What Ansul does

Ansul is a premium fire suppression product brand operating as a division of Johnson Controls (NYSE: JCI), headquartered in Marinette, Wisconsin, with a documented history dating to the early 1900s and approximately 501-1000 dedicated employees. The brand designs, manufactures, and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of fire detection and suppression systems organized into six product categories: foam concentrates and equipment, industrial systems, gaseous suppression systems, portable fire extinguishers and spill control products, restaurant suppression systems, and vehicle fire protection systems. Its technical portfolio includes proprietary suppression agents such as ANSULEX Low pH Liquid Agent, INERGEN Clean Agent, and LVS NF-40 Non-Fluorinated Agent, alongside detection platforms including the CHECKFIRE 210 (quad-infrared), CHECKFIRE 110, and CHECKFIRE MP-N (MSHA-rated) systems, with products engineered and certified through the Johnson Controls Fire Technology Center of Excellence.

The company serves a diversified customer base across at least 17 verticals including mining, aviation, oil/gas/chemical/petrochemical, commercial kitchens, marine and offshore, data centers, healthcare, military, cultural properties, waste and recycling, metal processing, forestry, power generation, clean manufacturing, telecommunications, education, and hospitality. Sales flow exclusively through a global network of authorized distributors who are factory-trained in design, installation, and service, complemented by direct technical support from product specialists. Revenue is generated through hardware sales (the dominant stream), supplemented by training services (ANSUL Fire School via the TechXchange platform) and ongoing technical support. Products carry an extensive certification stack including UL, ULC, CE, FM, Lloyd's Register, ABS, MSHA, BSI Kitemark, NFPA, and EN 17446, which together form the regulatory backbone of the brand's market access across more than 150 countries.

The brand was acquired by Johnson Controls in 2016 as part of the Tyco International acquisition. Operational evidence of continued investment is reflected in the September 2024 launch of the CHECKFIRE 210 QIR Detector and the April 2024 EN 17446 certification of the R-102 restaurant system. Ansul's business model is fundamentally a channel-driven industrial hardware franchise, with pricing not publicly disclosed and revenue reported only at the Johnson Controls consolidated level.

Name

Ansul

Legal name

Johnson Controls

Website

https://ansul.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1914

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Ansul is a premium fire suppression brand under Johnson Controls that designs, manufactures, and distributes certified detection and suppression systems, chemical agents, and portable extinguishers through a global authorized distributor network serving mining, aviation, commercial kitchens, oil and gas, marine, and industrial customers across more than 150 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Fire Protection Equipment

NAICS

Automatic Environmental Control Manufacturing for Residential, Commercial, and Appliance Use (334512)

SIC

Chemicals & Allied Products (2800)

akta.pro primary industry

Special Hazard Fire Suppression Systems (Clean Agent/Foam/CO₂/Kitchen Hood) (BPABAHAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Fire Protection & Life Safety Systems (Firewater, Suppression, Detection, Alarm) (EUAEAFAG), Fire Protection Systems Contracting (Sprinklers, Alarms, Suppression) (IMAFALAD)

Keywords

• Fire suppression systems
• Restaurant fire protection
• Vehicle fire suppression
• Industrial fire safety
• Clean agent suppression

Headquarters

HQ city

Marinette

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Fire Suppression Equipment Sales: Sale of fire suppression products including portable extinguishers, pre-engineered restaurant systems, vehicle systems, industrial systems, foam concentrates, and detection/control equipment. Products are sold through authorized distributors globally.
2. Training Services: ANSUL Fire School provides live, hands-on fire training and classroom instruction for fire safety professionals, first responders, and individuals. Training is offered through the TechXchange platform.
3. Technical Support Services: Technical and product specialists provide personalized support including design consultation, installation guidance, and post-sale service. Authorized distributors provide installation and service.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Ansul designs, manufactures, and distributes a comprehensive portfolio of fire suppression products including portable fire extinguishers, pre-engineered restaurant fire suppression systems (R-102, PIRANHA), vehicle fire detection and suppression systems (CHECKFIRE detection, LVS, A-101, N-101), industrial foam concentrates, and gaseous suppression systems (INERGEN, CO2, Halocarbon). The portfolio serves commercial kitchens, mobile/industrial equipment, data centers, marine/offshore platforms, cultural properties, and high-hazard industrial facilities worldwide.

