Stopping A Commercial Kitchen Fire Before It Spreads With A Properly Designed Suppression System

Kitchen fires in restaurants and commercial kitchens are more common than you might think. Having a commercial kitchen suppression system in place to deal with fires could be the difference between saving your business and losing everything. When fire suppression systems are set up correctly, they are fast and effective at putting out the fire before it spreads. 

Commercial Kitchen Suppression Systems

Commercial kitchens often present the perfect storm for fires because they typically have grease, fat, and other combustibles near each other and many heat sources that can start a fire if they are not appropriately handled. The commercial kitchen suppression system that is used to stop a fire in the space is specifically designed to handle small fires, large fires, and fires that start inside grease hoods over grills, fryers, and other appliances. 

Wet chemical kitchen fire suppression systems are the most common systems in use today and are highly effective in most fire scenarios. The chemical used in the system is potassium acetate, and it is sprayed out of nozzles that create a fine mist that will not cause grease or hot liquids to spatter and spread the fire further. 

Most of these systems are designed to activate when a large fire breaks out, but they can be triggered manually if a small fire starts. A staff member can trigger the system as they leave the kitchen so that the fire remains small or goes out before first responders arrive on the scene. 

The cleanup can be extensive after the system is triggered, but the outcome is often far better than if the fire is allowed to burn free until help arrives. 

More Than Suppression

Commercial kitchen suppression systems do more than spray suppressants on the fire. A properly installed system will also shut off the gas flow to the stove, grill, fryers, and other appliances in the space so there is no additional fuel feeding the fire. 

As the system is activated, a fan in the hood will also start to pull smoke and heat out of the kitchen, making it easier for firefighters to enter the space and control the fire. If the system is triggered early enough, there is a good chance that the system will extinguish the fire and vent the room within minutes. However, you still need to have firefighters check the building, and before the kitchen can go back into service, the suppression system will need to be reset and refilled.

You will also need to have a health inspection after cleaning the entire kitchen, but there are services available to help with the fire cleanup if you need one. The fire suppression system contractor you use to maintain the system for you will go over the entire system after activation to ensure everything is still working correctly.  

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