: FIRE ALARM SPRINKLER SPECIAL HAZARD KITCHEN HOOD SYSTEMS PORTABLE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS


SPECIAL HAZARD CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS :Fire Systems. Inc. SPECIAL HAZARD CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS


CLEAN AGENT APPLICATIONS :Fire Systems. Inc. CLEAN AGENT APPLICATIONS Computer rooms Switchgear Telecommunications rooms Engine rooms Control rooms Clean rooms


Halon Today :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon Today Today’s concerns for Halon users How must Halon systems bemaintained? What regulations impact current and future use? What is the future of clean agentfire protection?


Halon FAQs :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon FAQs Must I dismantle myHalon fire protectionsystem? There is no obligation to remove systems from service. There is no date specified for future mandatory decommissioning.


Halon FAQs :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon FAQs What happens when my Halon system discharges? You may legally recharge your system using recycled Halon or Halon produced before the ban on manufacturing. Recycled Halon is still commonly available. EPA encourages converting to a SNAP-approved agent.


Halon FAQs :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon FAQs What federal laws pertain to Halons and Halon-containing equipment? EPA’s final rule published March 1998 Bans manufacture of Halon blends Prohibits intentional release of Halons Requires appropriate training Requires proper disposal


Halon Disposal :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon Disposal Contact licensed special hazard systems company for disposal information.


Halon Alternatives :Fire Systems. Inc. Halon Alternatives Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) EPA program to evaluate new suppression agents Human health considerations Environmental considerations


SNAP :Fire Systems. Inc. SNAP Approved agents: Have the same suppression qualities as Halon Are non-ozone depleting Are not harmful to people Are not harmful to the environment


The Next Generation :Fire Systems. Inc. The Next Generation Clean agents for the 21st Century INERGEN® FM-200 ® NOVEC 1230 ®


INERGEN® :Fire Systems. Inc. INERGEN® Developed by Ansul, Inc. Nitrogen/Argon/CO2 mixture Suitable for Class A, B and C fires Lowers oxygen level below what is necessary for combustion Rapid suppression Zero Ozone Depletion Potential Electrically non-conductive Safe for occupied areas


INERGEN AGENT :Fire Systems. Inc. INERGEN AGENT INERGEN is a gaseous fire extinguishing agent comprised of 52% nitrogen, 40% argon and 8% carbon dioxide, all of which are gases normally found in the Earth’s atmosphere.


INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS :Fire Systems. Inc. INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS Inergen is used as a total flooding agent which extinguishes fires by diluting the oxygen concentration within an area to a point below the level that will support combustion.


INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS :Fire Systems. Inc. INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS INERGEN agent will reduce the oxygen content to approximately 12.5% while increasing the carbon dioxide content to approximately 3%. Normal oxygen levels are approximately 21% Normal carbon dioxide levels are approximately 0.035%


INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS :Fire Systems. Inc. INERGEN EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS The increase in the carbon dioxide content increases a person’s respiration rate and the body’s ability to absorb oxygen. Simply stated, the human body is stimulated by the carbon dioxide to breathe more deeply and rapidly to compensate for the lower oxygen content of the atmosphere.


EXPOSURE RISKS :Fire Systems. Inc. EXPOSURE RISKS The normal discharge of Inergen at its designed concentration of 37.5% to 42.8% in a fixed enclosure does not present any hazard. Any exposure outside of these limits should result in the use of self contained breathing apparatus.


ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CLEAN AGENTS :Fire Systems. Inc. ADVANTAGES OVER OTHER CLEAN AGENTS Inergen tends to maintain concentration better than some other halon alternatives. Better suited for large or leaky spaces. Tanks may be placed further from hazard compared to FM-200 or NOVEC 1230. Minimal drop in temperature upon discharge Visibility – Inergen does not cause fogging. Environment – No adverse effects on the environment.


CONSIDERATIONS :Fire Systems. Inc. CONSIDERATIONS Floor space – Storage space for multiple cylinders Venting – Room must be adequately vented. Venting for discharge must be to atmosphere. Floor loading – 275 lbs per sq. ft. Fresh air supply must be must be stopped prior to discharge.


