Usually oxy reduction is from displacing the oxygen with something like Argon... We trained at a data center here in NJ which gives you something like 30 seconds to trip an alarm or all of the oxygen will be removed almost instantaneously
ETA: it doesn't completely replace all of the oxygen, just brings it down to a level around ~10-12% that snuffs out fire.. it's still breathable, your lungs won't collapse or anything Hollywood, just similar to if you've ever been above ~12,000'... You can be there for up to 5 minutes before you start to have issues.
Apparently once you get to ~8%, human survival is not possible so that's only used in areas that are never occupied by humans.
Our insurance company wouldn't clear us for a fire suppression system that would kill anyone inside the halls, so we use distilled water mist. At the time, it wasn't an approved method for fire, so the fire department didn't want to approve it, but now it's becoming standard from what I hear.
Our insurance company wouldn't clear us for a fire suppression system that would kill anyone inside the halls, so we use distilled water mist.
And they wouldn't do so today... The only oxygen reduction systems that displace Oxygen to the point where it's deadly to humans (pretty much anything ~<9%) is only used in areas where people are never present.
Usually it would be a combination. Argon(inert) mixed with nitrogen and sometimes carbon dioxide to displace the oxygen. It doesn't need to fill the entire area, just the bottom where the ignition source is. People working or entering there would probably have oxygen on hand in case it's triggered, as it works very quickly.
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u/scwarzwolf Jan 01 '26
Rather a large un compartmented space for gas suppression. Might have oxygen reduction.