FIRE EXTINGUISHING FM-200 FIRE …

1 fire EXTINGUISHINGFM-200 fire EXTINGUISHING AGENTK idde fire Protection advises thatthe maximum fill density for acylinder of FM-200 pressurisedwith nitrogen to 360 psi is gcm-3. Accordingly, the storagecapacity for FM-200 is around that of Halon 1301, theclosest of all viable determining a safe exposurelevel to any agent intended for usein occupied spaces, the potentialof the agent to cause cardiacsensitisation should bedetermined. FM-200 has beenevaluated for this condition viatest protocols approved by the USEnvironmental Protection Agency,and has been cleared for use inoccupied areas at the normaldesign response to the impendingproduction phase-out of Halonfire extinguishants, Kidde FireProtection can offer the GX20 System using FM-200 (Heptafluoropropane) as areplacement for Halon 1301 inapplications requiring a clean,environmentally acceptable fireextinguishing agent, suitablefor use in manned extinguishes firesprimarily by physical means.

2 Ithas properties which functionwell with traditional Halon 1301equipment. It is a colourless gasat standard conditions, exhibitinga boiling point of C ascompared to a boiling point of C for Halon the use of properlydesigned equipment, FM-200 willmix well in a protected enclosureto provide a homogenous mixturein air. Since Halon 1301 istypically super-pressurised toeither 25 bar or 42 bar for firesuppression applications, FM-200is super-pressurised to achieverapid discharge into the liquid density of Halon 1301at 21 C is kg/L and forFM-200 is kg/L. Thecharacteristic that determines theamount of agent that can besafely stored in a given cylinder isthe maximum fill fire EXTINGUISHING AGENT2 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONG lobal Warming PotentialBiodegradability of chemicalcompounds in the environment isalso a paramount concern.

3 Long-lived compounds are thought topose greater risks of contributingto global warming. Determinationof the atmospheric lifetime ofFM-200, indicates a lifetime ofonly 31 to 42 years. This lifetimehas been considered asacceptable for fire extinguishingcompounds by the USEnvironmental ProtectionAgency's Significant NewApplications Programme (SNAP).CompatibilityFM-200 is a very stablecompound and in the absence ofexcessive moisture is notexpected to react with commonconstruction materials such asmetals and polymers. Tests showthat elastomers such as someEPDM materials and nitrilecompounds perform well Depletion Potential(ODP)As the concerns overstratospheric ozone protectionhave developed in recent years, itis clearly understood that anyagent that is expected to beavailable for use in the market ona long term basis would have tooffer zero ODP.

4 Since FM-200contains no chlorine or bromineand does not possess theproperties associated with thecompounds thought to damagestratospheric ozone it has anozone depletion potential of 1301FM-200 Chemical FormulaCF3 BrC3F7 HOzone Depletion Potential160 Molecular CCritical CExtinguishing Concentration,Heptane (% by volume)Inerting Concentration (Explosion Sphere,4%8%70 joules ignition energy) - MethaneVapour Pressure at 21 C214 psiaAcute Toxicity (LC50-4hr) 800,000 ppm>800,000 ppmFM-200 fire EXTINGUISHING AGENT3the n-heptane cup burner test) ofvarious agents is plotted againsttheir heat , FM-200 , and PFC-410 haveprogressively higher heatcapacities*, consequently theirrequired extinguishingconcentrations becomeprogressively 1301 is a more efficientextinguishant despite havingpoorer heat absorbing qualitiesthan is because in addition to theheat absorption effect, thebromine in Halon 1301 catalysesremoval (through recombination)

5 Of the flame propagating radicalsand so suppresses the fire bychemical is the bromine in Halon 1301which causes depletion of theOzone Layer and has led toHalons being phased out underthe Montreal PFC-410 is slightly moreefficient than FM-200 , it has ahigher global warming potentialand is therefore preferred forspecial applications works by physical action,the molecules absorb heat so thatIntroductionIn order for a fire to be sustained,the three components fuel,oxygen and heat, must bepresent in sufficient quantities,and at sufficient one of the three elements isremoved the fire will Theory of CombustionFire is the physical manifestationof a series of high heat-releasingchemical reactions between fueland oygen.

