Fire Suppression or Clean Agent fire suppression are terms used to describe gases used to extinguish fires. Typically, gaseous agents work in one of two ways, the first is to inert the atmosphere reducing oxygen levels to a level that will no longer sustain combustion, the second is to react chemically with the fire absorbing heat and causing the chain reaction of combustion to break down. Clean Agent fire extinguishing systems are typically used to protect three dimensional enclosures containing high value assets that are vital for business continuity, and assets that cannot be protected by traditional sprinkler systems due to the potential for water damage. Typical examples of system applications include telecommunication facilities, clean rooms, data processing centers and museums.

The system typically consists of the agent:

• O agent storage containers,
• O fire detection system (wiring control panel, actuation signaling),
• O agent release valves, agent delivery piping
• O fire detectors,
• O agent dispersion nozzles.

Less typically, the agent may be delivered by means of solid propellant gas generators that produce either inert or chemically active gas.