Finding the Right Carbon Dioxide

(CO2) Fire Suppression System

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is a colorless, odorless, electronically nonconductive gas that is 50% greater in density than air making it an ideal fire suppression gas. CO2 fire suppression systems store this gas in steel cylinders as a liquid under pressure. When applied to a fire, it provides a blanket of heavy gas that reduces the oxygen content of the atmosphere to a point where combustion becomes impossible. It leaves no residue and it dissipates into the atmosphere making recovery time extremely rapid.

There are generally three types of systems:

1. Total flooding
2. Local application
3. Hand Hose Line Systems

Total Flooding. A total flooding system consists of a fixed supply of carbon dioxide normally connected to fixed piping with nozzles arranged to discharge carbon dioxide into an enclosed space or enclosure around a hazard.

Local Application. A local application system consists of a fixed supply of carbon dioxide normally connected to fixed piping with nozzles arranged to discharge carbon dioxide directly on the burning material.

Local Hose Line. A hand hose line consists of a fixed supply of carbon dioxide supplying hoses which dispense the carbon dioxide.

How Illinois Fire & Safety Can Help Protect Your Business

Automatic fire suppression systems help fight the most common sources of fires, knocking them out fast and with minimum disruption to your business. So the real decision is in whom do you trust to provide fire equipment and to service and to maintain these important pieces of equipment? How do you choose?

We believe that there are four major factors that differentiate a good service provider and a, well, not so good service provider:

1. Experience
2. Expertise
3. Customer Service
4. Responsiveness

You may be surprised that we did not include Price in our list. Very simply, over the life of the systems the general maintenance cost pennies per day for most providers.  The cost factor is insignificant relative to the cost of poor service resulting in poor fire protection --property damage and lost revenue associated with larger fires not controlled by nonnexistent or poorly automatic fire suppression systems.

Experience. Illinois Fire & Safety Company is a family-owned company with more than 50 years of direct experience. We have helped protect thousands and thousands of companies in northern Illinois.

Expertise. We train the City Fire inspectors. Many cities have chosen Illinois Fire & Safety to train their Fire Inspectors on how to inspect fire equipment. Our President was appointed by the Illinois State Fire Marshal to serve on his fire equipment advisory board. We are state licensed, bonded and insured.

We are also the choice for some of the largest companies in the world. Catepillar, the world’s largest heavy equipment company, chose us to supply and install fire suppression systems - on some of their off-road equipment. We know what we are doing and have served thousands of restaurants.

Customer Service. We understand that we have an obligation to provide quality service at a fair price, while minimizing the disruption to your business and its people. We keep our promises and our appointments. We also understand the need to work around your restaurant's schedule and not ours.

Responsiveness. In case of a fire or other discharge of your fire equipment, the risks of fire are higher in restaurants, so you need a company that will get right out to you. Illinois Fire & Safety offers a 2-hour response time guarantee and 24-hour emergency response.  We’ll be there when you need us.