When protecting critical equipment and sensitive environments, water can cause more damage than the fire itself. Clean agent fire suppression systems solve this problem by extinguishing flames without harming electronics or leaving any residue behind.
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety designs and services clean agent systems for spaces where downtime, contamination, or data loss simply can’t happen.
UNDERSTANDING CLEAN AGENTS
A clean agent is a fire suppression substance that conducts no electricity, evaporates completely, and remains safe for people when properly applied. These agents are stored as liquids but discharge as gases to stop fires quickly and completely—with no water, foam, or powder involved.
NFPA 2001: Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems requires clean agents to:
- Be gaseous at room temperature
- Leave zero residue
- Remain safe for occupied spaces (when correctly designed)
- Effectively suppress Class A, B, and C fires
CLEAN AGENT OPTIONS
Pye-Barker installs and maintains leading clean agent systems:
FM-200® (HFC-227ea) Works by absorbing heat energy to stop fires quickly. Perfect for IT environments, telecom rooms, and control centers.
Novec™ 1230 A sustainable option with minimal environmental impact—zero ozone depletion and very low global warming potential. Great for environmentally conscious organizations.
CO₂ Systems Though not classified as a clean agent under NFPA 2001, CO₂ works well in unoccupied industrial spaces. However, it requires special safety measures due to suffocation risks.
APPLICATIONS FOR CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS
These systems protect areas where traditional suppression methods would cause unacceptable damage:
- Server and network rooms
- Data centers and telecom facilities
- Medical imaging equipment (MRI, CT)
- Museums and archives
- Military installations
- Control and dispatch centers
Clean agents suppress fires within seconds—minimizing damage and getting operations back to normal quickly.
SYSTEM COMPENENTS & OPERATION
Clean agent systems include several key parts:
- Detection equipment: Heat or smoke sensors trigger the suppression sequence
- Control panel: Manages detection, alarms, and agent release
- Storage cylinders: Hold the pressurized suppression agent
- Discharge nozzles: Distribute agent evenly throughout the protected space
- Warning systems: Visual and audible alerts notify occupants before discharge
Many systems include pre-discharge delays that give people time to exit safely before agent release.
MAINTENANCE & CODE COMPLIANCE
NFPA 2001 compliance requires regular system maintenance including:
- Semiannual or annual inspections
- Room integrity testing to verify proper enclosure
- Agent level checks and recharging when needed
- Complete testing of detection and alarm functions
Our certified technicians handle inspection, testing, and recharging for all major clean agent system manufacturers.
FAST, SAFE, EFFECTIVE PROTECTION
Clean agent systems provide some of the fastest and least disruptive fire protection available today. They stop fires before they spread while protecting your people, equipment, and operations.
PROTECTING YOUR CRITICAL ASSETS
If your business relies on mission-critical equipment, clean agent fire suppression offers superior protection. Pye-Barker will evaluate your facility, recommend the appropriate system, and keep it inspection-ready throughout its service life.
Ready to protect your high-value assets? Contact your local Pye-Barker team for a consultation or check out our Fire Suppression FAQs for more information.