Failure to ensure the maintenance of your gas suppression systems in accordance with standards may be very costly for you. In case of a fire, your system may not be able to extinguish just when you need it. Leaks that may occur in your gas suppression cylinders in the course of time and failure to ensure the tightness of the protected area is a vital risk for the facilities.
We conduct the maintenance of your gas suppression systems in accordance with standards in a complete, reliable and fastest way. By using state-of-the-art ultrasonic devices, we measure the sufficiency of the gases in your cylinders without removing them. We identify the leakage points that prevent the tightness of the area, by using ultrasonic methods.
The fact that the pressures of your cylinders appear to be sufficient do not prove that the amount of gas in the liquid form has not decreased. The TS-EN 15004 and NFPA 2001 standards stipulate that the amount of extinguishing gas in the cylinders must be measured minimum once every 6 months. If the amount of detected leaking gas is more than 5% of the original filling weight, the cylinder must be refilled. The commonly-used method to determine the amount of leaking gas is to weigh the cylinders.
In this method, after the suppression system is disabled, cylinders are removed and weighed. The cylinders with a gas leakage below 5% are reinstalled and the systems are reactivated. The most important disadvantage of this work, conducted by a minimum of two personnel, is the possibility of incorrect discharge, accidents and injuries. It may be required to take Occupational Health and Safety measures and stop all operations until the work is completed. Another security vulnerability is that the system is disabled during this process.
The fastest and the safest way to detect gas leakages in cylinders is to conduct maintenance by using ultrasonic level measurement devices. With the COLTRACO Portalevel Ultrasonic Level Measurement Devices, the levels of extinguishing gases such as FM-200, Novec 1230, CO2 in cylinders are measured. The Portasteele CALCULATOR calculates and records the gas weight corresponding to such levels in a short period of time. Unlike the weighing method, this method that can be conducted in a very short period of time with just one personnel and eliminates the possibility of incorrect discharge, accidents and injuries. As the system is not disabled during the maintenance work, no security vulnerabilities arise.
Gas suppression systems are designed based on the assumption that the discharged suppression gas will remain at a certain concentration in the protected area for a certain period of time. If there are openings in the protected room, fire may not be extinguished as a result of gas leakage. Even if fire appears to have been extinguished, it may re-ignite if the suppression concentration is not maintained for the expected period of time. The sufficiency of tightness of the room is determined by conducting tests by using special test equipment. If the tightness test is not passed, it is required to find and close the leakage points and repeat the tightness test.
Repeating the leakage test before leakages can be detected brings significant costs. One way to find leakage points is to fill the area with smoke by using special smoke generators, and detect where it leaks out. This is not an acceptable method in all working environments, and may take longer than expected. The COLTRACO Portascanner Ultrasonic Measurement Device ensures very sensitive, fast and easy detection of leakage points with the assistance of ultrasonic waves. Unlike smoke blowers, the working environment remains clean during the maintenance work.
