Is Argon the Same as Argonite IG55?

As fire extinguishers have been so prevalent over the years, other forms of fire suppression are still relatively unknown to the wider public when protecting their property.

However, there is now a new form of fire suppression that will automatically detect the fire using smoke or heat detectors and then release a fire suppression fluid into the surrounding area.

Argon and Argonite are some of the suppression fluids that are commonly used in these fire suppression systems, but there are a lot of queries surrounding whether argon and Argonite IG55 are the same. Let’s uncover the answer to this question so you have a definitive answer and can make informed decisions.

What is Argonite?

Argonite is essentially a mixture of two naturally occurring gases, argon and nitrogen, which is often used in fire suppression systems to protect all of your valuable assets and people in various places of work.

Using this fire-suppressing method will be extremely effective due to its ability to extinguish fires without causing damage to you, your staff, sensitive equipment, or the environment.

In the event of a fire breaking out, Argonite is released into the protected area when triggered by smoke and heat detectors. This clean agent system of gases removes the oxygen that the fire needs to burn, effectively suffocating it. This immediate decrease in oxygen creates an environment where the fire cannot sustain itself, leading to a quick and efficient suppression.

If you’re considering investing in a fire protection system, Argonite is particularly popular in places where traditional water-based fire suppression systems would be impractical or harmful, such as data centres, museums, libraries, and electrical or telecom rooms.

Both gases have non-conductive properties, which also make them a perfect option for safeguarding any electrical equipment that you have in your workplace or home.

Overall, this adaptable and environmentally friendly fire suppression system is known for its speed, efficiency, and minimal cleanup after use, making it an ideal alternative for protecting all of your critical assets while prioritising the least environmental impact possible.

Argon and Argonite IG55: Are They the Same?

In short, Argon and Argonite IG55 are not the same because, although Argonite contains argon within its makeup, it also contains nitrogen to partner with argon gas. In fact, Argonite contains 50% argon and 50% nitrogen, meaning it uses another naturally occurring gas during fire suppression.

Argon is a noble gas that reduces the oxygen content of a space where a fire is present. It is a quick and easy way to put out a fire by removing the oxygen required for the fire to continue to spread.

Argon is an excellent choice for protecting hazards and priceless items because it is non-toxic and leaves no residue. However, because it is only using one naturally occurring gas, it might take a higher concentration to completely put out a fire in some scenarios.

Whereas, Argonite is a much more popular option within most environments because it offers certain advantages like quicker extinguishing and reduced risk to sensitive equipment due to the efforts of both argon and nitrogen.

Advantages of Argonite (IG55) Fire Suppression Fluid

When making the final decision about what fire suppression system and fire protection fluid you’re going to use, it can be a challenging time for those who haven’t had any experience with these systems before. Yet, here we’re going to run through the advantages of Argonite IG55 fire extinguishing, so you can gauge whether this can be a good decision for your property:

• Effective Fire Suppression: This fire-suppressant displaces oxygen with a concentration of around 40%, engineered for total flooding, putting out a fire within 60 seconds of being released into the protected area.
• Reduced Risk of Re-Ignition: The nitrogen within Argonite maintains a stable environment, reducing the possibility of fires re-igniting.
• Zero Cleanup: Argonite is non-destructive and secure for all of your sensitive equipment in your application since it leaves no residue behind.
• Environmentally Safe: Argonite has no negative effects on the environment, meaning it has no ozone depletion potential and no global warming potential.
• Versatile Application: Because of its efficiency and non-damaging traits both during and after the event of a fire, it is suitable for a variety of environments, with some of the popular ones being data centres, museums, and control rooms.

This list of Argonite’s core benefits, if suited to your application, will be sure to deal with a fire hazard better than any fire blanket or traditional fire extinguisher due to the fact that human intervention is not required.

Instead of worrying about how you’re going to deal with a fire outburst, you can gather your people and leave the building in quick succession, while the automatic fire extinguishing system does the rest for you.

How Many Inert Gas Fire Suppression Systems Are There?

In relation to how many inert fire suppression systems there are on the market, there are two common options used in the industry: Argonite IG55 fire suppression systems and Inergen 541 fire suppression systems. While IG55 systems use 50% argon and 50% nitrogen, IG541 systems use 52% argon, 40% nitrogen, and 8% carbon dioxide.

Both systems reduce the oxygen levels in a protected area, effectively extinguishing fires by depriving them of the oxygen they need to burn. However, the main difference between the two is the carbon dioxide element. 

With Inergen having CO2 in its triplet of gases, this can cause hyperventilation, meaning that it could potentially become riskier for a human compared to Argonite (which contains no carbon dioxide) when breathing it in during evacuation.

Understanding if an Argonite IG55 Suppression System is Suitable For Your Business

With so many different types of fire suppression systems to choose from nowadays, it can be challenging to make a final decision. Although Argonite IG55 systems may be suitable for your application, guessing that they are or aren’t will not be the correct choice.

In order to see if this inert gas fire suppression system is suitable for installation on your property, it is always necessary to speak to specialists. This means they can come out and assess important factors like the type of application, the amount of storage space you have, and many more.

With tons of positive feedback from our clients, this continues to help us move up and down the country, installing the correct fire suppression systems in each environment. If you want to find the right fire protection system for you, reach out to us today, and we’d love to help you out!