg at 60 to 70 bar and the HD-RAKSHAK at 60 bar. ABC powder MAP 90 covers mixed fire classes in enclosures, fluorine free foam suits oil and petrol, and the Ceasefire Auto-Quell and SWIFT watermist systems for generators, transformers, indoor areas and offices use water only, with the Auto-Quell range working without a power supply.
Finally check approvals, components and alarms. Ceasefire tube systems are LPCB tested (under LPS 1666 for fluoroketone and HFC 236fa) or BSI tested and CE certified, depending on the agent; Kanex lists UL, FM, CE and EPA SNAP approvals with CCOE cylinders and gas to IS 15222 for CO2; Honeywell lists NFPA 2001, PESO and IS 7285 for its FK-5-1-12 and HFC-227ea systems, with UL listing on FK-5-1-12, and FM approval and UL listing on IG-541; HD-INERTSYS carries VdS approval; and Minimax FIRESPOT carries National Test House approval. For engineered Honeywell systems FPS also supplies seamless cylinders from 34 to 180 litres, manifold check valves, discharge hoses, 180 or 360 degree brass nozzles, electric and pneumatic control heads and discharge pressure switches. A pressure switch can report a discharge to a fire alarm panel or BMS, and options include GSM diallers, hooters and the IP monitoring module on the Ceasefire SQRS.