Protex II Kitchen Suppression System Service

The Protex II (also marketed as the Pyro-Chem Protex II) is a wet chemical kitchen fire suppression system found in commercial kitchens across Texas. Stephens Advanced provides semi-annual inspection and service for Protex II systems throughout Dallas-Fort Worth.

How the Protex II Works

The Protex II operates similarly to the Pyro-Chem Kitchen Knight II. It uses a 16-gram CO2 cartridge to pressurize the wet chemical agent tank when activated. The system can be triggered by a fusible link melting over the cooking line or by pulling the manual pull station. Once activated, the agent discharges through nozzles positioned over each protected appliance, and the fuel shutoff closes to stop gas or electric supply.

The key distinction between the Protex II and the Kitchen Knight II is the tank configuration and mounting options. The Protex II uses PCL-series tanks (PCL-160, PCL-300, PCL-460, PCL-650) in various capacities from 3.5 gallons to 10 gallons.

What We Check

• 16g CO2 cartridge weight — must be weighed on a calibrated scale, not visually inspected
• Agent tank condition, mount, and pressure indicators
• Rubber blow-off nozzle caps — check for grease buildup and heat deterioration
• Fusible link condition — replaced at every semi-annual inspection
• Manual pull station accessibility and cable tension
• Fuel shutoff valve operation (gas and/or electric)
• Micro switch function
• Full system activation from terminal fusible link
• Nozzle positioning and appliance coverage verification

Common Issues

• CO2 cartridge weight loss — the small 16g cartridge can lose charge over time and must be verified by weight at every inspection
• Rubber nozzle caps degrading from constant grease and heat exposure in active kitchens
• Cable tension changes when hood cleaning crews disturb the pull cable routing
• Fusible links softening prematurely in high-heat frying environments

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