Oxeo Inert gas systems

What distinguishes an inert gas extinguishing system?

The inert gases used in Oxeo extinguishing systems are distributed homogeneously in the event of fire and displace the oxygen from the fire source. Thanks to the three-dimensional mode of action, even concealed fire sources are reliably and safely extinguished before re-ignition. For this reason Oxeo extinguishing systems are very suitable even for the fire protection of special risk areas with flammable liquids and other hazardous substances and of areas with high fire loading.

Rapid fire extinguishing with inert gases keeps damage caused by fire to a minimum. In addition to this – in contrast to water, foam or power – secondarydamage caused by the extinguishing agent is excluded: inert gases leave no extinguishing agent residues and can be simply removed from the affected area again by ventilation after extinguishing the fire.

Oxeo extinguishing systems are therefore always an out- standing solution if it is worth protecting valuable goods or irreplaceable cultural objects from being destroyed by fire. Moreover inert gases are electrically non-conductive, so that they can also be used in areas with electrical or electronic components. So Oxeo extinguishing systems avoid long downtimes and expensive interruptions in operations.

Advantages at a glance

Oxeo inert gas extinguishing systems utilize inert gases, such as argon or nitrogen, and the resulting reduction of the oxygen content. They are suitable for protecting areas with high-quality yet sensitive equipment, where residue-free extinguishing - without the use of water, foam or powder extinguishing agent - is to be preferred. Argon and nitrogen are natural components of ambient air and also non-toxic and non-electrically conductive.

Excellent extinguishing effect even in special hazard zones and in areas with high or concealed fire hazards
The inert gases used are non-conductive and leave no residues - this makes them ideal for the protection of highly-valuable and sensitive equipment
In the concentrations required for extinguishing inert gases used are non-toxic and therefore suitable for use in areas that are accessed by people
Nitrogen and argon are natural components of ambient air - no harmful impact on the atmosphere
Nitrogen and argon are available almost everywhere - this means, quick and cost effective reactivation after operation
Cost-effective multi-zone systems with extinguishing gas storage can be implemented for several extinguishing zones
High degree of flexibility for modification or extension measures, thanks to the Oxeo storage system
Oxeo technology enables a more compact storage of the extinguishing agent, requiring up to 50% less space
ConstantFlow technology ensures a constant flow of the extinguishing agent in the event of a fire - this permits the use of pressure relief flaps that are up to 70% smaller
The MX DesignManager calculates the perfect system option and solution for every project

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Construction of an Inert gas system

Oxeo extinguishing systems are subdivided into fire detection and extinguishing control technology, the extinguishant supply and into one or more extinguishing areas with corresponding area subdivision.

Fire detection and extinguishing control panel
Oxeo storage system

2 Oxeo storage system

Space saving

As a result, Oxeo extinguishing systems require up to 50% less space for the extinguishing gas supply than inert gas systems with 80 l / 200 bar gas cylinders and a conventional supply system.
Disable device
Oxeo RD nozzle

4 Oxeo RD nozzle

The Type VN nozzle is available in various sizes and offers an innovative solution: thanks to a patented technology, it can be adapted to the required extinguishing agent throughput in the installed state. Changes in space require only an exchange of the diaphragm, but not the entire nozzle.
Oxeo SPA nozzle

5 Oxeo SPA nozzle

"Soft flooding"

Thanks to the special SPA type nozzles, with sound absorbers, in combination with the ConstantFlow technology, it is possible to achieve “soft flooding” of the rooms in the event of a fire: During the emission of the inert gas, the sound pressure level is significantly reduced and the flooding process with the Oxeo extinguishing system is generally far gentler. In this way the protected equipment is protected against strong vibrations and particularly sensitive facilities, such as rotating hard drives in server rooms and data centers, are less subject to harmful impacts.
Pressure relief flap

6 Pressure relief flap

Pressure relief

Flooding a room with gas always creates over pressurization of the room. This may cause damage to doors, ceilings and walls, unless suitable counter-measures are taken. To negate this effect, a pressure relief flap corresponding to the expected flow of extinguishing agent is usually installed in the protected room when the gas extinguishing system is installed. This flap opens when a pre-determined room pressure is reached, allowing the air displaced by the gas to escape directly to the exterior.

A crucial advantage

In Oxeo extinguishing systems with ConstantFlow, thanks to the constant stream of extinguishing agent, pressure relief flaps can turn out to be 70 % smaller than in conventional inert gase extinguishing systems. The extinguishing areas can be planned more flexibly. Smaller pressure relief flaps can be more easily integrated into exteriors and the area excess pressure from basements can be conducted via small channels into the open air without any problem.
Pneumatic time delay device
Pressure reducer
Fire detector
Quantity control valve
Safety valve
Pilot cylinder

How does an inert gas extinguishing system work?

