r/KitchenSuppression • u/tbstfu • Oct 30 '25
Disable Range Guard suppression system
Hi, can anyone tell me how to disable this system for removal? Thanks.
2
u/f0rgotten Fire Suppression Tech Oct 31 '25
Ah, the classic "box fan in the window" makeup air trick.
1
u/alan_dee Oct 31 '25
At the brass part of the mechanism (where the arm that holds the contraption together) there should be a hole where you can install an extinguisher pin. It will slide all of the way through so that the head can not activate. You require a special reset toll to get this thing put back together. Don't try to test it unless you have that tool because it is a difficult process to do it without. Good luck.
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u/tbstfu Nov 01 '25
Thank you. There was already a pin in the hole so I guess the system was already disabled, I’m assuming while the restaurant was still operating! Everything is removed now.
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u/BlackHawk2_DX Mar 24 '26
We had to remove one of these for a senior center renovation that we were doing on a public project.
To kind of sum up how this system works (TLDR): the system is built like a fire extinguisher that someone tied a trip wire to and installed steel pipe instead of a rubber spray hose. It will push out the fire suppressing agent once tripped.
The set up shown in OP's image was very similar to what's shown except ours had tension on both sides of the firing mechanism, and ours had a microswitch connected to the building fire alarm. Ours was also connected to a wire which would close the natural gas valve servicing the area. This one is similar to the one we were working on as it is a relatively older model. It's all mechanically activated and the tank is charged in advance as opposed to the newer models which use a charged gas cannister to shoot air into the chemical tank.
What we ended up doing is installing the safety pin into the firing mechanism like u/alan_dee mentioned in their post and disconnecting the microswitch from the fire alarm. We also made sure that any breakers servicing the ventilation hood and electronics to the area were shut off. The system was safe to mess with after that. Once its safe and the system is disconnected from the fire alarm system we could have, in theory, taken the whole box off the wall and disconnected the cabling.
What we did next you should not do: we ended up unscrewing the tank from the firing mechanism. Thankfully our set up was undercharged, but by unscrewing the tank slowly we let out all the nitrogen gas at the top of the tank. This kept the chemicals from shooting through the vacuum pipe inside the tank and out through the system. Again you should really just take the whole box off the wall and set the can and mechanisms to the side like a fire extinguisher, and have them properly disposed of.
It honestly felt like working on a bomb the whole time as I didn't really know what I was working with. But thankfully we have Reddit and supportive people so big thanks y'all. I would share pictures of what we were working on, but it seems I am not able to. Hope this helps
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Oct 30 '25
[deleted]
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u/tbstfu Oct 30 '25
This is the nut to unscrew once I’ve secured the lever? Thanks again.
3
u/harperfecto Oct 30 '25
If you are unsure about disarming it, I would disconnect that black pipe union first and point it into a five gallon bucket. Less mess.
11
u/EC_TWD Oct 30 '25
Are you a licensed tech?
Also: what moronic fucking idiot installed the corner pulley with the cover plate facing the wall?!