CO2 is a colorless, odorless and non-conductive gas. It extinguishes fires by reducing the oxygen concentration in the space and has a secondary effect of cooling. Inhaling this gas, even at low concentrations, can cause asphyxiation (insufficient oxygenation of the blood), a fact that must be taken into account.

The carbon dioxide total flooding extinguishing system is only used in closed enclosures where existing gaps (doors, windows, hatches, pipes, etc.) can be closed before or simultaneously with the start of the carbon dioxide discharge. Total flooding can extinguish surface fires, fires started in a mass of solid combustible material or fires produced in generators or electrical equipment.

For total flooding fire extinguishing, the entire space of the protected enclosure must be filled with carbon dioxide so that the oxygen concentration drops below the combustion maintenance value in the shortest possible time.

The automatic commissioning of fixed carbon dioxide fire extinguishing installations can be with pneumatic, mechanical, electrical, pneumo-mechanical, electrical combined with pneumatic (for low-pressure systems), electrical combined with pneumo-mechanical (for high-pressure systems) or other actuation systems.