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Special Hazard, Ecaro-25, FM 200, ProInert, CO2, Water MistThere are many different types of special hazard fire suppression systems. Special Hazards can be defined as any fire hazard that needs special attention and innovation to extinguish the fire. Field's Fire Protection, Inc. distributes Fike Special Hazard Fire Suppression Systems including Ecaro-25, FM-200, ProInert, High Pressure Carbon Dioxide, and Water Mist.
Clean Agent – Electrically non-conducting, volatile, or gaseous fire extinguishant that does not leave a residue upon evaporation. Halocarbon Agent – An agent that contains as primary components one or more organic compounds containing one or more of the elements fluorine, chlorine, bromine, or iodine. High Pressure – Indicates that the carbon dioxide is stored in pressure containers at ambient temperatures. At 70F, the pressure in this type of storage is 850 psi. Inert Gas Agent – An agent that contains as primary components one or more of the gases helium, neon, argon, or nitrogen. Inert gas agents that are blends of gases can also contain carbon dioxide as a secondary component. Local Application – A system consisting of a supply of extinguishing agent arranged to discharge directly on the burning material. Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) – The lowest concentration at which an adverse physiological or toxicological effect has been observed. No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) – The highest concentration at which no adverse toxicological or physiological effect has been observed. Total Flooding – The act and manner of discharging an agent for the purpose of achieving a specified minimum agent concentration throughout a hazard volume.
Agent The extinguishing agent used in Fike ECARO-25 Suppression Systems is Pentafuoroethane -- more commonly known by its ASHRAE designation: HFC-125. HFC-125 is a colorless, odorless, liquefied compressed gas. (See Physical Properties Table below.) It is stored as a liquid, but is dispensed into the hazard as a colorless, electrically-nonconductive, gaseous vapor due to its relatively low boiling point. HFC-125 has been tested and verified to be safe for use in occupied spaces when used as specified in the U.S. EPA Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) rules. Tests have proven that exposure to HFC-227ea (FM-200) is safe and effective in extinguishing fires at low concentrations; most of which are well below the EPA's maximum exposure levels. HFC-125 is approved for use in occupied areas up to a 11.5% concentration by volume with mandated egress time of five minutes or less.
Performance HFC-125's mechanism of extinguishing fires is considered active. Its primary action is through physically cooling the fire at the molecular level. HFC-125 belongs to the same class of agents used in refrigeration and is an efficient heat transfer agent. HFC-125 removes the thermal energy from the fire to the extent where the combustion reaction cannot sustain itself. Additionally, there is a chemical action that provides a secondary means of extinguishing the fire. Trace amounts of free radicals are released into the fire -- thereby inhibiting the chain reaction of combustion. HFC-125 does not significantly reduce oxygen levels and is safe for use in occupied spaces in accordance with the U.S. EPA guidelines. HFC-125 can be removed from the protected space by simple means of ventilation after discharge.
Use and Limitations Fike ECARO-25 Systems must be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements outlined in this manual, and in accordance with the requirements of the Standard for Clean Agent Extinguishing Systems, NFPA 2001, latest edition. ECARO-25 systems are primarily used to protect hazards that are enclosed; this provides a means to establish and maintain an effective extinguishing concentration. Typical hazards that can be protected include the following.
ECARO-25 systems shall not be used on fires involving the following materials.
Exposure Although HFC-125 is considered to be non-toxic, the EPA has established the guidelines controlling the amount (concentration) of agent provided for the protected area. Based on PBPK modeling, the EPA allows HFC-125 for use where people are normally present (normally occupied spaces) up to concentration of 11.5% by volume with exposure limited to 5 minutes or less. WARNING: The discharge of clean agent systems to extinguish a fire can result in potential hazard to personnel from the natural form of the clean agent or from the products of combustion that result from exposure of the agent to the fire or hot surfaces. Unnecessary exposure of personnel either to the natural agent or to the products of decomposition shall be avoided. The requirements for pre-discharge alarms and time delays are intended to prevent unnecessary exposure to humans where their presence is not critical to the operation of the area being protected. Suitable safeguards shall be provided to ensure prompt evacuation of (and prevent entry into) protected areas after discharge. Exposure Limits Normally Occupied Areas. ECARO-25 systems can be designed to concentrations above the NOAEL, given that means be provided to limit exposure to design concentrations shown in the table below that correspond to a maximum permitted human exposure time of five minutes.
Not Normally Occupied Spaces. ECARO-25 systems can be designed for concentrations exceeding the LOAEL provided that any personnel in the area can escape within 30 seconds. NOTE: Fike does not recommend ECARO-25 systems to be used in any normally occupied spaces where the design concentration required is above 11.5% Toxicity With a database in excess of 70 toxicity tests, ECARO-25 has been extensively tested and approved by institutions and agencies around the world. The LC50 toxicity rating for ECARO-25 is greater than 700,000 ppm. When you consider that most ECARO-25 systems are designed for concentrations providing 80,000 ppm or less, it is evident that ECARO-25 is safe to use. ECARO-25 will decompose to form halogen acids when exposed to extremely high temperatures. The formation of these acids is minimized by using fast-acting Fike detection and control systems and proper system design and installation of piping system to deliver the agent quickly. The generation of by-products from ECARO-25 discharge will be minimal when properly applied. Information provided from Fike ECARO-25 System Manual Rev. 5/05 Agent FM-200 is a clean agent extinguishing agent. The chemical name of FM200 is Heptafluoropropane -- more commonly known by its ASHRAE designation: HFC227ea. HFC-227ea is a colorless, odorless, liquefied compressed gas. (See Physical Properties Table below.) It is stored as a liquid, but dispensed into the hazard as a colorless, electrically-nonconductive, gaseous vapor due to its relatively low boiling point. HFC-227ea has been tested and verified to be safe for use in occupied spaces when used as specified in the U.S. EPA Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) rules. Tests have proven that exposure to HFC-227ea is safe and effective in extinguishing fires at low concentrations; most of which are well below the EPA's maximum exposure levels. HFC-227ea is approved for use in occupied areas up to a 10.5% concentration by volume with mandated egress time of five minutes.
