What is the difference between Clean Agent and CO2 systems?
Choosing an extinguisher to protect electrical equipment, whether that is a server room, a data center, an electrical room, an MDB cabinet or a control panel, usually comes down to a comparison between a clean agent fire extinguisher and a carbon dioxide (CO2) fire extinguisher. Both share the same headline feature: they leave no residue after a discharge.
Leaving no residue does not make them the same, though. Clean agents and CO2 differ in how they put a fire out, in the precautions they need, in how well they suit enclosed spaces, and in how safe they are for the people working nearby.
What is a clean agent?
A clean agent is a non-conductive, highly volatile fire extinguishing agent that leaves no mess or residue behind. It is commonly used in enclosed spaces to protect electronic equipment or critical documents, without harming the environment and while remaining safe for people.
PAF GLOBAL supplies solutions such as PAF-222 Clean Agent FK-5-1-12, a clean agent product for critical areas. For the detail, read What is PAF-222, What is FK5112 / What is FK-5-1-12, and What is Perfluorohexanone.
What is a CO2 fire extinguisher?
A CO2 extinguisher uses carbon dioxide gas to put fires out. Its main advantage is that it leaves no residue, which is why it is popular around electrical equipment hazards, and in areas that have to stay very clean.
CO2 is a common choice in industrial plants, commercial buildings and laboratories. There are serious precautions on its use in enclosed spaces, confined spaces, or anywhere people are working, though, because CO2 displaces the oxygen in the air, which can be life-threatening.
What is the difference between clean agent and CO2?
Clean agents are safe for people and can be discharged in areas where operators are present, without dropping the oxygen level to a dangerous point. CO2 is different: it is life-threatening, and must never be discharged while people are present, because it puts fires out by diluting and displacing the oxygen in the room, which suffocates anyone in the area rapidly. Clean agents work instead by absorbing heat and interrupting the chemical reaction, which is why they need a lower discharge concentration.
Comparison table: clean agent vs CO2
Comparison Criteria | Clean Agent | CO2 |
|---|---|---|
Post-discharge residue | Leaves no residue | Leaves no residue |
Use on electrical equipment | Suitable for electrical and electronic equipment | Can be used on electrical and electronic equipment |
User safety | Safe for users, as it does not displace oxygen | Take care during operation, because it displaces oxygen, especially in enclosed spaces |
Data Center / Server Room | The primary choice, because it leaves no residue and does not damage equipment | Can be used in some cases, but the risks to operators and in enclosed spaces have to be assessed |
What areas does CO2 suit?
CO2 is still a suitable option in plenty of cases, and should not be treated as a bad or unusable choice. You simply have to understand its limitations and the safety measures that go with using it properly.
CO2 suits:
Electrical hazard points of various kinds, where a residue-free extinguisher is needed.
Areas with good ventilation and easy airflow.
Areas where operators have been properly and safely trained in using CO2 extinguishers.
General risk points in industrial plants or commercial buildings that have been through a risk assessment.
Areas where chemical powder residue has to be avoided, but which are not enclosed rooms where people work continuously.
Important: do not choose a CO2 extinguisher simply because it leaves no residue. Always weigh whether the area is an enclosed room, whether operators are permanently stationed there, and what the ventilation measures or plans are after a discharge.
What areas does a clean agent suit?
Clean agents suit areas holding critical, high value equipment, or where residue after a discharge would damage the equipment, and where the agent has to be harmless to the people using it:
Data centers, server rooms, UPS rooms, network rooms
Electrical rooms, MDB cabinets, control rooms, control panels
Telecommunication equipment rooms
Document storage and high value asset rooms
Offices holding critical IT or electronic equipment
In these areas, using dry chemical powder or foam can damage electronic systems, forcing a shutdown for cleaning, or the replacement of the equipment entirely. Read more at Residue-Free Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers and Fire Extinguishers for Data Centers / Server Rooms / Electrical Rooms
Why do areas with people or critical equipment need a detailed safety assessment?
An area holding both operators and critical equipment carries two risks that have to be weighed together: the safety of the people, and the continuity of the system.
Choosing an extinguisher or a system on whether it puts fires out or leaves no residue alone means overlooking other critical factors: the ventilation, how the incident location is reached, the value of the equipment, and what the damage costs while the system is down.
For CO2: assess strictly whether operators are present in the area, the volume of gas in an enclosed space, and how well the ventilation system works, because of the suffocation risk.
What to know before choosing between clean agent and CO2
Before choosing either, check these:
SDS (safety data sheet), to check chemical data, precautions and correct storage.
Datasheet, to check the product model, key specifications and instructions for use.
Certificate, to verify the standard certifications relating to the actual product.
Test report from laboratory testing.
Product specifications, covering cylinder size, agent capacity and gross weight.
What to read next
Now that you know how clean agent and CO2 extinguishers differ, these topics on choosing agents for electrical equipment and critical areas follow on:
Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
PAF GLOBAL's clean agent products, PAF-222 Clean Agent FK-5-1-12 included.What is PAF-222
PAF GLOBAL's clean agent extinguisher products, and where they are used when residue is unacceptable.What is FK5112 / What is FK-5-1-12
The agent names and technical terms used for clean agents.What is Perfluorohexanone
The chemical name you may meet on an SDS, a datasheet or a certificate.What is Non-Conductive (Dielectric)
Non-conductive properties, and how they bear on choosing extinguishers for electrical cabinets, server rooms and electronic equipment.Residue-Free Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
How residue after a discharge affects electrical equipment and downtime.Fire Extinguishers for Data Centers / Server Rooms / Electrical Rooms
For teams planning protection where the equipment is critical and downtime has to be kept short.Clean Agent Fire Suppression Systems
For anyone looking at fixed installations rather than portable extinguishers alone.Cabinet-Type Fire Suppression Systems
For areas needing a fixed cabinet system where running full pipework is impractical.Contact for Consultation
To ask PAF GLOBAL for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What is the difference between clean agent and CO2?
Both leave no residue, but they differ in chemical type, how they put a fire out, user safety, and their limitations in enclosed spaces. Clean agents suit areas holding critical equipment with people present. CO2 suits localized electrical hazards, but needs extreme care in enclosed spaces because of the suffocation risk.
2. Can CO2 be used on electrical equipment?
Yes, in some cases, particularly electrical work where residue has to be avoided. It should not be assumed to suit every kind of electrical area, though. You have to assess whether the space is enclosed, whether operators are present, and whether users have been trained to operate it safely.
3. Why is CO2 not suitable where people are present?
CO2 does not just make breathing difficult. On discharge it can cause immediate oxygen deprivation, unconsciousness and death.