Oxeo ConstantFlow technology operates with high-performance pressure regulators mounted directly on the extinguishing agent cylinder valves. At the start of the extinguishing procedure the operating pressure is thus already reduced to a maximum of 60 bar at the output of the extinguishing agent cylinders. In addition, a constant stream of extinguishing agent is created without a pressure spike. In conventional inert gas extinguishing systems on the other hand the gas escapes from the cylinders into the pipe network at the beginning of the extinguishing process with a charging pressure of up to 300 bar.

This creates a pressure spike at the beginning of an extinguishing process as well as a heavy stream of extinguishing agent which rapidly decreases with the duration of the flooding. A crucial advantage: In Oxeo extinguishing systems with ConstantFlow, thanks to the constant stream of extinguishing agent, pressure relief flaps can turn out to be 70 % smaller than in conventional inert gase extinguishing systems.The extinguishing areas can be planned more flexibly.

Smaller pressure relief flaps can be more easily integrated into exteriors and the area excess pressure from basements can be conducted via small channels into the open air without any problem. Together with the special nozzles with SPA silencers the constant stream of extinguishing agent without a pressure spike allows a "soft flood" in the event of fire.

The gentler flooding process reduces vibrations on the protected equipment and in particular is gentle on particularly sensitive equipment such as rotating hard drives in server rooms and data centers. When using Oxeo ConstantFlow technology the connected conduits and selector valves need only to be designed for the low pressure level of 60 bar maximum, which may result in significantly profitable solutions being implemented in many cases.

Fire detection and extinguishing control Extinguishing gas storage Extinguishing zones and zone subvisions

Fire detection and extinguishing control

Oxeo extinguishing systems are controlled and monitored through the tried and tested Minimax fire detection and extinguishing control technology. This ensures perfect compatibility, backed up by general approvals of electrical and mechanical system components. Unnecessary coordination costs and efforts or interface problems between different parts of the system are thus avoided. The extinguishing zones are continuously monitored by smoke, heat and/or flame detectors.

In the event of a fire, these detectors transmit a signal to the fire detection and extinguishing control panel. The panel then activates the Oxeo extinguishing system and, in the case of multi-zone systems, the relevant selector valve. At the same time, it triggers an acoustic and optical alarm, which urges anyone present in the zone to leave the room affected, and simultaneously sends a signal to a permanently manned station. Once the individually defined pre-warning time expires, the actual extinguishing process starts. This means that the extinguishing gas is delivered to the extinguishing zone by means of the pipe network and emitted from the extinguishing nozzles thus extruding the oxygen from the source of the fire.

Extinguishing gas storage

The extinguishing agent is stored in high-pressure gas cylinders, which are then used in combination, enabling both the optimization of available space and extendibility of the Oxeo storage system. The filling pressure of every single cylinder is constantly monitored for leakage with pressure gauges and the results are displayed. Any error messages are transmitted to the fire detection and extinguishing control panel. This means that the quantity of available gas is constantly controlled. The quantity of extinguishing gas to be stocked depends on the fire hazard and the size and nature of the protected facility. The modular structure of the Oxeo storage system allows for perfect adaptation to the customer’s individual needs and local conditions and offers maximum flexibility, especially for system modification or extension.

Extinguishing zones and zone subvisions

Extinguishing areas and area partitioning

A pipe network with Oxeo extinguishing nozzles runs through the protected area. The size of the pipe network and the overall arrangement of the extinguishing nozzles are determined by the respective risk. Oxeo fire extinguishing systems can be used as a single-zone system for the protection of one extinguishing area or as a multi-zone system for the protection of two or more extinguishing areas. Multi-zone systems are equipped with section valves which, in the event of a fire, only disperse the extinguishing agent in the affected extinguishing area. Individually controllable containers release a precise quantity of extinguishing agent tailored to the extinguishing area. As a result, separate fire extinguishing systems are not required. Extinguishing agent storage doesn’t exceed the amount required for the largest extinguishing zone in the system. In addition, the system can be easily adapted to building conversions. The quantity of fire extinguishing agent to be discharged and the flooding time determine the arrangement of the extinguishing nozzles and the complexity of the pipe network. Special design extinguishing nozzles make it easy to layout the pipe network.

Applications

As inert gases are electrically non-conductive and leave no extinguishant residues behind in the event of fire, Oxeo extinguishing systems are an outstanding solution to protect valuable goods and irreplaceable cultural objects or prevent electrical or electronic equipment from being out of operation for a long time.

Oxeo extinguishing systems are also best suited for the protection of special risk areas with flammable liquids and other hazardous substances, such as paint facilities, and of areas with concealed fire sources such as automated storage and retrieval systems. With argon even metal fires can be extinguished