Product overview

ANSUL is a premium fire suppression product brand and global leader in fire protection technology, offering a comprehensive portfolio of products and services for commercial, industrial, and specialty applications. The product portfolio is organized into six main categories: Foam Concentrates & Equipment (for flammable liquid hazards in refineries and warehouses), Industrial Systems (including Large Dry Chemical systems), Gaseous Suppression Systems (Carbon Dioxide, Halocarbon, Inert Gas including INERGEN, Acoustic Nozzles, and Detection & Control), Portable Fire Extinguishers and Spill Control Products (including RED LINE, SENTRY, and K-Guard lines), Restaurant Systems (PIRANHA Dual Agent and R-102 systems), and Vehicle Systems (Detection & Actuation and Fire Suppression Systems). The vehicle fire protection portfolio includes specialized detection systems (CHECKFIRE 210 with quad infrared technology, CHECKFIRE 110, and CHECKFIRE MP-N for mining) and suppression systems (LVS liquid agent, A-101 dry chemical, and N-101 nitrogen-based systems). Restaurant protection centers on the R-102 system using ANSULEX Low pH liquid agent and the PIRANHA dual agent system. The portfolio serves industries including aviation, clean manufacturing, forestry, marine, metal processing, military, mining, oil & gas, power generation, restaurants, healthcare, education, data centers, telecommunications, waste & recycling, cultural properties, and hospitality. ANSUL is backed by the Johnson Controls Fire Technology Center of Excellence for research and testing.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• R-102 Restaurant Fire Suppression System Pre-engineered kitchen fire suppression system incorporating ANSULEX Low pH Liquid Agent for rapid flame knockdown and cooling. Protects hoods, ducts, plenums, filters, and cooking equipment including fryers, griddles, range tops, broilers, char-broilers and woks. Available in Appliance-Specific and Overlapping designs and is UL 300, ULC, NFPA 96, NFPA 17A, CE, ABS, Lloyd's Register, and NYC-approved.
• PIRANHA Dual Agent Restaurant Fire Suppression System Dual agent restaurant fire suppression system engineered for rapid flame knockdown and comprehensive kitchen fire protection while minimizing disruption to kitchen operations.
• CHECKFIRE 210 Quad Infrared (QIR) Detector Optical, quad-infrared flame detector for vehicle fire protection, designed for the mining vehicle market. Integrates with CHECKFIRE 210-D fire detection control systems and provides faster flame detection with reduced false discharges versus competing detectors.
• CHECKFIRE 210 Detection System Multi-zone fire detection and actuation system for large industrial mobile equipment operating in rugged environments. Provides 4,000+ downloadable history events with battery backup, FM 5970 approval (2022 Edition) and CE mark. Features IP67-rated construction, quad infrared detector support, and seamless integration with ANSUL Vehicle Fire Suppression Systems.
• CHECKFIRE 110 Detection System Cost-effective single-zone fire detection and actuation system for heavy-duty industrial vehicles. IP68-rated construction for extreme conditions, used with ANSUL A-101 or LVS Fire Suppression Systems. Designed for forestry, waste/recycling, aviation, and transit industries.
• CHECKFIRE MP-N Detection System MSHA-approved electronic detection and actuation system for underground mining equipment. Self-contained, intrinsically safe, shock-resistant modules with MSHA 2G-4107-0 approval. Offers spot and linear detection options with supervised circuitry meeting IEC electromagnetic compatibility standards.
• LVS Liquid Vehicle Suppression System Stand-alone liquid fire suppression system for heavy industrial and off-road mobile equipment used in mining, forestry, construction, waste management, metal processing, transportation, power generation, and agribusiness. FM 5970 approved (2022 Edition) and CE Marked, with agent tank sizes from 0.7 to 30 gallons (2.6 to 114 liters) and freeze protection to -40°F (-40°C).
• A-101 Vehicle Suppression System Automatic or manual dry chemical fire suppression system for large mobile equipment and specialty vehicles. Provides quick knockdown of Class A, B, and C fires and can be paired with LVS NF-40 for a twin-agent system.
• N-101 Suppression System Nitrogen-based gaseous fire suppression system specifically designed to protect small electrical and control enclosures within mobile equipment and buildings. Protects enclosures up to 148 cubic feet (4.19 cubic meters) with a single agent tank and operates from -65°F to 210°F.
• K-Guard Fire Extinguisher Liquid agent fire extinguisher specifically designed for fires involving combustible cooking vegetable or animal fats in commercial cooking equipment. Charged with ANSULEX Low pH liquid fire suppressant and carries a 2-A:K UL/ULC rating; meets UL 8, UL 711, ULC S554, and NFPA 10 requirements.
• SENTRY Fire Extinguishers Stored pressure dry chemical fire extinguishers for various hazard applications.
• RED LINE Fire Extinguishers Hand portable fire extinguishers engineered for industrial applications.
• Foam Concentrates and Equipment Comprehensive line of foam concentrates and hardware for fighting flammable liquid fires in industrial settings such as refineries, petrochemical plants, and warehouses.
• Industrial Fire Suppression Systems Industrial-strength fire suppression solutions including Large Dry Chemical systems engineered for the toughest fire hazards.
• Gaseous Suppression Systems Full suite of gaseous fire suppression solutions including Carbon Dioxide systems, Halocarbon systems, Inert Gas systems (INERGEN), Acoustic Nozzles, and Detection and Control Solutions for sensitive environments.
• ANSUL Fire School World-renowned live, hands-on fire training and classroom instruction program for fire safety professionals, first responders, and individuals. Delivered through the TechXchange online platform.

