Clean Agent

Fire Suppression
12 April 2019
What is a “Clean Agent” ?

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

 The Real Cost of Water Fire Protection

•Two Sprinkler Heads, did put out the fire

•“Thousands of gallons of water” damaged adjacent spaces
•“Calling in 100’s of people to assist with clean up”
•We all know fires do occur, most people do not want to talk
about them.
BASICS
Fire Tetrahedron
1. OXYGEN
OXYGEN HEAT
2. HEAT

3. FUEL

4. CHEMICAL REACTION
FUEL

CHAIN REACTION
 What type of fire is expected based upon the
BASICS Fire Class hazard being protected?

• Class ‘A’ • Class ‘C’ (Class E-UK)

– Ordinary Combustibles – Live Electrical Equipment
– Plastics, Paper, Wood – Computers, Switchgear

• Class ‘B’ • Class ‘D’

– Polar Solvents – Burning Metals
– Alcohol, Acetone – Reactive Metals generate O2 when
– Hydrocarbon Fuels
Petrol, Gas, Oil burning eg., Sodium, Magnesium,

Uranium
NFPA 2001 Standard
Clean Agent can be classified into two categories

CLEAN AGENT

HALOCARBONS INERT GAS

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION

Halocarbon Agents
• This agent Contains one or more organic compound containing one or more
elements like Fluorine, Chlorine, Bromine or Iodine.

• These agents extinguish fire by combination of cooling action, oxygen depletion

and chemical inhibition.

• These agent are available with trade name as FM-200, FE13, CEA-410, NAF-Slll
etc. FM-200 and NAF-Slll are used widely.
Halocarbon System
• Stored as a liquid. Discharged as a gas.

• Typical installation = Two tanks (one for above floor & one for the
sub-floor).

• Tanks usually close or located within the protected area.

• Very large applications can have several tanks.

• Piping: Schedule 40.

• Nozzles both 360º and 180º spray patterns.

Halocarbon System
HFC 227ea –ISO Name (FM-200)
• Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC)
• First replacement for Halon that had no Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP).
• Still the most recognized name in alternative agents.
• Originally made by Great Lakes Chemical Corp as FM200 later by DuPont
• Equipment Suppliers : Orient, Pyro-Chem (Ansul), Kidde, Chemetron,
Siemens, Fenwal, Fike, Tyco
• NOT made by or marketed by FM Global!
FM200 How it works
INERT GAS
An agent that contains as primary components one or more of the gases HELIUM,
ARGON, NITROGEN. Inert gas agents that are blends of gases can also contain
CO2 as a secondary component.

• INERGEN (IG-541) N2-52%, ARGON -40%, CO2-8%

• ARGONITE (IG-55) N2-50%, ARGON -50%

• ARGOTEC (IG-01) ARGON -100%

• NITROGEN (IG-100) N2-100%

INERT GAS Operation
• Inert gases extinguish fire by dilution of Oxygen concentration below the level
that does not support combustion.

• Normal atmosphere in the room contains 21% oxygen.

• To extinguish fire oxygen concentration should be less than 15%

• Oxygen concentration less than 12% is not safe for human occupancy.

• Inert gas bring down the O2 concentration in a protected space to around

12.5%, a level that is breathable but will not support flaming combustion.
 Condensed Aerosol Fire
Suppression
Condensed aerosol fire suppression is a
particle-based form of fire extinction. It is similar
to gaseous fire suppression (or dry chemical fire
extinction). It employs a fire extinguishing agent
consisting of: very fine solid particles as well as
gaseous matter.
• Unique formulation of
– solid aerosol generating
composition ~ derivative of solid
rocket fuel
– solid chemical coolant ~ ensures
flameless operation & rapid
expulsion
• Produces gas-like fire fighting
aerosol with 3 dimensional
distribution when ignited
Disadvantage… application not safe for human

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Clean Agent System Diagram
 Clean Agent Cylinder Container
MANUAL FIRING PIN

SOLENOID VALVE
DISCHARGE MANIFOLD
ASSEMBLY DISCHARGE SENSOR
SUPERVISORY

BURST DISC
CYLINDER TANK
PRESSURE GAUGE
Clean Agent Installation
Clean Agent Products
 Engineered System
• Engineered Cylinder available in the following sizes
35 lbs, 70lbs, 150lbs, 250lbs,375lbs, 560lbs, and 1200lbs
• Pressurized with Nitrogen to 360PSI at 70 °F
• Operating Temp- 32 °F to 130 °F.
• With a suitable back pressure valve
• DOT 4BW500 or DOT 4BA500 stamped, tested and approved.
FIRE SUPRESSION AUX
EQUIPMENT
ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS
ORIENT 227 CLEAN AGENT FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM (FM-200)

Clean Agent HFC-227ea or a replacement for halon
intended to suppress fire without damaging the
equipment, ozone and people.


As per NFPA Clean Agent is electrically non
conductive volatile or gaseous extinguishing that
does not leave residue upon evaporation.
ORIENT 5112 CLEAN AGENT FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM (NOVEC)
• Orient FK-5-1-12 is a trademark of Orient’s FK-5-1-12,
Dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one.

• Environmentally safe and best used in fire hazard areas

containing A, B, & C classes of fire.

• Approved by US EPA and ISO for its safe characteristic and fire
extinguishing effectiveness.
IG55 / IG100 INERGEN FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
• IG55 Inert Gas Fire Suppression Agent is a standard 50:50 mix
of two inert gases Nitrogen and Argon.

