Choosing the right fire suppression system depends on the fire risk, building type, and protected assets. A comprehensive comparison of all major technologies.. Suppression System Technologies Fire suppression systems are active fire protection measures that extinguish or control fires. The choice of system depends on the fire risk, occupancy type, and value of assets to be protected. Wet Sprinkler Systems Most common system worldwide: Water filled pipework with thermally activated sprinkler heads Individual heads operate independently β only those near the fire activate Standards: BS EN 12845 (commercial/industrial), BS 9251 (residential) Effective for 95%+ of building types Limitations: water damage to sensitive equipment; freezing risk in unheated spaces Gas Suppression Systems For high value/sensitive environments: Inert gas systems (IG 55, IG 541): reduce oxygen to 12% (fire cannot sustain, humans can survive briefly) Chemical agent systems (FK 5 1 12 / Novec 1230, FM 200): interrupt chemical chain reaction Applications: server rooms, archives, museums, telecom exchanges Standards: BS EN 15004, BS ISO 14520 Require sealed enclosures and integrity testing Foam Systems For flammable liquid risks: Low expansion foam: aircraft hangars, fuel storage Medium expansion foam: loading docks, warehouse aisles High expansion foam: total flooding of large volume spaces Standards: BS EN 13565 PFAS free foams increasingly required for environmental compliance Water Mist Systems The modern alternative: Fine water droplets (<1mm) creating high surface area to volume ratio Uses 80 90% less water than conventional sprinklers Effective through evaporative cooling and oxygen displacement Applications: heritage buildings, tunnels, cruise ships, turbine halls Standards: BS 8458, BS 8489 Higher installation cost but lower water damage risk Comparison Table System Water Use Sensitivity Risk Cost Maintenance Wet sprinkler High Low damage value Medium Low Gas None High value assets High Medium Foam Medium Flammable liquids Medium High Water mist Very low Heritage/sensitive High Medium For suppression system specification, contact Magnus Opifex. Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD β UK's Leading Fire Safety & Fire Engineering Consultancy π magnus opifex.co.uk π +44 7486 691724 βοΈ office@magnus opifex.co.uk Founders: Nicoleta Vasile, Baroness of Brattleby β CEO, Lawyer and Barrister, Legal & Administrative Director Alina β Technical Director & Expert Fire Engineer (BEng) Head Office: Ealing Cross, 85 Uxbridge Road, London W5 5BW Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD delivers engineering led fire engineering, fire risk assessments, CFD modelling, and building safety consultancy across the United Kingdom and internationally. With over 20 years of combined experience and a UK portfolio spanning healthcare, residential and infrastructure, we bring truly engineered solutions with a personal touch. Β© 2026 Magnus Opifex SEVEN LTD. All rights reserved.