TYPICAL INSTALLATION :Fire Systems. Inc. TYPICAL INSTALLATION


FM-200 :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 HFC-227ea – Heptafluoropropane Hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) Halocarbon agents are similar to halon except their molecular structure has been modified to reduce or eliminate the chlorine and bromine atoms that are responsible for ozone depletion.


Slide 22:Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 extinguishes fires through a combination of chemical and physical mechanisms.


FM-200 EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS Effective on Class A, B, and C fires, FM-200 extinguishes fires quickly through a combination of chemical and physical heat removal. It does not smother flames by removing oxygen. FM-200 removes heat energy from fire, not oxygen from the environment.


FM-200 EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 EXTINGUISHMENT CHARACTERISTICS FM-200 Waterless Fire Protection systems are designed for uniform distribution throughout the protected area. Unlike water or water mist, which may be unable to penetrate inside electronic enclosures and cabinets or reach a fire that is underneath machinery compartments, FM-200 gas penetrates with three-dimensional capability, easily reaching into obscure or hard to reach areas.


EXPOSURE RISKS :Fire Systems. Inc. EXPOSURE RISKS Results from exposure tests are provided as NOAL and LOAL. No Observable Adverse Effects Level – 9% Lowest Observable Adverse Effects Level – 10.5% FM-200 has a NOAL level higher than the extinguishing concentration. Minimum design concentration is 6.25% to 6.4% depending on manufacturers listing. Exposure time at minimum concentration is 5 minutes per NFPA 2001.


FM-200 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS FM-200 has been proven safe for people through extensive pharmacological testing rivaled by no other fire suppressant. FM-200 has been proven to be so safe that the compound is approved as a propellant for pharmaceutical inhalers.


FM-200 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS Once a system has discharged, you can remove FM-200 and any harmful combustion byproducts from the space by simple ventilation. You can resume normal operations almost immediately.


FM-200 ADVANTAGES :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 ADVANTAGES Inert gas systems can require up to seven times as many cylinders. In applications where space is at a premium, FM-200 systems are the superior choice


FM-200 ENVORONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 ENVORONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS EPA uses FM-200 in their National Computer Center Atmospheric lifetime of 36.5 years Meets EPA requirements under the Significant New Alternatives Program (SNAP) Does not contribute to stratospheric ozone layer depletion


FM-200 VIDEO CLIP :Fire Systems. Inc. FM-200 VIDEO CLIP


NOVEC 1230 :Fire Systems. Inc. NOVEC 1230 Fluoroketone


What is Novec 1230 Fluid? :Fire Systems. Inc. What is Novec 1230 Fluid? An alternative to Halon 1301/FM-200™ Colorless fire suppression fluid Clean agent


Slide 33:Fire Systems. Inc. Novec 1230 Fluid Characteristics Pressurized with nitrogen 360psi Non-hazardous agent Contains no particulates Contains no oily residues Contains no bromine or chlorine Produced under strict ISO 9001 guidelines


NOVEC PROPERTIES :Fire Systems. Inc. NOVEC PROPERTIES Heat of vaporization is 25 times less than water. The higher the heat of vaporization the more heat a substance is able to absorb. Vapor pressure is 12 times that of water. The higher the vapor pressure at a given temperature the faster the evaporation.


NOVEC PROPERTIES :Fire Systems. Inc. NOVEC PROPERTIES Novec 1230 fluid is stored as a liquid and when discharged quickly vaporizes to a gas.


EXPOSURE RISKS :Fire Systems. Inc. EXPOSURE RISKS Results from exposure tests are provided as NOAL and LOAL. Exposure time at minimum concentration is 5 minutes per NFPA 2001. No Observable Adverse Effects Level – 10% Lowest Observable Adverse Effects Level – Greater than 10% Class A minimum design concentration – 4.6%


Slide 37:Fire Systems. Inc. * No Observable Adverse Effect Level Novec 1230 Fluid Safety Margin


Slide 38:Fire Systems. Inc. The NOVEC System meets industry concerns for life safety, performance, and the environment. Zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) Very low Global Warming Potential (GWP) Short atmospheric lifetime (ALT) Low toxicity Safe for sensitive, valuable assets Environmental Properties


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Detection and controls for special hazard systems :Fire Systems. Inc. Detection and controls for special hazard systems Control panel Detection Abort Release Notification Auxiliary controls


Detection :Fire Systems. Inc. Detection Smoke detector- Ionization Smoke detector – Photoelectric Air sampling


Air Sampling :Fire Systems. Inc. Air Sampling Laser particle counter 1000’s of times more sensitive than spot detection, yet minimizes nuisance alarms. Aggressive detection as opposed to passive detection Detect fires in the incipient stages.


