Clean Agent & Inert Gas Fire Suppression

usa.siemens.com/infrastructure-citiesUnrestricted © Siemens AG 2013 All rights reserved.
Clean Agent & Inert Gas
Fire Suppression
Ben Adams, Fire Safety & Security Sales Manager

2013-05-23
Unrestricted © Siemens AG 2013 All rights reserved.
Page 2 Ben Adams / Building Technologies
2010 Fire Statistics
Estimated 447,000 fires
Direct property loss estimated at $9 billion
Less than 2% due to arson
Arson = 10,190 structure fires

2013-05-23
Why Should I Worry?
Unintended
Scented candles
Candlelight vigils
Power outage
Playing with matches or lighters
Smoking
Maintenance/construction

2013-05-23
Fire Protection Goals
Protect valuables by detecting and
extinguishing fire
Rapidly
Without damaging contents
Or harming occupants
Or harming the environment

2013-05-23
Fire Sprinklers
How do sprinklers work?
Temperature at ceiling reaches ~155°F
Liquid in bulb expands, causing glass to burst
Water flows out at 50-150 gpm in a spray pattern
After about a minute, fire alarm is activated

2013-05-23
Fire Sprinklers
Potential problems
Water can ruin artifacts
Resulting mildew spreads damage
Room becomes unoccupiable
Expensive gut and remodel
Water can leak out of the room, causing damage to
other areas
Water needs to reach the fire in order to extinguish

2013-05-23
Clean Agents & Inert Gases
Alternatives to Halon
Gas - not dry chemical
No residue
Electrically non-conductive
Refrigeration effect
Oxygen dilution

2013-05-23
Gas stored in cylinders
Pipe distribution system
Electronic actuation
Total flooding principle
Preaction detection
• Early warning
• 30-second countdown
• Optional abort

2013-05-23
Clean Agents Inert Gases
• Manufactured by man
• Same family as refrigerants
• Super-pressurized with nitrogen to a
liquid form
• Low-pressure
• Higher air density
• 10-second discharge
• Naturally occurring
• Reduce concentration of oxygen
• Super-pressurized, but still in a
gaseous form
• High-pressure
• Normal air density
• 60-second discharge

2013-05-23
Trade Name
Stored
Pressure
Safety
Factor GWP Key Benefits Key Disadvantages
FM-200 360 PSI 28% 2900 Most common, easy to obtain
service, low pressure Damage to environment
NOVEC-1230
or Sapphire 360 PSI 112% 1 Wide safety margin, good for
environment, low pressure
Since 3M only introduced it in 2003, it
is relatively new
Ecaro or
FE-25 609 PSI -22% 2800 Less agent required, may be a
drop-in replacement for Halon
Dangerous to humans, may be
outlawed again
FE-13 609 PSI 67% 11700 Very effective Not typically used for occupied areas,
not good for environment
Inergen 2900 PSI 10% 0 Good for environment, close to
atmospheric density
60-second discharge time, 40%
volume added to room, up to 10x as
many cylinders
Argonite 2900 PSI 13% 0 Same as above and easier to refill
than Inergen
Same as above and no 180 degree
nozzles
Carbon
Dioxide 2900 PSI Lethal 0 Very effective, easy to refill Not permitted for use in occupied
areas

2013-05-23
FM-200
HFC-227ea
90% of clean agent market
Over 300,000 systems installed
Seen as most acceptable clean agent to replace Halon
Approved for use as a propellant for asthma inhalers
Offered by Ansul, Chemetron, Kidde, Siemens and
many others

2013-05-23
NOVEC-1230
Developed by 3M and released in 2003
Atmospheric life of 5 days after discharge
Breaks down into naturally occurring molecules
Only slightly more agent required than FM-200
Same cylinders and valves as FM-200
“Greenest” of the clean agents
Same extensive supply channels as FM-200

2013-05-23
Inergen
90% of inert gas market
42% Argon, 50% Nitrogen, 8% Carbon Dioxide
Carbon dioxide causes hyperventilation which causes
people to breath faster
Offered only by Ansul
Can only be refilled by an Ansul distributor or another
company that will guarantee a tri-blend gas

2013-05-23
Clean agents & inert gases
• Extinguish fire quickly
• Reduce smoke damage
• Have no effect on surrounding areas
• Allow for manual discharge
If the fire is not out, the Fire Department hose will
supply ~150-300 gpm
Advantages of Clean Agents & Inert Gases

2013-05-23
Detection
Sprinklers use heat
Smoke detectors
• 0.5% - 3.5% obscuration by smoke
• Cross-zone to prevent false discharge
Air aspirating smoke detectors
• Active instead of passive
• 0.00075% - 0.3% obscuration by smoke

2013-05-23
Other Concerns
Sprinklers are still required in most cases
Preaction sprinkler systems reduce
likelihood of accidental discharge or
leaks
Preaction sprinkler systems use the
detection system already in place for a
clean agent or inert gas system

2013-05-23
Plan Review & Inspections
Total flooding systems are based on volume
– not area
No vertical tee splits
Clearance from nozzle to equipment
Pressure venting
Verify room dimensions
Room integrity test
Test automatic damper actuation
All wire in conduit
Rigid bracing within 12” of each change of direction

2013-05-23
Thank you
Ben Adams
Fire Safety & Security Sales Manager
Building Technologies
8600 N Royal Ln Ste 100
Irving, TX 75067
benjamin.adams@siemens.com
siemens.com/answers

Clean Agent & Inert Gas Fire Suppression

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