What is the major purpose of a carbon dioxide fire suppression system?

The major purpose of a carbon dioxide fire suppression system is to expel oxygen and smother the fire. Carbon dioxide (CO2) is an effective fire-fighting agent because it displaces oxygen in the area where the fire is burning. The removal of oxygen, which is one of the essential elements of the fire triangle (heat, fuel, and oxygen), effectively suffocates the fire, preventing it from continuing to burn. This mechanism is crucial in environments where water damage from traditional suppression methods would be detrimental, such as in electrical fires or in areas housing sensitive equipment.

While options that discuss reducing smoke production, cooling materials, or absorbing heat may relate to fire suppression in some context, they do not accurately describe the primary operational mechanism of a carbon dioxide system. The system is designed specifically to lower the available oxygen concentration around the fire, making it the most direct and effective method for extinguishing flames in certain scenarios.