Special Risks and Automatic Fire Suppression Expert
Special Risks and Automatic Fire Suppression Expert
Axima Sécurité Incendie’s expertise in special risks is part of its industrial site protection with specific risks that cannot be protected by sprinkler alone.
Certain sites, such as logistics warehouses, household waste incineration plants, areas containing batteries or charging stations, certain industries involved in the production or storage of specific hazardous materials require customized protection tailored to their special risks.
As true experts in their field, our team dedicated to clients with special risks works with you to implement the fire suppression solutions best suited to your needs.
Our specialized engineering department, 100% dedicated to specific risks, offers customized solutions. Our teams handle everything from analysis to recommendations, from plan design to installation, and subsequently provide maintenance for the installed fire safety systems.
Our Automatic Fire Suppression Solutions
Water mist: a high-performance automatic fire suppression system for special hazards
Applications: hotels, parking garages, spot protection for machinery, industrial facilities with transformers/generators, data centers, archive rooms, electrical rooms, protection of industrial fryers etc.
The choice of a water mist system is determined by the risks to be protected against. There are two main technologies suited to specific risks: low-pressure water mist and high-pressure water mist.
- Low-pressure water mist (LPWM): This system operates at an operating pressure of less than 12.5 bar at the nozzle (NFPA 750 standard). This system is similar to sprinkler systems in terms of design and installation. Its installation is facilitated by the possibility of direct connection to the municipal water supply in certain cases, offering a cost-effective and reliable solution for commercial buildings or industrial storage facilities.
- High-Pressure Water Mist (HPWM): Operates at pressures exceeding 35 bar (reaching up to 60 to 120 bar). This is the preferred solution for complex spaces, high-rise buildings, archives, or machine rooms. This technology uses stainless steel piping with smaller diameters compared to sprinkler systems.
Our experts at Axima Fire Safety will assist you in sizing these systems in accordance with the APSAD R2, EN 14972-1, FM 2-81 and NFPA 750. We determine the optimal technology based on the risk to be protected to ensure maximum fire suppression efficiency with reduced water consumption.
Automatic Foam Fire Suppression Systems
Applications: Petrochemical plants, warehouses, incineration plants, etc.
How does it work?
Depending on the environment, there are 3 solutions: low-, medium-, and high-expansion fire-fighting foams
The equipment used to produce foam includes generators, discharge valves, nozzles, or foam cannons. The mixture of water and additive (selection and dosage based on the risk) has the unique property of creating a foam blanket (thanks to expansion) that isolates the combustible material from the oxidizing agent.
“Low” and “medium” expansion fire-extinguishing foams are primarily used in the event of a surface fire involving flammable liquids (hydrocarbons, alcohol, etc.). “High” expansion foams are recommended for specific fire protection in storage facilities. Fire suppression systems using high-expansion foam can fill a room beyond the storage height in less than 3 minutes!
Fire Suppression Gases: How They Work and Types of IEAG Solutions
Application: Data centers, electrical rooms, archives, and sensitive technical facilities where water could damage equipment.
How does it work?
An Automatic Gas Fire Suppression System (AGFSS) operates based on three principles: smothering by reducing the oxygen level, inhibiting chemical combustion reactions, or rapidly cooling the fire source. There are two main types of extinguishing gases: inert gases (nitrogen, argon, IG-55 mixture), which dilute oxygen to 12–15%, and CO2. Inhibitor gases (FK-5-1-12), which halt the combustion reaction at low concentrations. The latter are subject to various environmental regulations that limit their use.
The system is triggered by automatic dual detection or manual activation, releasing the extinguishing agent through a network of nozzles within a few seconds. This residue-free technology protects your electronic equipment while ensuring effective suppression of Class A, B, and C fires.
Automatic Fire Detection System
Fire detection systems provide the earliest possible warning of a fire risk so that appropriate emergency response measures can be implemented.
