Argon and nitrogen are inert gases naturally present in the air.

They are stored and compressed in cylinders at pressures ranging from 200 to 300 bar for use as extinguishing agents in gas-based fire suppression systems.

Argon makes up 0.93% of the Earth's atmosphere. Its density relative to air is 1.38:1.

Nitrogen, also colorless, odorless, and tasteless, accounts for 78.1% of the Earth's atmosphere, and its density relative to air is 0.967:1.

When the system activates, the gas inside the cylinders flows through high-pressure galvanized steel piping and is distributed into the protected area via nozzles, the diameters of which are determined through hydraulic calculations.

Once discharged into the environment within a maximum of 60 seconds, the gas completely saturates the protected area, thereby extinguishing the fire by eliminating the primary oxidizing agent of the fire triangle: oxygen.

Unlike other chemical gases or CO2, Argon and Nitrogen suppression systems are safer; when properly sized, they do not endanger the health of individuals present within the protected areas.

Pressure fluctuations resulting from the discharge of the suppression gas are controlled and managed by appropriately sized overpressure dampers, which prevent damage to assets and structures inside the room.

Carbon dioxide fire suppression systems are primarily suitable for combating Class B and C fires. Due to its physical properties, CO2 is the only extinguishing gas that is also used in portable fire extinguishers and other fire-fighting devices.

In fixed fire suppression systems, carbon dioxide is stored in a liquid state within high-pressure carbon steel cylinders and cooled to -20°C.

CO2 gas suppression systems are primarily used for electrical and electronic installations because, unlike water- or powder-based extinguishing agents, CO2 is electrically non-conductive.

As with all gas-based systems, this type of installation extinguishes fires through suffocation, although in some cases CO2 systems can also function as cooling systems.

In addition to the more familiar inert gas or CO2 suppression systems, there are new gas mixtures capable of rapidly suppressing fires while ensuring a very high level of safety for occupants.

For a given protected area, and unlike inert gas systems, chemical gas systems allow for a suppression setup requiring fewer cylinders, a factor not to be underestimated in terms of both cost and the space occupied by the cylinder storage area.

Chemical extinguishing agents such as NOVEC™ 1230 or HFC-227ea involve gas discharge within a 10-second limit and do not require overpressure relief dampers, as they have a discharge pressure of 80 bar.