• Both gases occur naturally in the atmosphere and are

therefore the ultimate in an environmentally safe fire
suppression product that is also safe for people.

• They have a Global Warming Potential and Ozone Depleting

Potential of zero and does not decompose on application to a
flaming fire.

• Works by drastically reducing Oxygen in the room being

protected.
CO2 FIRE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM
• Carbon dioxide is an effective fire suppression agent applicable to a
wide range of fire hazards. Carbon dioxide works quickly, with no
residual clean-up associated with a system discharge which translates
into minimal business interruption.
• Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems are recommended for
protection of unoccupied spaces or local applications
such as printing presses or commercial baking ovens.
 Clean Agents
Comparison

Clean Agent
Fire Suppression Alternatives

IG55
Comparison Novec1230

Comparison
 Clean Agents
Comparison
H20?
H20?

Synthetic?
Synthetic?

Inert
Inert Gas?
Gas?

Which System Is The Best ?

 Clean Agents
Comparison
Inert Synthetic

HFC125

Inergen
IG541 Novec1230
30

IG55
HFC
FC227e
7eaa

Fire Suppression Agent Comparison

 Clean Agents
ENVIRONMENT
Comparison OZONE GLOBAL ATMOSPHERIC
Although these figures represent the agent itself, it does DEPLETION
FACTOR
WARMING
POTENTIAL
LIFE
TIME
not take into account the GWP of the manufacturing of CO2
0 n.a. n.a.

the cylinders Inergen 0 n.a. n.a.

IG-55 0 n.a. n.a.

0,014 years
Novec1230 0 1
(5 days)

FM-200 0 3500 33 years

Atmospheric Lifetime
Global Warming Potential
2 Ozone Depletion Factor
C O ses 30
Ga
12 2 27
e rt v ec FC
n
I No H
 E
- )

HD
D Clean Agents
NOT
Extinguishing Capability EA
AN Comparison
Suitable for
TG occupied
E spaces
RR
Suitable for e
m A, B, C (E)
occupied o / How? - OXYGEN
spaces v T
a o Reduction
* not effective on ... l x 12% - 14%
• class A deep seated fires Fi Inergen/IG55
• chemicals containing Mc
2H
their own supply of 0o
oxygen (cellulose 0w
?
nitrate) (
• chemicals capable of 7 -
.
Suitable
9 O for
auto-thermal X
occupied
% spaces
decomposition Y
- G
E
8 N
. R
 Clean Agents
Human Safety Comparison
Design
NOAEL LOAEL %
Concentration*

Novec1230 4,2% - 5,9% 10% >10%

FM-200® 6,4% - 9,0% 9% 10,5%

Inergen® 34,2% - 41,2% 43% 52%

IG-55 40,3% - 47,5% 43% 52%

CO2 35% - 65% 5% n.a.

o NOAEL - No observable adverse effect level

o LOAEL - lowest-observed-adverse-effect-level
 Clean Agents
Comparison

Environment
Environment Budget
Budget

Safety
Safety Space
Space

Fire Suppression
Decision Factors
 Clean Agents
Distribution Pipe Comparison
Pipe length and complexity of the pipe run
Very
Very Good
Good
Good
Good

FM-200® Fair
Fair Poor
Poor

Novec™ 1230
CO2

Inergen®
and IG55

Pipe length

The length of the bar does not give absolute ratios, it is a general indication only.
The width of the bar refers to the possible complexity of the pipe run (indication only).
 Clean Agents
Working Pressures Comparison

FM-200®
Navec1230™
CO2
Constant Flow
Inergen® **
200/300 psi
IG55*
Constant Flow
Pipe pressure
20 40 80 100 120 (psi)
25 60
The installer must ensure the correct pressure rating for pipes and fittings acc. to the flow
calculation result.
* Pipe pressure downstream the pressure reducing unit.
** The final peak pressure in the pipe will result from the hydraulic flow calculation.
 Clean Agents
Cylinder Foot Print Comparison
Comparison for a 200 m³ class A hazard
FM-200®: 7.9% = 0.63 kg/m³ 126 kg - 1 x 147 ltr.

Novec™1230: 5.3% = 0.78 kg/m³ 156 kg - 1 x 180 ltr.

Inergen®: 39.9% = 0.51 m³/m³ 102 m³ - 5 x 80 ltr. (300 bar)

CO2: 50% = 1.30 kg/m³ 260 kg - 6 x 50 kg

IG55/Inergen®: 39.9% = 0.51 m³/m³ 102 m³ - 7 x 80 ltr. (200 bar)

102 m³ - 5 x 80 ltr. (300 bar)
Installation Time & Clean Agents
Comparison
Complexity

Inergen, IG55
Work
Pipe Work

Co2
Pipe

FM200/Novec1230

Time of Installation and Complexity of installation

FM200 and Novec1230 demand less space and less pipe work. Inert Gas cylinders can
often be more complicated with larger foot prints and more pipe work
The Question? Clean Agents
Comparison
Nocec1230
Nocec1230
FM200
FM200

Inert
Inert Gas
Gas

Q :- So what is The Best

Fire Suppression
Agent?

A :- Generally, there is no Best system!

. Many factors finally lead to the decision for a
certain system ..
 Clean Agents
Decision Factors Which fire class?
Which system approval is Comparison
required?
Single hazard or multiple
hazards
Available space for
Total Cylinders
Flooding
Special
What type of requirements from
application
insurance

Local
application Health and safety
Clean Agents
Comparison
Clean Agents
Comparison