Axima Fire Safety designs and installs fire detection systems that include:
- Automatic smoke, heat, and flame detectors; particle analysis; linear detectors, etc.
- Thermal imaging cameras that enable immediate identification of a heat source
These systems are supplemented by manual alarm triggers. All equipment transmits information to a control panel (S.D.I.) depending on the size of the system. These control panels are either conventional or addressable*.
Alarm and evacuation systems
Alarm and evacuation systems are mandatory (Labor Code) if the number of people in the facility exceeds 20 or if the activities involve risks (e.g., SEVESO-type sites). It is also a requirement for public-access facilities (E.R.P.).
Fixed Gas Detection: A Fire Safety and Industrial Monitoring System
Application: Industrial boiler rooms, process areas, parking garages, forklift charging areas
Gas detection is primarily used to detect gas leaks in burner fuel lines, to activate a gas shut-off valve and to trigger an alarm.
Gas detection is used to detect even the slightest leak that could jeopardize personal safety and the integrity of industrial facilities: food processing, petrochemicals, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, etc.
Parking garages: it is used to detect carbon monoxide pollution and, depending on the concentration, to activate powerful exhaust fans.
Fixed gas detection is an essential element of protection and safety.
The system consists of a single-channel control unit or multi-channel control unit, sensors or sampling systems.
Maintenance and Certification of Your Fire Safety Systems
Fire-Extinguishing Gases
Maintenance Preventive maintenance of your automatic gas fire suppression systems involves rigorous inspections of the tanks and checks on the charge levels of the extinguishing agents (inert gases or inhibitors). Our technicians inspect the entire system and verify that the protected area is completely airtight through airtightness testing. These periodic inspections ensure that your system is ready to release the extinguishing agent instantly upon detection, while preventing false alarms.
Certification and Regulations Our services strictly comply with the APSAD R13 standard for automatic gas fire suppression, as well as ISO 14520-1 and NF EN 15004 standards. We comply with the ten-year recertification requirements (DESP) in accordance with current regulations. As experts, Axima Sécurité Incendie issues you with N13 certificates of compliance, which are essential for your insurers and for compliance with the Labor Code.
Foams
Maintenance Maintenance of foam systems includes an annual analysis of the quality of the foam concentrate to verify its foaming properties and the correct foam concentrate concentration (low, medium, or high expansion). We inspect generators, nozzles, and discharge heads to prevent blockages and test the dosing systems to ensure an accurate water-to-additive mixture. We also support you in the transition to PFAS-free solutions and advise you on methods for decontaminating systems and replacing older fluorinated foam concentrates.
Certification and Regulations Foam protection systems are governed by the APSAD R12, NFPA 11, FM 8-21, and NF EN 13565-2 standards. Our experts ensure that your flammable liquid storage systems or logistics warehouses comply with the requirements of the ministerial decree of October 4, 2010, as well as the latest regulatory updates.
Water mist
Maintenance To ensure the effectiveness of low- or high-pressure water mist systems, we perform flow rate tests and check that the nozzles are clean. Maintenance includes checking the pump units and various activation stations, as well as inspecting the piping systems to prevent any risk of corrosion or limescale buildup.
Certification and Regulations Our water mist solutions are designed and maintained in accordance with APSAD R2 standards (October 2023 edition), NFPA 750, and the European standard EN 14972-1. Compliance of the completed installation is validated by reports in accordance with the DIOM (Maintenance Facility Identification File). This regulatory rigor is essential for the protection of your sites, whether they are data centers, hotels, or sensitive industrial facilities.
Fire Detection
Maintenance Maintenance of your Fire Detection System (FDS) includes individually testing each detector (smoke, heat, flame) and verifying communication with the addressable or conventional control panel. We clean the detector heads and perform preventive replacement of backup batteries. This constant monitoring eliminates blind spots and ensures early warning, which is essential for activating automatic fire suppression systems.
