--- title: Automatic Fire Sprinklers Vs Clean Agent Fire Suppression description: Preaction Automatic Sprinkler versus Clean Agent Fire Suppression for High Value and Mission Critical Assets. image: https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/file-4016458217-jpg/blog-files/preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg --- - [SHOP OUR PARTS STORE](https://www.store.centuryfp.com/?utm_source=cfp_corp&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=corp) - [EMERGENCY SERVICE: 866 530 3473](https://www.centuryfp.com/tel:8665303473) - [REQUEST SERVICE](https://info.centuryfp.com/request-for-service) - [EMPLOYEE LOGIN](https://www.centuryfp.com/employee-login/) - [CLIENT LOGIN](https://www.centuryfp.com/client-login/) - [PAY INVOICE](https://pay.supplierpayments.com/payment/e8f8cad4-4f64-448b-8fa1-73ad4b080e77) [![Century_Logo](https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported%20images/logo.png?width=231&height=137&name=logo.png "Century_Logo")](https://www.centuryfp.com) - [ABOUT](https://www.centuryfp.com/about/) - [ABOUT](https://www.centuryfp.com/about/) - [LEADERSHIP](https://www.centuryfp.com/leadership/) - [SOCIAL PURPOSE](https://www.centuryfp.com/social-purpose/) - [PARTNERING & ACQUISITIONS](https://www.centuryfp.com/partner-with-us/) - [SYSTEMS](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/) - [SYSTEMS](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/) - [SPRINKLER](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/#sprinklers) - [ALARM](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/#alarm) - [SPECIAL HAZARDS](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/#hazards) - [EXTINGUISHERS](https://www.centuryfp.com/systems/#extinguishers) - [SERVICES](https://www.centuryfp.com/services/) - [SERVICES](https://www.centuryfp.com/services/) - [NATIONAL ACCOUNTS](https://www.centuryfp.com/services/#national-accounts) - [VERTICAL MARKETS](https://www.centuryfp.com/vertical-markets/) - [PARTS STORE](https://www.store.centuryfp.com/) - [PARTS STORE](https://www.store.centuryfp.com/) - [CAREERS](https://www.centuryfp.com/careers/) - [CAREERS](https://www.centuryfp.com/careers/) - [CULTURE](https://www.centuryfp.com/culture/) - [EDUCATION & TRAINING](https://www.centuryfp.com/education-training/) - [EDUCATION & TRAINING](https://www.centuryfp.com/education-training/) - [RESOURCE LIBRARY](https://info.centuryfp.com/resources) - [BLOG](https://blog.centuryfp.com) - [CONTACT](https://www.centuryfp.com/contact/) - [CONTACT](https://www.centuryfp.com/contact/) - [LOCATIONS](https://www.centuryfp.com/contact/#Locations) - [SUBMIT A REQUEST](https://info.centuryfp.com/request-for-service) ![Automatic Fire Sprinklers Vs Clean Agent Fire Suppression](https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/file-4016458217-jpg/blog-files/preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg) # Automatic Fire Sprinklers Vs Clean Agent Fire Suppression - [Home](https://www.centuryfp.com/) - [Century Fire Protection Blog](https://blog.centuryfp.com) - Automatic Fire Sprinklers Vs Clean Agent Fire Suppression Posted June 23, 2015 [Rachel](https://blog.centuryfp.com/author/rachel) [Fire Sprinkler](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-sprinkler), [Fire Alarm](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-alarm) [2 Comments](https://blog.centuryfp.com/2015/06/which-is-better-automatic-fire-sprinklers-or-clean-agent-fire-suppression/#postComment) 1 Minutes Preaction Automatic Sprinkler versus Clean Agent Fire Suppression for High Value and Mission Critical Assets Well as the old saying goes, you can’t compare apples to oranges. Oh and by the way, we need both! In most cases, automatic sprinklers and clean agent fire suppression systems are used for completely different purposes. - To control the fire in order to save lives and the building structure - To extinguish the fire completely in order to save critical equipment or assets Most of our customers in mission critical facilities have a number of systems integrated together working to accomplish both. The question we often hear from those that are not familiar with clean agent suppression is “why would I hassle with a clean agent system and why would I want to pay more money for it?” Response time and down time, that’s the answer. In the time that it takes an automatic sprinkler system to activate, critical equipment and expensive assets are lost. See figure below. [![Preaction vs. Clean Agent Suppression](https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/file-4016458217-jpg/blog-files/preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg?width=625&height=531&name=preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg)](https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/file-4016458217-jpg/blog-files/preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg) Now, don’t