Incipient Detection :Fire Systems. Inc. Incipient Detection TIME INCIPIENT STAGE VISIBLE SMOKE INTENSE HEAT FLAME % OBSCURATION


Hughes Associates test for AT&T, October 1990, Wash DC :Fire Systems. Inc. Hughes Associates test for AT&T, October 1990, Wash DC Results: 24 burn tests were performed. Photoelectric detectors responded to 16. Ionization detectors repsonded to 10. Photobeam type detectors responded to 11. Air Sampling responded to ALL tests. HVAC had little effect on air sampling systems but did have impact on the others !!


Sequence of Operations :Fire Systems. Inc. Sequence of Operations First detector will cause a pre-alarm condition and sound an alarm. Actuation of the first detector typically shuts down the HVAC system, closes the doors (when provided with magnetic closures) and sends a signal to the building fire alarm system. (Connection to building alarm system is mandated by NFPA 101 9.7.3.2)


Sequence of Operations :Fire Systems. Inc. Sequence of Operations Second detector will cause a pre-discharge condition and sound a separate alarm from the pre-alarm. HVAC may be shut down at this stage. Typical delay after second detector operates is thirty seconds. Unless system is aborted during this period, discharge will occur at the end of the countdown.


Sequence of Operations :Fire Systems. Inc. Sequence of Operations Upon discharge or operation of second detector most systems will shut down power to the computer room or protected space by operating the appropriate relay or by using a pressure switch.


Abort Stations :Fire Systems. Inc. Abort Stations Typical abort will stop countdown at 10 seconds remaining. Countdown will resume when abort is released. A telephone should be located near the abort switch. Abort switches shall be located within the protected area and shall be located near the means of egress for the area.


Abort Stations :Fire Systems. Inc. Abort Stations The abort switch shall be of a type that requires constant manual pressure to cause abort. In all cases the normal and manual emergency control shall override the abort function.


Manual release :Fire Systems. Inc. Manual release Electric manual release – Pull station Mechanical release Immediate discharge – Some systems use 10 second delay to allow for egress of protected space.


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 AND NFPA 72 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 AND NFPA 72


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 At least annually, all systems shall be thoroughly inspected and tested for proper operation by competent personnel. The state of Georgia requires that any company involved in the inspection, testing, recharge or installation of special hazard systems must have at least one employee with a NICET level III in special hazard suppression systems. Technicians must show successful completion of NICET level II.


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 Abort station Manual release Detection Control panel functions Release circuits


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 Survey hazard to make sure it has not changed. Check nozzles and piping. Check all warning signs. Check condition of cylinders Perform enclosure inspection


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 At least semiannually, the agent quantity and pressure of refillable containers shall be checked. For halocarbon clean agents, if a container shows a loss in agent quantity of more than 5 percent or a loss in pressure (adjusted for temperature) of more than 10 percent, it shall be refilled or replaced.


INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 :Fire Systems. Inc. INSPECTION MAINTENANCE AND TESTING – PER NFPA 2001 If an inert gas clean agent container shows a loss in pressure (adjusted for temperature) of more than 5 percent, it shall be refilled or replaced. Where container pressure gauges are used for this purpose, they shall be compared to a separate calibrated device at least annually.


CYLINDER TESTING :Fire Systems. Inc. CYLINDER TESTING Cylinders continuously in service without discharging shall be given a complete external visual inspection every 5 years or more frequently if required. The visual inspection shall be in accordance with Section 3 of CGA C-6, Standard for Visual Inspection of Steel Compressed Gas Cylinders, except that the cylinders need not be emptied or stamped while under pressure.


Training. :Fire Systems. Inc. Training. All persons who could be expected to inspect, test, maintain, or operate fire extinguishing systems shall be thoroughly trained and kept thoroughly trained in the functions they are expected to perform. Personnel working in an enclosure protected by a clean agent shall receive training regarding agent safety issues.


:Fire Systems. Inc. THANK YOU FROM FIRE SYSTEMS, INC.