Stat-X Aerosol Suppression
Total Group provides Stat-X aerosol suppression supply, design, installation, commissioning, inspection and servicing. We support new-system requirements and existing-system work for enclosed special hazards. Start with the equipment, enclosure and fire risk so the requested work can be defined around the actual application.
How condensed aerosol suppression works
Stat-X, manufactured by Fireaway, uses self-contained generators containing a solid aerosol-forming compound. When activated, the compound produces fine potassium-based particles suspended in carrier gases. The aerosol interrupts the chemical chain reaction of combustion and distributes through the protected enclosure.
Condensed aerosol contains suspended solid particles; a gaseous extinguishing agent does not. Although aerosol spreads through a space in a gas-like manner, its design and post-discharge considerations differ from those of a gaseous-agent system. Fireaway explains the technology in How Stat-X works. Equipment compatibility, residue and cleanup requirements need to be considered for the protected assets.
Assess the enclosure and the hazard
Manufacturer application examples include control cabinets, machinery enclosures and generator enclosures. These examples identify possible uses, not automatic suitability for every cabinet, machine or room. The selected model, fire hazard, system arrangement and applicable listing must match the proposed use.
Enclosure volume, openings, leakage and ventilation affect the design. Equipment obstructions, operating temperatures, fuel types and continuing ignition sources also need attention. A cabinet with changed ventilation or an enclosure with new equipment may no longer match the original design assumptions. Generator quantity alone does not establish adequate protection.
Confirm model-specific mounting and discharge clearances, environmental limits, detection and releasing equipment, and any required shutdown interfaces in the applicable manufacturer documents. Fireaway's electrical-unit information describes these units and their applications. Its listing and approval register is a starting point for checking the relevant product record, not blanket approval for a site.
Occupancy, discharge and clearance planning
Whether people normally occupy or occasionally enter the protected space changes the planning requirements. Aerosol can obscure visibility, and unnecessary exposure should be avoided. Egress routes, warning arrangements, pre-discharge delays and safeguards against unintended release need to be addressed through the system design and site procedures. Fireaway discusses these concerns in its Stat-X FAQ.
Plan post-discharge ventilation, access control, clearance for re-entry and equipment cleanup before an incident. Conditions may include aerosol particulate, heat and hazardous products from the fire itself. An extinguished flame does not establish that the space is safe to enter or that equipment is ready to operate. The site's response and recovery arrangements should identify who assesses those conditions and authorizes re-entry and return to service.
Design, installation and commissioning have different purposes
Design establishes the protection basis, generator selection and arrangement, enclosure assumptions, detection and release sequence, and connected functions. Installation puts the specified equipment in place and connects it to the relevant controls and interfaces.
Commissioning checks the installed arrangement and intended functions against the design and project requirements, with records of results and outstanding issues. The commissioning plan should identify the checks, witnesses and acceptance responsibilities. It does not automatically mean a live aerosol discharge or replace authority acceptance. Testing methods must follow the applicable product instructions and project requirements.
Ongoing inspection and servicing address equipment condition, changes to the protected space and work needed to keep the system aligned with its protection basis. Detection, releasing controls and ancillary devices need attention as well as the generators. Fireaway identifies generators as single-use units that require replacement after discharge.
Standards, maintenance schedules and records
NFPA 2010, Standard for Fixed Aerosol Fire-Extinguishing Systems, provides minimum requirements across the system lifecycle. It is a consensus standard, not automatically law at every Canadian site. Confirm whether and which edition is incorporated into applicable legislation or adopted codes, or required by the project. Local authority having jurisdiction requirements, manufacturer instructions and the system's listing also need to be established.
Inspection, testing, servicing and replacement schedules are product-, instruction- and adoption-specific. Keep the design report, drawings, model identification, commissioning results, inspection history and open deficiencies together. Record enclosure or equipment changes and previous discharges. Agree on who tracks due work, coordinates any impairment and records corrective work and return to service.
Discuss your Stat-X system requirements
Send your site location, requested services, enclosure dimensions, photographs and available drawings. Include hazard materials, ventilation, occupancy, equipment models, detection and control details, previous service records and known changes or deficiencies. Identify access restrictions, preferred project timing and any authority, insurer or documentation requirements already provided.
Contact Total Group to discuss your Stat-X system requirements. For other fire-protection work, visit Total Group Fire Services.
