How are fire extinguishing agents typically distributed in an aircraft?

Fire extinguishing agents in an aircraft are typically distributed through perforated tubing or discharge nozzles. This method allows for an effective and even dispersal of the extinguishing agent throughout the designated area, ensuring that fire suppression occurs rapidly and thoroughly. The use of perforated tubing or nozzles is designed to deliver the agent in a way that maximizes coverage and minimizes the possibility of reignition, which is critical in the confined spaces of an aircraft.

Manual vents and hatches, while they might allow for some airflow, do not provide an efficient means of distributing extinguishing agents. Hand-held extinguishers are vital for immediate response to small fires but do not serve as the primary means of distributing extinguishing agents throughout the aircraft system. Lastly, using high-velocity fans would not be an effective or appropriate method for delivering fire extinguishing agents as their primary function is airflow, rather than actively deploying a fire suppression agent.