Novec 1230 ™

SYSTEM DESIGN

3M™ Novec 1230™ Fire Protection Fluid

 Design Concepts
• Total Flooding Fire Protection System
– Must have an enclosure
– Agent mixes with atmosphere to protect entire
volume
– No local application
– Agent mixing performed by nozzles
 Design Concepts
• Enclosure Integrity
– Air leaks effectively sealed
– Door fan test is used to determine whether or not
integrity exists
– Procedure in Appendix C of NFPA 2001
– Must be performed on all new installations
 Design Concepts
• Duration of Protection
– “...(Extinguishing concentration) shall be
maintained for the specified period of time to
allow effective emergency action by trained
personnel.” -NFPA 2001, Section 5.6
– Hold time is typically 10 minutes, but not standard
– Refer to local AHJ
 Design Concepts
• Discharge Time
– Must be 10 seconds or less
– Rapid extinguishment reduces production of by-products
(HF)
– Per NFPA 2001 5.7.1.2.1
– Software will issue a warning for less than 6
seconds
HAZARD SURVEY
AND ANALYSIS
 Perform Hazard Survey
• Define Hazard:
– Enclosure boundaries
– Enclosure integrity exists?

– Fuels
– Hazard type (Class A, B, C or D)

– MSDS for chemicals present

 Required Data

– Dimensions

– Ambient Temperature Range

– Min. and Max.

– Occupancy Requirements
– Normally occupied?
 Determine Novec 1230 Suitability

• Novec 1230 is suitable for:

– Class A: Fires in ordinary combustibles

– Class B: Flammable Liquid Fires

– Class C: Fires involving energized electrical

equipment
 Determine Novec 1230 Suitability
• Novec 1230 is NOT suitable for use with:
– Deep seated fire hazards
– Metal fires per NFPA 2001, par. 1.4.2.2
– Certain chemicals capable of rapid oxidation in the absence
of air: gunpowder,
– Reactive metals: sodium, magnesium, etc.
– Metal hydrides
– Chemicals capable of undergoing autothermal decomposition
 Determine Novec 1230 Suitability
• Operating temperature range for Novec 1230
equipment is 32°F to 130°F
AGENT QUANTITY
 Extinguishing Concentration
• NFPA 2001 5.4.2
– Class A extinguishing concentration determined as part
of witness testing
– UL 2166

– Class B extinguishing concentrations determined by

cup burner test
– Appendix B
 Minimum Design Concentration
• NFPA 2001 5.4.2
– Class A design concentration
– EC x 1.2
– Class B design concentration
– MCB x 1.3
– Class C design concentration must be at least that for Class
A
– Manual-Only systems design concentration
– EC x 1.3
 Minimum Design Concentration
• Determined by Hazard Analysis:
– Class A Hazard: 4.2% (Minimum)
– Class C Hazard: At least that of Class A: 4.2%
– Manual-Only systems: 4.6%
 Minimum Design Concentration
• Determined by Hazard Analysis:
– Class B Hazard:
– Reference list in manual or
call Kidde
 Minimum Design Concentration
• Class B Reference list
 Minimum Design Concentration
• If multiple fuels and/or classifications are
present, highest applicable concentration is
used
Minimum Design Quantity (MDQ)

Equation

-or-

Table
 Calculate Volume
• Dimensions taken during hazard analysis
• OK to subtract permanent
volume reductions
– Columns
– Platforms

• Do NOT subtract for

equipment and
moveable objects!
 Design Temperature
• To calculate agent quantity, use minimum
expected ambient temperature
• Agent concentration is proportional to
air temperature
– Same quantity of agent will result in a low
concentration at low temperatures and a high
concentration at high temperatures
 MDQ Calculation Example
• Enclosure is 10 ft. W x 10 ft. L x 10 ft. H
• Min Ambient Temperature = 70°F
• Class A Surface Fire Hazard
 MDQ Calculation Example
Volume = 1000 ft.3
s = 0.9856 + (0.002441 x 70°F) = 1.1565
W = (1000 ft.3 / 1.1565 ) x
(4.2% / 100% - 4.2%) = 37.9 lb.
- or -
Flooding Factor
(4.2%, 70°F) = 0.0379 lb./ft.3
W = 1000 ft.3 x 0.0379 lb./ft. 3 = 37.9 lb.
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
 Correct For Pressure Differentials
• Must correct if ±11% or more from normal barometric
pressure at sea level
– Approximately ± 3000 feet from sea level

