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TYPES OF Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

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Raju G
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56 views4 pages

TYPES OF Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

Uploaded by

Raju G
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What Are the Most Common Clean Agent Fire

Suppression System?
When choosing a clean agent fire suppression system, there are three common types:

 FM-200 Clean Agent Fire Suppression System


 Novec 1230 Clean Agent Fire Suppression System
 INERGEN Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

The FM-200 system is stored as a liquid and vaporizes when discharged. The system
displaces the oxygen around a fire, but heat absorption is its primary extinguishing
capability.

The Inergen system uses inert gases- nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide- to reduce the
oxygen level and suppress the fire. While carbon dioxide is included, the concentration is
safe for humans and the environment. Once the Inergen concentration is discharged, it
returns to the atmosphere in its natural state.

The 3M™ Novec™ 1230 system uses a liquid that is vaporized when discharged, similar
to the FM-200 system. However, unlike the FM-200 which suppresses the fire by heat
absorption or cooling, the 3M™ Novec™ 1230 displaces the oxygen around a fire to
suppress it.

While clean agent systems are rarely required by building or fire codes, businesses and other
institutions and organizations are increasingly turning to clean agent fire suppression as a more
effective way to protect assets such as:

 Computer systems including servers, and other electrical components


 Telecommunications systems
 Record/file repositories and libraries – anything with paper that must be protected
 Digital data repositories
 Cultural assets such as historical buildings, museums, and artwork
 Flammable liquid storage for which sprinkler systems may not provide proper protection
 Subfloors with critical building infrastructure that can be damaged with exposure to water
 Laboratory and medical equipment

What type of fire is expected based upon the hazard


being protected?
s
1) Class A 2) Class B
– ordinary combustibles -flammable liquid, polar solvent, oil
– plastics, paper, wood -alcohol, acetone, hydrocarbon fuels, gas,
3) Class C 4) Class D
– live electrical equipment -burning metals, reactive metals generate o2
– computers, switch gear -sodium, magnesium, uranium

The three most common clean agents on the market today are Inert gas (Inergen, Nitrogen,
Argonite), Novec 1230, and FM-200, which has been a mainstay of fire suppression systems for
more than 20 years. This article provides a comparison of these three popular clean agents to
help you decide which might be best for your needs

  Inert Gas Novec 1230 FM-200


A mixture of the inert A hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)
A fluorinated ketone
gases: nitrogen, compound containing
Type of Compound containing carbon,
argon, and carbon hydrogen, fluorine, and
fluorine, and oxygen
dioxide (CO2) carbon
Storage Stored as a
Stored as a gas Stored as a liquid
liquefied compressed gas 
Discharge Time 60 seconds 10 seconds 10 seconds
Clean Up None None None

Novec 1230 and FM-200


  Inert Gas Systems
Systems
Proximity of Cylinders to Must be located within or very
Can be located further away
Protected Space near the space to be protected
Requires more cylinders for the
Requires fewer cylinders for same
same area protected than Novec
Number of Cylinders amount of space to be protected –
1230 and FM-200 – more
less storage space than Inert gas
storage space but can protect
systems and also less piping
more than one area using
required
selector valves
Pressure only, no need to weigh Agent containers weight and
cylinders but pressure must be pressure must be checked. Could
Weight of Cylinders
checked on each cylinder with a require removing containers and
calibrated gauge placing on scale
Room pressure venting may be Typically, no special ventilation
Ventilation Requirements
required required
  Inert Gas Novec 1230 FM-200

Use Concentration 34.2-42% 4.0-6.0% 6.7-8.7%

No Observable Adverse
Effects Level (NOAEL) 43% 10% 9% 

  Inert Gas Novec 1230 FM-200


Ozone Depletion Potential
None None None
(ODP)
Global Warming Potential
(GWP) 1 (equivalent to that of
None 3500 
carbon dioxide)

Atmospheric Lifetime
(years) None 0.014 36.5

Safety Margins:
Typical Installation System:

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