OVERVIEW

Leakage from a cylinder agent can impair the functionality of a fire suppression system, potentially leading to an inadequate discharge that might not put out a fire if it goes unnoticed. A major leak that empties a cylinder’s contents is obvious right away, but gradual leakage over time is much trickier to spot. A slow leak causing a 10% reduction in CO2 agent mass necessitates a full system replacement, while a 5% loss in clean agents or inert gas systems also demands the same. For this reason, staying vigilant about slow leaks is crucial to ensure maintenance happens before the system fails.