Certification and Regulations We operate strictly in accordance with the APSAD R7 certification, a leading standard for automatic fire detection. Our installations comply with the NF EN 54 series of standards, ensuring the interoperability of the equipment. Upon completion of our inspections, we issue you a Q7 certificate of compliance, attesting that your fire safety system (SSI) meets the safety requirements for people and property.
Alarm and Evacuation Systems
Maintenance Maintenance of alarm equipment involves testing the audibility of sirens at every point in the building and the visibility of light emitters. We verify that manual triggers are functioning properly and that Safety-Operated Devices (SODs), such as fire doors or smoke exhaust dampers, are operating correctly. These regular checks ensure that, as soon as an emergency is detected, the evacuation order is reliably transmitted to all occupants.
Certification and Regulations Alarm and evacuation systems must comply with APSAD installation rules and standards NF S 61-931 through NF S 61-933. Compliance with these standards is a legal requirement under the Labor Code and the regulations governing public access facilities (ERP). Our experts ensure that your equipment remains compliant and in good working order and provide advisory services to keep your system up to date.
Contact our experts for a personalized audit of your maintenance and compliance contracts.
Our Other Fire Safety Solutions
Frequently Asked Questions About Automatic Fire Suppression Systems
How does automatic fire suppression work?
Automatic fire suppression is triggered as soon as a detector identifies a rise in temperature or smoke. The extinguishing agent (water, gas, or foam) is automatically released onto the affected area without human intervention.
What are the four methods of fire suppression?
The four methods of fire suppression are cooling (lowering the temperature), smothering (depriving the fire of oxygen), inhibition (stopping the chemical reaction), and isolation (separating the fuel).
How much does an automatic fire suppression system cost?
The price varies depending on the type of system, the area to be protected, and the level of risk. Contact our experts for a personalized quote tailored to your environment.
What types of fire suppression systems are suitable for special hazards and data centers?
For sensitive environments such as data centers or complex industrial sites, we recommend automatic fire suppression systems using water sprinklers, gas (inert or CO2), or water mist. These technologies help contain or extinguish the fire while preserving the integrity of critical electronic equipment as much as possible. Our experts design custom systems that comply with current standards and regulations to ensure optimal business continuity.
What are the regulatory requirements for the maintenance of fire safety systems?
Regulations require rigorous periodic inspections to ensure the reliability of these systems. According to regulatory standards—EN 12 845 (sprinkler systems), EN 14 972-1 (water mist systems), and EN 15004-1 (gas systems)—preventive maintenance is mandatory, supplemented by more thorough inspections. Axima Fire Safety supports you with customized maintenance contracts.
How does the SprinkBox® optimize my fire safety management?
SprinkBox® is a connected monitoring solution that provides real-time monitoring of your safety systems. It digitizes your paper-based monitoring records and instantly alerts you via text message or email in the event of a malfunction or alarm activation. This innovation reduces your maintenance costs while providing complete traceability of your equipment, accessible 24/7 via a secure web interface.
Why is it urgent to switch to PFAS-free foam concentrates for my foam fire suppression systems?
Regulatory changes call for the phased-out ban on fluorinated (PFAS) foam concentrates by 2030 due to their environmental impact. Anticipating this transition is crucial to remaining compliant. We offer comprehensive support, including an engineering study and the necessary modifications to your system to ensure the transition from your current foaming agent to a high-performance non-fluorinated alternative, guaranteeing effective protection for your flammable liquid stocks.
What is the advantage of the SprinkEco solution for outdoor sprinkler systems?
The SprinkEco solution keeps your sprinkler systems frost-free without using polluting antifreeze. By circulating water heated to a low temperature (5°C) using a heat recovery system or a dedicated boiler room, you ensure your system remains operational even in extreme cold. It’s an eco-friendly and cost-effective alternative that extends the lifespan of your systems while meeting thermal performance requirements.
Do you have a need? Let's talk about it!
Do you have a need? Let's talk about it!
