Fire suppression system for an electrical room
An electrical room concentrates equipment that is essential to power distribution and control. AeroXSense designs automatic condensed-aerosol fire suppression architectures adapted to the room volume, geometry, ventilation and business-continuity requirements.
A single fire can shut down far more than one piece of equipment
Electrical rooms often supply a production line, building, port infrastructure, logistics site or critical services. A local fire can therefore cause a major business interruption.
Electrical arc
Insulation failure, a degraded connection or switching operation may create an arc and rapid ignition.
Overheating and overload
Loose connections, overload or component ageing can create a progressive temperature rise.
Fire spread between equipment
Cables, cable trays, cabinets and nearby materials can carry fire throughout the room.
Protection designed around the fire scenario
The system combines fire detection, a control architecture and several condensed-aerosol generators positioned according to the engineering study.
Room assessment
Analysis of net volume, openings, ventilation, obstacles, equipment and operating constraints.
Detection and control
Selection of detectors, control panel, signals, delays and manual-release options.
Generator activation
The control system activates the units defined by the scenario to treat the protected volume.
Action on combustion
Active aerosol particles disperse in the room and interrupt the flame’s chemical chain reaction.
How fire affects operations
This video illustrates the impact of fire on premises, equipment and business continuity. It introduces the value of automatic protection before the fire spreads.
AeroXSense video: the consequences of fire and the value of early automatic protection.
Information required before a solution can be proposed
Room characteristics
- Length, width, height and net volume
- Ceiling type and any raised floor
- Permanent openings and enclosure tightness
- Ventilation, extraction and air-renewal rate
Nature of the hazards
- Electrical cabinets, main switchboards, PLCs and transformers
- Cable trays and cable density
- Possible batteries or other specific hazards
- Temperature, humidity, dust and corrosive conditions
Safety architecture
- Smoke, heat or combined detection
- Control panel and backed-up power supply
- Alarm, delay, ventilation shutdown and remote signals
- Manual release and evacuation procedures
Project objectives
- Whole-room suppression or complementary local protection
- Life safety and business continuity
- Production shutdown constraints
- Insurer, consultant or site requirements
Which electrical rooms can be protected?
The solution is engineered for enclosed spaces containing critical electrical or electrotechnical equipment.
Main switchboard rooms
Main low-voltage distribution, power panels and critical feeders.
Control rooms
PLCs, control systems, supervision and sensitive equipment.
Industrial electrical rooms
Factories, logistics platforms, infrastructure and process facilities.
Marine environments
Ships, ports and technical spaces where available room is limited.
Protect the whole room or the cabinets directly?
The two approaches may be alternatives or may complement each other depending on geometry and protection objectives.
| Architecture | Principle | When to use it | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Whole-room protection | Treats the entire room volume | Controlled room with a feasible distribution study | Requires analysis of openings, ventilation and occupancy |
| In-cabinet protection | Acts directly inside identified equipment | Expected fire origin is inside specific enclosures | Does not automatically treat a fire outside the cabinets |
| Combined architecture | Combines local and room-scale protection | Critical sites, complex geometry or multiple hazards | Requires a more detailed activation and interaction study |
From technical survey to commissioning
Frequently asked questions about electrical-room fire suppression
How is a fire suppression system for an electrical room sized?
Sizing considers net volume, openings, ventilation, geometry, obstacles, hazard type and the required agent concentration. A simple cubic-metre estimate is not sufficient.
Does condensed aerosol always replace a gas system?
No. It is a different architecture, often more compact and without pipework, but the choice depends on the hazard, site requirements, regulations and protection objectives.
Must ventilation be shut down before discharge?
On many projects, ventilation shutdown or safe-state control forms part of the release sequence to reduce agent loss. This must be defined during the study.
Can only the electrical cabinets be protected?
Yes, when the hazards are clearly located in identified enclosures. Whole-room protection must also consider hazards outside cabinets and fire spread through cabling.
Does the system operate without electrical power?
The generators contain a solid agent, but a room architecture generally includes detection, a control panel and backed-up power. Exact operation depends on the selected design.
What happens after activation?
The room must remain secured and de-energised until inspection. The cause must be identified, equipment checked, the area cleaned under the applicable procedures and discharged units replaced.
What information is needed for a study?
Dimensioned drawings, room measurements, photographs, a list of key equipment, ventilation information, openings and protection objectives support an initial assessment.
Do you have an electrical room to protect?
Send us the drawings, dimensions, installed equipment, ventilation information and several photographs. We can determine whether the project requires whole-room protection, local cabinet protection or a combined architecture.