• Reference Table 5.5.3.3 in NFPA 2001

(also in manual)
– Atmospheric correction
– Highly pressurized; keep dust out
– Highly depressurized; keep particles in
EXAMPLE PROBLEMS
 Minimum Design Concentration
vs. Adjusted Design Concentration
• Minimum Design Concentration is the
minimum required per NFPA 2001
• Adjusted Design Concentration is the
concentration used to calculate the quantity of
agent in the cylinder
– ADC >= MDC
AGENT STORAGE
CONTAINER LOCATION
 Agent Storage Container Location
• As close as possible to or
within the protected
enclosure
– Per NFPA 2001
KIDDE
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Floor loading
– Container weight plus agent
weight

KIDDE
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Space requirements
– Single/Multiple cylinders
– Space for riser and attached controls

KIDDE
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Accessibility
– Cylinder(s) accessible
for maintenance

KIDDE
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Storage temperature
– Balanced or Single Hazard Systems
= 32°F to130°F
– Unbalanced, Multi-Hazard Systems
KIDDE
= 60°F to 80°F
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Storage temperature
– If necessary, build an enclosure
and control temperature
– Does not reflect hazard
KIDDE
temperature(s)
 Agent Storage Container Location
• Classified areas
– Explosion-proof equipment
needed/available?

KIDDE
Novec 1230™
SERIES SYSTEMS
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzles
• Two nozzle types
– 180° Nozzle
– 360° Nozzle

• Nozzle sizes
– 3/8” through 2”
– 1/4” offered - Non UL and FM

• All nozzles must be pendant

(hanging down)
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzles
• 180° Nozzle
– Placed 6” ± 2” from a wall
– Orifices aimed away from the wall Length (L)

– 6 - 19” ± 2” from ceiling to 1/3 W

Width (W)
orifices 1/3 W

1/3 W
– As close to center of the wall as
1/3 L 1/3 L 1/3 L
possible Acceptable 180 degree nozzle location

– At least 1/3
– No corner placement
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzles
• 360° Nozzle
– Discharges agent in a 360°
Length (L)

pattern 1/3 W

Width (W)
– Placed as close to center of 1/3 W

1/3 W
hazard as possible
1/3 L 1/3 L 1/3 L
– 6” to 19” from ceiling to Acceptable 360 degree nozzle location

orifices
 Novec 1230 Discharge
• Discharged as both liquid and vapor
• When near obstructions, liquid will “splash”

– Will effect the mixing of agent in the space due to

reduced momentum in discharge.
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Locations
• Proximity of nozzles to
significant obstructions
Min 6'
– 6 ft. of clearance between
nozzle and wall
Min 6' Min 6'

(or significant obstruction)

– Additional agent can be Min 6'

discharged to Min 6' Min 6'

compensate for “losses”

Min 6'

on obstructions
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Locations
• Proximity of multiple nozzles
– At least 10 ft. of clearance between nozzles

Min 10'

Min 10' Min 10'

Min 10'
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Locations
• Back-to-Back 180° Nozzles
– 1 ft. to 2 ft. apart
– Must face away from each other
– Nozzles discharge equal quantities

Imaginary boundary

2' (Min 1')

 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Locations
• For smaller enclosures
– Recommend using 180 nozzles in order to meet 6
ft. clearance
– Recommend placing 180 nozzles along longest
wall to allow maximum clearance in all directions
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Coverage
• Tested 35.6 ft. x 35.6 ft. Rectangle
– (10.9 m x 10.9m)

• Actual coverage area defined as rectangle with

diagonal, d
• 180°-d = 39.8 ft.(12.1m) 360°–d = 25.2 ft.(7.7 m)

d
 NOVEC 1230 Nozzle Height
• Maximum height for single nozzle is 16 ft.
• Minimum height
– 1 ft. for UL Listed systems
 Nozzle Tiering
• Use two rows of nozzles to protect enclosures
greater than 16 ft. high (note max elevation
difference limit)

Max 16’

Max 16’
 Quantity of Nozzles
• Not always dictated by coverage area

• Coverage volume 35.6 ft. x 35.6 ft. x 12 ft. requires

574 lb. of Novec 1230
– Will not discharge out of a single nozzle within 10
seconds!

