A fixed extinguishing system without aerosol, pressurized container, and pipe installation: a solid component burns to produce potassium salt aerosol and chemically interrupts the flame chain reaction — without consuming oxygen. The area of use is not limited to the interior of panels; machine volume, vehicle engine compartment, transformer cell, and small technical spaces also fall within the scope of this technology. In return, it imposes two conditions: the space must be closed and unoccupied, and must not contain equipment sensitive to residue.
How Can a Fire Extinguisher Not Be a Pressurized Container?
When fixed suppression is mentioned, the image that comes to mind is a cylinder: pressurized container, manifold, piping, nozzle. Aerosol eliminates this entire picture. There is no gas inside the generator; there is a fire extinguishing component in solid form . When triggered, this solid fuel burns in a controlled manner, and the extremely fine potassium salt cloud produced fills the volume. The extinguishing agent is not stored; it is produced on site when needed.
The result is significant: no cylinder room or piping installation is required; the unit is mounted inside the volume it protects. Because there is no pressurized container, pressure gauge monitoring, silent discharge from leakage, and hydrostatic test procedures do not arise. The 16 aerosol products in our catalog carry components ranging from 40 grams to 5,700 grams.
How Does Condensed Aerosol Extinguish Fire?
One of the four elements sustaining combustion is the chemical chain reaction: free radicals (H, OH, O) generated inside the flame self-perpetuate the reaction. Condensed aerosol intervenes here; micron-sized potassium salt particles released from the burning component bind these radicals and chemically break the chain. The critical difference is this: aerosol does not consume or dilute oxygen. CO₂ and inert gases reduce oxygen to a level where combustion cannot be sustained; aerosol stops the flame without touching oxygen.
Unlike a gas discharge, the ejected cloud does not collapse immediately but remains suspended in air, maintaining the volume for a period. However, the discharge is exothermic: the generator body and outlet opening heat up; therefore, each unit's manual specifies safety distance ; installation near cabling and combustible surfaces is not performed. Triggering can be electrical or thermal; thermal units require no power line — an advantage that determines feasibility in spaces where power can be cut.
Where Is It Used Besides Control Panels?
Aerosol is most commonly associated panel suppression ; yet the range of suitable applications is broader: enclosed, unoccupied, confined spaces where piping installation is difficult.
- Machine enclosures — CNC machines, injection molding machines, cabinets with oil vapor. The body is already an enclosed volume; the generator is placed inside, production does not stop.
- Vehicle and work machine engine compartments — buses, forklifts, mining and construction equipment; the obligation to transport pressurized cylinders under vibration is eliminated.
- Transformer and switchgear cells — energized compartments where water and foam cannot be used.
- Small technical spaces — generator cabin, elevator machine room, meter room, base station and server cabinet, cable gallery.
A candid warning: in lithium-ion battery cabinets, aerosol suppresses flame but does not stop thermal runaway within the cell; we do not offer aerosol alone as a solution for battery rooms.
Aerosol or Clean Gas?
| Leaves residue; not a typical solution for continuous in-line protection | Clean gas (NOVEC / FM-200) | |
|---|---|---|
| Suppression mechanism | Chemical chain breaking (potassium salt) | Heat absorption + chain interruption |
| Storage | Solid component; no pressurized container | Pressurized cylinder; weighing and hydrostatic test |
| Piping | Generator inside the volume; no piping | Cylinder bank outside; piping + nozzles + flow calculation |
| Occupied space | As a rule, not suitable | Suitable at design concentration |
| Residue | Leaves fine potassium salt residue | Leaves no residue |
| After discharge | Generator is replaced, no refilling | Cylinder is refilled |
| Standard framework | TS EN 15276 / NFPA 2010 | TS EN 15004 / NFPA 2001 |
The decision broadly comes down to this: if the volume is small, enclosed, and unoccupied, aerosol is more economical. As the volume increases, as humans occupy the space, and as sensitivity to residue grows, gaseous suppression comes to the fore.
Aerosol Limitations — Where We Do Not Recommend It
- Occupied spaces. Discharge creates a dense white cloud; visibility drops, respiratory tract irritation occurs. Escape routes and work areas are not aerosol's domain.
- Sensitive optical and clean room environments. Lenses, sensor surfaces, and calibrated equipment are affected by residue; potassium salt attracts moisture and becomes conductive and corrosive when wet.
- Deep (core-stage) Class A fires. Aerosol cuts the flame; extinguishing the core inside the mass requires separate testing and listing.
- Ventilated or open volumes. If the fan keeps running or the cover stays open, the cloud disperses; the system exists only on paper.