get me wrong … Century Fire Protection believes in sprinkler systems. They are a very large part of what we do here. Sprinkler systems save lives and building structures. Furthermore, they are *highly* reliable. We are just suggesting that when you have high-value assets, mission critical operations, irreplaceable art, rare books, expensive manufacturing/process equipment and/or downtime isn’t in your vocabulary, you might try clean agent fire suppression. For more info about clean agent or other special hazards fire protection systems contact our [Special Hazards Division](https://www.centuryfp.com/contact-us/). [The information provided is for general informational purposes only. Every fire protection system is unique, with specific inspection, testing, and maintenance requirements determined by system type, manufacturer specifications, building use, and local regulations. Consult a qualified fire protection professional or your local Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ) to ensure compliance with applicable standards. Century Fire Protection assumes no liability for actions taken based on this content.](https://info.centuryfp.com/download-combustible-dust-explosion-protection) --- #### Tag: [Fire Sprinkler](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-sprinkler) [Fire Alarm](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-alarm) --- #### [The Water Must Flow! - MIC and Your Fire Sprinkler System Previous Post](https://blog.centuryfp.com/the-water-must-flow/) #### [Don't Play to the Beat of Your Own Drum Drip- Freeze Protection Tips Next Post](https://blog.centuryfp.com/2016/01/dont-play-to-the-beat-of-your-own-drum-drip-freeze-protection-tips/) --- ## Related Posts [Fire Alarm](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-alarm) [Kati Bucciero](https://blog.centuryfp.com/author/kati-bucciero) 01 September, 2026 #### [Elevator Hoistway Smoke Detection: A Code Change Affecting Budgets](https://blog.centuryfp.com/elevator-hoistway-smoke-detection-code-change) Elevator Hoistway Smoke Detection: A Code Change That Could Impact Your Modernization Budget If… [Read More](https://blog.centuryfp.com/elevator-hoistway-smoke-detection-code-change) [Fire Sprinkler](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-sprinkler), [Fire Suppression](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-suppression), [Fire Alarm](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-alarm), [Extinguishers](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/extinguishers) [Kati Bucciero](https://blog.centuryfp.com/author/kati-bucciero) 27 February, 2026 #### [Why Fire Protection Inspection Requirements Are Not One-Size-Fits-All](https://blog.centuryfp.com/fire-protection-inspection-requirements) Did You Know? Fire Protection Systems Don’t All Follow the Same Rules Most people think of fire… [Read More](https://blog.centuryfp.com/fire-protection-inspection-requirements) [Fire Suppression](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-suppression), [Fire Alarm](https://blog.centuryfp.com/topic/fire-alarm) [Kati Bucciero](https://blog.centuryfp.com/author/kati-bucciero) 21 October, 2025 #### [5 Things Every Data Center Should Know About Air Sampling Detection](https://blog.centuryfp.com/data-center-air-sampling-detection-top-5) Why Early Smoke Detection Is Becoming Essential for Modern Data Centers Data centers are the… [Read More](https://blog.centuryfp.com/data-center-air-sampling-detection-top-5) ### CONTACT 2450 Satellite Boulevard Duluth, GA 30096 p:[770 945 2330](tel:+17709452330) f:[770 945 2651](tel:+17709452651) - [US Privacy Policy](https://info.centuryfp.com/general_privacy_policy) - [California Privacy Policy](https://info.centuryfp.com/ca_privacy_policy) - [Terms of Use](https://info.centuryfp.com/terms_of_use) - Your Privacy Choices ![Great Place to Work GPTW Badge 25-26 Footer (1)](https://blog.centuryfp.com/hubfs/Great%20Place%20to%20Work%20GPTW%20Badge%2025-26%20Footer%20(1).png) - - - Copyright 2026 Century Fire Protection | All Rights Reserved ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Rachel", "url" : "https://blog.centuryfp.com/author/rachel" }, "dateModified" : "2025-08-20T18:21:01.734Z", "datePublished" : "2015-06-23T16:32:48.000Z", "headline" : "Automatic Fire Sprinklers Vs Clean Agent Fire Suppression", "image" : [ "https://blog.centuryfp.com/hs-fs/file-4016458217-jpg/blog-files/preaction-vs.-clean-agent-suppression-1024x870.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.centuryfp.com/2015/06/which-is-better-automatic-fire-sprinklers-or-clean-agent-fire-suppression/", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.centuryfp.com/hubfs/Imported%20images/logo.png" }, "name" : "Century Fire Protection, LLC" } } ```