• Rule of Thumb:
– Approximately 200 lb. per nozzle
Novec 1230™
Engineered System Limits
 NOVEC 1230 Engineered Systems
• Hydraulic flow calculations used as
basis of design
– Allows for unbalanced systems
– Allows designer to use smaller pipe
– Use computer software to run flow calculations
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Tees
• Tee Parameters:
– Tee Orientation
– Flow Splits
– Bull Tees
– Side Tees

– “10 Pipe Diameters”

 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Tees
• Orientation
– 1 inlet
– May be horizontal or vertical (bull head tee only)

– 2 outlets
– Both must be horizontal
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Tees
• Bull tee flow split
– Minimum imbalance: 50/50
– Maximum imbalance: 75/25
OUT OUT

IN
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Tees
• Side tee flow split
– Minimum imbalance: 65/35
– Maximum imbalance: 90/10

RUN OUTLET
IN
(90 - 65)

SIDE OUTLET
(10 - 35)
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Tees
• “10 Pipe Diameters” Rule:
– Length of pipe between a tee and a change in
direction must be equal to 10 times the nominal
diameter of the pipe
– A change in direction is defined as either
an elbow or another tee
– Must be adhered to before and after the tee
– Only necessary if the tee feeds agent to
separate hazards
NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Layout
• Keep network as simple, balanced
and short as possible
• Consider structural members for
hanging/bracing
• Avoid obstructions
KIDDE KIDDE KIDDE
NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Layout
• Maximum allowable elevation difference in
system piping (outlet and furthest horizontal
pipe run/nozzle, or nozzles) is 20 ft.

Max 20’
NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Layout
• Percent of Agent in Pipe
– Percentage of the available agent that is required to
fill the pipe network
– Maximum 100%

– Affected by agent quantity, pipe lengths

and pipe diameters
NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Layout

• Percent of Agent Before 1st Tee is 2%

– Percentage of the available agent that is required to
fill the pipe network between the cylinder outlet
and the first tee
NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Layout
• Arrival Time Imbalance
– Difference in time between when the agent reaches
the first nozzle and when it reaches the last nozzle
– Max 1.0 seconds (Subject to change)

• Runout Time Imbalance

– Similar to Arrival Time Imbalance, but refers to when
agent runs out at each nozzle
– Max 3.2 seconds (Subject to change)
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Pipe
Sizes
• Pipe sizes are estimated by the software
based on quantity of agent designated to
each nozzle
– Flow rate = lb. of Novec 1230 in branch /
10 seconds
– Pipe estimating table in DIOM manual (Table 3-
6)

• Some manual changes may be required

 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network: Pipe
Sizes
• Pipe sizes 1/2” through 6” are listed/approved
– Largest Nozzle Size is 2”

• Smaller than 1/2” is available in software, but

not listed/approved
– Smallest Nozzle Size is 3/8”
– 1/4” nozzle is available (Unapproved systems
only)
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network:
Nozzles
• Minimum Nozzle Pressure
– 91 psig (per UL 2166 Requalification)
 NOVEC 1230 Piping Network:
Hydraulic Calculation
• Enter:
– Enclosure info
– Agent quantity
– Agent Source
– Pipe network
• Run Main Calculations
• Verify system acceptance
Hints, Tips and Other
Considerations
 Multiple Systems / Single Hazard
• If enclosure is large, consider using:
– Multiple, modular NOVEC 1230 systems, which
will discharge simultaneously, located throughout
the hazard
– However - With 100% Agent in Pipe limit - Novec
flows well in complex pipe networks.
 Single System / Multiple Hazards
• If protecting more than four enclosures that are
not connected, consider:

– Separate NOVEC 1230 systems

 Agent Migration
• If protecting a single space with multiple
nozzles, each nozzle should discharge the
quantity of agent required by the nozzle’s
design coverage area

– Maximum of 5% of the required agent may be

discharged by a nozzle protecting an adjacent area
 Designing for Multiple Hazards
• For more than one hazard, design with an
adjusted concentration of 4.2% or higher

– Extra agent will make flow splits a lot easier

– NOTE: Still use 4.2% as minimum
 Tee Design Factor
• NFPA 2001 5-5.3.1
– Starting from each hazard, count:
– Every tee within the hazard that splits to a separate
hazard
– Each tee between entry point to hazard and the agent
source (not including tees in a manifold)
– Reference Table 5-5.3.1 in NFPA 2001 for
additional agent required
Tee Design Factor Example
 Tee Design Factor Example
– Maximum tee count is 6
– From NFPA 2001, Table 5-5.3.1, a tee count of 6
requires a 0.02 (2%) safety factor