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Automatic Fire Extinguishers

Automatic fire extinguishers are, as their name suggests, designed to put out fires without requiring human intervention. It can take a while for someone to detect a fire, by which point the flames might have caused widespread damage or grown in size and severity to pose a life-threatening risk. By comparison, automatic fire extinguishers activate the moment the temperature climbs above 68° Celsius. They are ideal for unsupervised locations or to protect important machinery.

Automatic fire extinguishers come in two types: powder automatic extinguishers, which contain the same powder as our other powder fire extinguishers, and clean agent automatic extinguishers. The former is suitable for boats, plant rooms, engine bays and flammable liquid stores, while the latter is suitable for protecting computers and electronics, clean rooms and delicate machinery. They come with a mounting bracket and can be attached to either the ceiling or wall and made to directly face what you would like to protect. 

Our range includes automatic fire extinguishers of different types, shapes and capacities to cater to a variety of locations and needs.

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How do automatic fire extinguishers work?

Automatic fire extinguishers work the same way as standard extinguishers do, except the squeeze grip handles are replaced by a heat-sensitive glass bulb which acts as the trigger. The bulb contains a liquid that expands when subject to heat. At a certain temperature, typically 68° Celsius, the bulb bursts and the extinguishing agent is released. The extinguisher head acts as a sprinkler and effectively disperses the extinguishing agent across the local area. 

For example, if there’s a fire in the boat engine compartment, the automatic fire extinguisher will activate and extinguish the fire swiftly, before people on the boat even realise what’s happened. Learn more about the effective uses of an automatic fire extinguisher system. Don't forget to take a look at our range of car and boat fire extinguishers, if you’re considering your options for these types of environments.

Wall-mounted or ceiling-mounted automatic extinguishers?

Which type of automatic fire extinguisher you choose depends on the fire risk you’re protecting against. Ceiling-mounted automatic extinguishers are the most effective at filling a room with an extinguishant to better protect the whole room so a fire, assuming the extinguisher you have chosen suits the room you are installing it in, such as an engine room or server cupboard. They have a bracket which secures to the ceiling so it can be suspended from above, centrally within the room.

Wall-mounted automatic extinguishers are better for protecting a particular piece of equipment, assuming it can be directly mounted above this. These are supplied with a bracket which allows the extinguisher to be secured to a wall or other surface whilst keeping the unit vertical. However, some of our wall-mounted fire extinguishers are available with a telescopic bracket which means you can suspend this away from the wall. This is an ideal solution for areas where the ceiling may be too high or is not strong enough to support the weight.

What’s the difference between automatic powder and clean gas extinguishers?

Automatic powder extinguishers are popular for two reasons: they will fight almost any type of fire, and they are affordable. However, there is a risk of after-fire damage. Clean gas extinguishers are more expensive because the FK-5-1-12 gas is a clean agent. This means it will leave no after-fire damage or mess, causing no damage to sensitive equipment. And since the extinguishing agent is a gas, it can rapidly disperse across a local area. 

Our point of view is that no matter what a fire must be stopped, and so preventative safety measures must be taken where necessary. Learn more about choosing an automatic fire extinguisher

Are clean gas extinguishers bad for the environment?

No. Unlike Halon 1211 (BCF) or Halon 1301 which came in green extinguishers, FK-5-1-12 has zero effect on ozone depletion and is safe to use anywhere. Learn more about fire safety and prevention in our fire safety videos.

Our accreditation and guarantees

All of Fire Protection Online's automatic fire extinguishers have been manufactured to the highest quality possible.

All of our fire extinguishers come with:

  • Low Price Guarantee
  • 100-Day Free Returns Guarantee
  • 100% Satisfaction Guarantee
  • 6 Year Manufacturer Warranty
  • Next Day Delivery

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