CO2 fire suppression monitoring apparatus and method

A monitor apparatus for monitoring, verifying, and prompting the performance of a suppressant gas type fire suppression system associated with a protected environment, the fire suppression system comprising a controller that delivers a discharge signal to discharge suppressant gas from a suppressant gas delivery system into a protected environment in response to a fire signal, the monitor apparatus comprising a stand-alone unit independent of the fire suppression system and located within the protected environment, the unit comprising its own gas concentration sensor, the unit comprising means for generating a log of the concentration sensor readings during a full-discharge test or actual fire, the unit comprising a signal connection to the fire suppression system for receiving a discharge signal from the fire suppression system during the full-discharge test or actual fire to enable the sensor to monitor concentration levels of suppressant gas discharged by the fire suppression system into the protected environment during the full-discharge test or actual fire, and the unit further comprising a signal connection to the fire suppression system for delivering a continue-discharge signal distinct from the discharge signal of the fire suppression system to the fire suppression system during the full-discharge test or actual fire when sensed levels of the suppressant gas are not reached or held per the fire suppression system's own requirements during the full-discharge test or actual fire.

A method for monitoring, verifying, and prompting the performance of a suppressant gas type fire suppression system associated with a protected environment, the fire suppression system delivering a discharge signal to discharge suppressant gas from a suppressant gas delivery system into a protected environment in response to a fire signal, comprising the steps of:

• placing a monitor unit in the protected environment, the monitor unit comprising its own gas concentration sensor and a signal connection to the fire suppression system;
• activating the monitor unit with a discharge signal from the fire suppression system during a full-discharge test or actual fire;
• recording suppressant gas concentration levels in the protected environment during the full-discharge test or actual fire using the gas concentration sensor in the monitor;
• delivering a continue-discharge signal distinct from the discharge signal of the fire suppression system from the monitor unit to the fire suppression system during the full-discharge test or actual fire when suppressant gas concentration levels fall below a desired level as measured by the monitor unit's gas concentration sensor during the full-discharge test or actual fire.

A method for monitoring, verifying, and prompting the performance of a suppressant gas type fire suppression system associated with a protected environment, the fire suppression system delivering a discharge signal to discharge suppressant gas from a suppressant gas delivery system into a protected environment in response to a fire signal, comprising the steps of:

• providing a monitor, the monitor comprising a gas concentration sensor in the protected environment and a signal connection to the fire suppression system;
• activating the monitor with a discharge signal from the fire suppression system during a full-discharge test or actual fire;
• recording suppressant gas concentration levels in the protected environment during the full-discharge test or actual fire using the gas concentration sensor;
• delivering a continue-discharge signal distinct from the discharge signal of the fire suppression system from the monitor to the fire suppression system during the full-discharge test or actual fire when suppressant gas concentration levels fall below a desired level as measured by the monitor's gas concentration sensor during the full-discharge test or actual fire.