Quantifiable outcome

• The CHECKFIRE 210 QIR Detector detects flames within seconds even across a wide range of operating conditions like smoke, dust, fog and varying temperatures
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments17 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature8 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Authorized ANSUL DistributorscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal network of authorized distributors who are fully immersed in ANSUL products through intense training programs covering design, installation, and service of fire suppression equipment. Authorized distributors receive exclusive benefits including factory authorized training, timely product bulletins, qualification for the ANSUL Alliance Program, and preferred access to lead generation.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Kidde (Carrier Global): Kidde is the residential and commercial fire safety brand of Carrier Global, offering portable extinguishers, alarms, and detection across mass-market and commercial channels — a broader incumbent with overlapping product categories but less specialization in special hazard and vehicle systems than Ansul.
• Honeywell Building Technologies: Honeywell's Building Technologies segment includes fire detection (Notifier, Fire-Lite, Silent Knight), voice evacuation, and integrated building safety systems — a broader incumbent with overlapping detection and integrated building safety offerings but less specialization in suppression hardware than Ansul.

Emerging players

• Firetrace International: Firetrace manufactures self-activating fire suppression systems using clean agents and dry chemicals for specialized equipment protection (machine tools, vehicles, electrical cabinets) — addressing adjacent use cases to Ansul's CHECKFIRE and N-101 product lines with a more niche focus.

Direct peers

• Badger Fire Protection: Badger manufactures commercial kitchen fire suppression systems (Badger Range Guard, Wet Chemical) and portable extinguishers, competing head-to-head with Ansul's R-102 restaurant system and K-Guard extinguisher in the same foodservice and commercial segments.
• Chemguard (Johnson Controls sister brand): Chemguard is a Johnson Controls sister brand specializing in foam concentrates, foam proportioning hardware, and specialty chemicals for flammable-liquid fire suppression — directly competing with Ansul's foam concentrate line across aviation, oil & gas, and industrial markets.
• Minimax: Minimax is a German-based global manufacturer of fire protection systems including special hazard gas, foam, water mist, and sprinkler solutions, serving industrial, marine, oil & gas, and data center customers — overlapping directly with Ansul's special hazard and gaseous suppression portfolio internationally.
• Fike Corporation: Fike manufactures special hazard fire suppression (FM-200, ECARO-25, CO2), explosion protection, and integrated detection/control systems for industrial, oil & gas, and data center customers — overlapping with Ansul's INERGEN, gaseous suppression, and industrial detection portfolios.
• Amerex Corporation: Amerex is a US-based manufacturer of portable and wheeled fire extinguishers, restaurant suppression systems (including the popular Kitchen Knight line), and clean agent systems — directly overlapping with Ansul's RED LINE, SENTRY, K-Guard, and R-102 product lines for commercial kitchen and industrial customers.
• Buckeye Fire Equipment: Buckeye manufactures portable fire extinguishers, wheeled units, and foam concentrates for industrial, commercial, and military customers — directly comparable to Ansul's portable extinguisher lines and foam concentrate offerings across similar distribution channels.
• Marioff (HI-FOG): Marioff, part of UTC/Carrier, manufactures high-pressure water mist fire suppression systems for marine, oil & gas, industrial, and cultural property applications — directly competing with Ansul in marine and special hazard segments with an alternative suppression technology.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/johnsoncontrols
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@JohnsonControlsFireProtection
• Facebookfacebook.com/JohnsonControls
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ansul
• Instagraminstagram.com/johnsoncontrols

Compliance20 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Ansul