What are the Risks of Using a CO2 Fire Suppression System?
The main risk of a carbon dioxide (CO₂) fire suppression system is the danger of asphyxiation in occupied areas. Because CO₂ suppresses fire by displacing oxygen, it poses a severe threat to human life if released while people are present. For this reason, CO₂ systems are only used in non-occupied environments or where strict safety measures can be implemented.
Other risks include equipment damage from cold temperatures and potential failure of the high-pressure cylinders.
Asphyxiation & Health Risks
- Rapid oxygen displacement: A total flooding CO₂ system quickly fills an enclosed space to a concentration lethal to humans, typically at 34% or more. Unconsciousness can occur within seconds, and death can follow shortly after.
- Colorless and odorless: CO₂ is invisible and has no smell, meaning that people entering an affected area will not realize the danger until it is too late. Inadvertent exposure is a real danger, especially during maintenance.
- Silent killer: As oxygen levels drop, a person will not feel the effects until it is too late. High CO₂ concentrations cause rapid breathing, dizziness, confusion, and eventually unconsciousness and death.
- Maintenance accidents: A significant number of deaths have occurred due to accidental discharge during maintenance or testing, often because safety procedures were not followed or were insufficient.
Equipment & Mechanical Risks
- Low-temperature damage: As high-pressure liquid CO₂ is released, it rapidly expands into a gas, causing a massive temperature drop that can create dry ice. This extreme cold can damage delicate electronic components and can cause cold burns or frostbite to anyone directly exposed to the discharge.
- High-pressure rupture: The cylinders that store CO₂ are kept under extremely high pressure, between 800 and 1,000 psi. Damage, overfilling, or exposure to excessive heat can cause a tank to rupture or explode, turning the cylinder into a dangerous projectile.
- Accidental discharge: System failure, human error, or lack of proper training can lead to an accidental discharge, creating an immediate life-threatening situation for anyone in the area.
Required Safety Precautions
Due to these risks, extensive precautions are required when using a CO₂ fire suppression system, as stipulated by standards like NFPA 12.
- Audible and visual alarms: All total flooding systems must be equipped with sirens and flashing lights to warn people to evacuate before the CO₂ is released. These alarms are required to delay the discharge for a sufficient time to allow everyone to escape.
- Proper signage: Hazard areas must have clear signs warning of the CO₂ system and the associated asphyxiation risks.
- Evacuation training: All employees must receive proper training on the system’s dangers and the correct evacuation procedures.
- Protected storage: Cylinders should be located in a secure, temperature-controlled area away from foot traffic to prevent accidental damage or activation.
- Maintenance protocols: Strict procedures must be followed during any system maintenance or testing to prevent an accidental discharge.
- Oxygen monitoring: In some cases, oxygen deficiency monitors are required to ensure the area is safe to re-enter after the system has discharged.
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