Are you looking to enhance the fire protection in your business's facility? That could be a wise idea. A premium fire suppression system can reduce your risk of fire damage, but it may also reduce your annual insurance premiums. Insurance companies use a company's overall risk profile to determine premiums. The less risk your company faces, the lower your premiums are likely to be. Also, if you have sensitive equipment on property, such as servers and other electronic hardware, an advanced fire suppression system may be a necessity. Here are three types of suppression systems:

• Sprinkler system. This is likely the type of suppression system that you're most familiar with. Sprinkler systems are common in businesses and stores and perform a very simply, straightforward function. In most automatic sprinkler systems, a sensor picks up on high levels of either smoke or heat. When the trigger is flipped, the sprinklers release large amounts of water, which help to extinguish the fire.
  There are a few instances in which a sprinkler system may not be effective. For example, if your building sometimes gets extremely cold, a sprinkler system could be a bad idea. The water in the pipes could freeze, leading to cracked or damaged pipes. Also, if you have high-costs electronic equipment, sprinklers could be a bad idea. They'll put the fire out, but the water could end up damaging your hardware.
• Inert gas. This is an automatic system that relies on sensors, much like a sprinkler system. However, instead of releasing water, this system releases a combination of gases. The gases work as a suppression system because they don't have oxygen as a component. Fires need oxygen to keep going. Without oxygen, a fire will smother and die.
  The only drawback to a gas system is that the gases could also make a room extremely dangerous for a person. If a person is in a confined space and doesn't evacuate quickly, they could soon have a hard time breathing as gas fills up the area.
• Chemical suppression. These systems are usually among the costliest systems, but also among the most effective. They use a chemical substance that creates a soapy-foam. The foam creates a shield around the fire, cutting off the oxygen supply and effectively smothering the fire. Since the chemical doesn't usually include water, it won't do collateral damage to things like electrical equipment.
  Chemical suppression systems can be very effective in restaurants, where water may not work in putting out a grease fire. They're also popular in industrial settings where electrical fires may be common and waters systems can be ineffective.

For more information, talk to a company that sells and installs suppression systems. They can help you find the best system for your needs.