How Many Grams of Aerosol Are Needed?
The statement "this unit protects such a volume" applies only to that brand's own listing. The correct logic is: required component mass = protected net volume × manufacturer's listed design density (g/m³) × correction factors. Because density varies by brand and fire class, there is no brand-independent single answer to the question; the source of this value must be requested in the quotation.
Items affecting the calculation: the space's net volume, lowest ambient temperature, area of closable openings, fire class, and installation geometry. Multiple small units often provide more homogeneous distribution than a single large unit.
Standard Framework: TS EN 15276 and NFPA 2010
- wheeled devices must have — the conditions the generator itself must meet; product approval is read from here.
- wheeled devices must have — design, installation, and maintenance. This is the section that should be written into the specification.
- wheeled devices must have — U.S. equivalent of fixed aerosol systems; occupied space and deep fire restrictions are clear here.
- UL 2775 / ISO 15779 — confirm that the document applies to the model , not the brand.
A common mistake in maintenance period: the Building Fire Protection Regulation does not itself prescribe the period; it defers to the standard applicable to the system. For aerosol, this framework is TS EN 15276 and NFPA 2010; the period is derived from these and the manufacturer's manual.
What Happens After Discharge?
- The space is ventilated; residue is removed by dry method; it is not spread with wet cloths. Energized equipment is not returned to service without humidity control.
- The discharged generator is not refilled but replaced; the triggering circuit, bracket, and safety distance are verified.
- The incident record, serial number of the replaced unit, and functional test report are entered in the log.
Maintenance and Service Life
Aerosol maintenance is shorter than for gas systems but is not "none": body and bracket inspection, trigger circuit measurement, safety distance, and expiration date check. The generator has a service life declared by the manufacturer; since it does not accept refilling, at end of life it is completely replaced — this line item must not be forgotten in budget planning. We consolidate all systems from detection to gas suppression under a single maintenance contract and add CCTV maintenance for those who request it; we have separately explained the items determining the price .
Provide volume dimensions, equipment inside, and areas of closable openings; we will determine the number and placement of units. Surveys within Ankara are free; nationwide, we proceed through planned regional tours and remote preliminary diagnosis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can aerosol suppression be used in an area where people are present?
As a rule, no. Discharge creates a dense cloud, severely reduces visibility, and can irritate the respiratory tract; therefore, condensed aerosol is designed for enclosed volumes where people are not permanently present. In areas where people may be present, approved clean agent systems at design concentration are used.
Does aerosol leave residue and damage electronics?
Yes. The suppressant consists of potassium salt particles in the micron range and settles on surfaces. The residue attracts moisture; when combined with moisture, it creates conductivity and corrosion risk. After discharge, energized equipment must not be put into service without dry cleaning and humidity control. Clean gas is preferred in areas with lenses, sensor surfaces, and calibrated instruments.
Should I choose aerosol or gas system?
If the volume is small, enclosed, and unoccupied (panel, machine cabinet, transformer cell, small technical room), aerosol is both more economical and faster to install; no piping and no cylinder room is required. As volume increases, when people are present in the area, or when residue is unacceptable, gas suppression takes precedence. The decision is made based on volume, air-tightness, and sensitivity of the equipment inside.
Can the aerosol generator be refilled, when is it replaced?
It cannot be refilled. A discharged generator is completely replaced. Undischarged units also have a service life declared by the manufacturer and an expiration date on the label; when the period expires, the unit is renewed. Since the exact period varies by brand and model, the product's own label and manual are authoritative.
Is electricity required for the system to operate?
Not necessarily. Aerosol generators can be electrically triggered from a detector or suppression panel, and can also be triggered thermally; a thermally-triggered unit requires no power line at all. This feature provides a decisive advantage in panels whose power can be cut off, in vehicles, and in remote cabinets.
How many grams of aerosol do I need for my panel or machine?
The required agent mass is derived from the product of the protected net volume and the manufacturer's listed design concentration (g/m³), and correction factors. Since design concentration varies by brand and fire class, the statement circulating on the internet "this unit protects so many m³" is valid only for that product. If you provide the dimensions, the equipment inside, and any openings that cannot be sealed, we will calculate the requirement.
How often is aerosol system maintenance performed?
The Regulation on Fire Protection of Buildings does not itself prescribe the period; it refers to the standard to which the system is subject; for aerosol this framework is TS EN 15276 and NFPA 2010, applied together with the manufacturer's manual. Maintenance checks the body and bracket, triggering circuit, safety distance, and expiration date. The items that determine scope and price are explained on our maintenance pricing page.