6 While a proportion ofthe heat is dissipated to thesurroundings, sufficient heat mustbe returned to the fuel in orderfor it to vaporise and continue thecombustion process. Physically-acting EXTINGUISHING agents act byabsorbing heat and disturbing thisdynamic energy of sufficient agentinto the fire gases reduces theflame temperature to a limitingvalue below which flamepropagation cannot figure 1, the minimumextinguishing concentration (usingHOW FM-200 WORKSHeat FeedbackFuel VolatilisationAirEntrainmentHeatDissipat ionext. concn. (vol%)heat capacity (J/mol/K)100101101001000Ar, NeFE-13 HalonsHFCsinertsPFCsHCFC sheat capacities at 298kheptane cup burner dataFM-200 PFC-410 Halon 1301N2CO2 Figure 1: EXTINGUISHING concentration v heat capacityFM-200 fire EXTINGUISHING AGENT4dioxide, are very poor heatabsorbers (refer to figure 1) andhigh concentrations are needed tosuppress fires.)

7 Consequently theoxygen concentration in anatmosphere becomes severelydepleted, typically around 12%.Atmospheres where the oxygenlevel is below 16% are considereda potential health hazard. Carbondioxide is also toxic atconcentrations above about 8%.* Heat capacity is the amount of heat energyabsorbed by a unit of a compound in raisingits temperature by 1 C. Normally it is quotedper g of compound or, as in Figure 1, for afixed number of molecules (ie per g mol). FM-200 is a Trademark of GreatLakes Chemical temperature of the flame fallsto a point below which it cannotpropagate, and the fire isextinguished. The oxygendepleting effect is minimal as onlysmall quantities of the gas GasesThe inerting gases, such asnitrogen, argon and carbonDescriptionFM-200 is an environmentallyacceptable fire extinguishingsystem which uses FM-200 andis therefore safe for use in bothoccupied and unoccupied system has been speciallydeveloped by Kidde (heptafluoropropane) is afluorinated alkane manufacturedby Great Lakes ChemicalCorporation, which meets thestrict US EPA criteria required of agas to replace Halon EXTINGUISHING SystemSpecificationFM-200 SystemThe FM-200 fire extinguishantshall be stored in welded mildsteel FM-200 cylindricalcontainers which are designed,manufactured and tested to DoT(HSE)

8 4BW500 for FM-200 use,and pressurised with dry Nitrogento 25 bar at 20 extinguishant storagecontainers shall be capable ofconfiguration into modular orcentral storage installations. Everycontainer shall be fitted with aGCV valve to enable the contentsto be discharged through systempipework and nozzles within discharge pressure switch shallbe fitted to the distributionpipework via a pilot loop. Thepressure switch has a manualreset facility and shall be the FM-200 system shallbe switched to automatic , subject to localregulations, it may be necessaryfor the system to be switched tomanual mode when the area isoccupied. A pre-discharge alarm isto be sounded on systemoperation to alert anyone still inthe FM-200 flow calculations shallbe supported by a Kidde FireProtection approved computerprogram and ValvesThe valve shall be manufacturedfrom a hot brass stamping to givea strong porous-free structure andcorrosion resistance and shall befitted with a pressure to a manifold shall beby flexible hose and check valve control heads andactuators shall be available for24V DC, manual or pneumaticactivation.

9 All shall be detachablefor safe system installation andfull functional checking SPECIFICATIONBoth fire detection and controlsare available from the Kidde rangeof smoke detectors, heatdetectors and control units,employing the latestdevelopments in information on the Kiddeproduct range is available fromyour local sales office and directfrom the address SupportKidde fire Protection equipmentis designed to meet local andinternational are designed andinstalled by fully trained fireprotection engineers. Componentsupply and refill service isavailable from a worldwidenetwork of is a Trademark of GreatLakes Chemical NozzlesDischarge nozzles shall beFM-200 type, manufactured frombrass and specifically designed foruse with Warning NoticesAll entrances to the protectedarea shall have a warning noticedisplayed.

10 All system manualrelease points shall have acautionery notice adjacent tothem. All notices shall be fromthe standard FM-200 range ofequipment and manufacturedfrom corrosion resistant Compatible AccessoriesAll FM-200 systems are to bebuilt from system compatiblecomponents approved for use bythe supplier and certified toBS5750 Parts 1 and InformationThe FM-200 System is part of theKidde family of fire protectioncomponents designed andmanufactured to the higheststandards of quality and fire EXTINGUISHING AGENT5E9832-008 01/02FM 11925FM-200 Containers243L, 142L and 81L containersmay be fitted with contentsmonitoring to check the amountof extinguishant in each containervia a permanently fitted containers should not haveto be disconnected from thedistribution pipe during shall be painted label shall be affixed to eachcontainer showing the Distribution PipeworkDistribution pipework shall becarbon steel supplied ingalvanised or black finish, paintedred after installation and Control HeadsActuation of the FM-200 systemshall be by a 24V DC control headdirectly mounted to the containervalve.