Performance HFC-227ea's mechanism of extinguishing fires is considered active. Its primary action is through physically cooling the fire at the molecular level. HFC-227ea belongs to the same class of agents used in refrigeration and as such, is an efficient heat transfer agent. HFC-227ea removes the thermal energy from the fire to the extent where the combustion reaction cannot sustain itself. Additionally, there is a chemical action that provides a secondary means of extinguishing the fire. Trace amounts of free radicals are released into the fire -- thereby inhibiting the chain reaction of combustion. HFC-227ea does not significantly reduce oxygen levels and is safe for use in occupied spaces in accordance with the U.S. EPA guidelines. HFC-227ea can be removed from the protected space by simple means of ventilation after discharge. Physical Properties of HFC-227ea
Use and Limitations Fike HFC-227ea Systems must be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements outlined in this manual, and in accordance with the requirements of the Standard for Clean Agent Extinguishing Systems, NFPA 2000, latest edition. HFC-227ea systems are primarily used to protect hazards that are enclosed; this provides a means to establish and maintain an effective extinguishing concentration. Typical hazards that can be protected include the following:
HFC-227ea systems shall NOT be used on fires involving the following materials.
(Source: NFPA 2001, Section 1) Exposure Although HFC-227ea is considered to be non-toxic, the EPA has established the guidelines controlling the amount (concentration) or agent provided for the protected area. Based on PBPK modeling, the EPA allows HFC-227ea for use where people are normally present (normally occupied spaces) up to concentration of 10.5% by volume with exposure limited to 5 minutes. WARNING: The discharge of clean agent systems to extinguish a fire can result in potential hazard to personnel from the natural form of the clean agent or from the products of combustion that result from exposure of the agent to the fire or hot surfaces. Unnecessary exposure of personnel either to the natural agent or to the products of decomposition shall be avoided. The requirement for pre-discharge alarms and time delays are intended to prevent unnecessary exposure to humans where their presence is not critical to the operation of the area being protected. Suitable safeguards shall be provided to ensure prompt evacuation of (and prevent entry into) protected areas after discharge. Exposure Limits HFC-227ea systems provided for Normally Occupied Spaces can be designed for concentrations above to the NOAEL level of 9% by volume, given that means be provided to limit exposure to design concentrations shown in the table below that correspond to a maximum permitted human exposure time of five minutes.
HFC-227ea systems provided for Normally Non-Occupied Spaces can be designed for concentrations in excess of the LOAEL concentration of 10.5%. Where a possibility exists for personnel to be exposed, means shall be provided to limit exposure times in accordance with the above table. In the absence of the information needed to fulfill the conditions listed above, the following provisions shall apply.
Toxicity With a database in excess of 70 toxicity tests, HFC-227ea has been extensively tested and approved by institutions and agencies around the world. The LC50 toxicity rating for HFC-227ea is greater than 800,000 ppm. when you consider that most HFC-227ea systems are designed for concentrations providing 105,000 ppm or less, it is evident that HFC-227ea is safe to use. HFC-227ea will decompose to form halogen acids when exposed to extremely high temperatures. The formation of these acids is minimized by using fast-acting Fike detection and control systems, and proper system design and installation of the piping system to deliver the agent quickly. The generation of by-products from the HFC-227ea discharge will be minimal when properly applied. Information provided from FIKE HFC-227ea System Manual Rev. 6/06
Agent The extinguishing agent used in Fike's ProInert Fire Extinguishing System is a 50%-50% blend of Nitrogen and Argon -- more commonly known by its ASHRAE designation: IG-55. Because both Nitrogen and Argon occur naturally in the atmosphere, the Ozone depleting factor is zero. The Global Warming effect is zero and the Atmospheric Lifetime is not a factor. The agent is stored in Fike high-pressure cylinders at a maximum pressure of 2,900 psi at 60F. When discharged, IG-55 requires little or no clean-up, making it especially attractive for use in applications where damage from other extinguishing methods would be prohibitive. Performance IG-55 extinguishes a fire by reducing the residual oxygen concentration to a level that will no longer support combustion. IG-55 is most effective when utilized in Total Flooding applications where the protected hazard is enclosed or for protection of equipment that is self-enclosed in order to maintain the agent concentration after discharge. Because IG-55 does not decompose measurably when extinguishing a fire, there are no toxic or corrosive decomposition products found, other than those that may have been released due to the effects of the fire on the materials within the enclosure. A typical IG-55 Total Flood system is designed to provide a residual oxygen level of between 10% and 15% after discharge. While the residual oxygen level will not support combustion of most fires, personnel within the space will still be able to breathe normally, allowing sufficient time for egress, providing there are no harmful decomposition products from the materials affected by the fire itself. IG-55 can be removed from the protected space by simple means of ventilation after the discharge. Physical Properties IG-55 is a clear, electrically non-conductive gas that when discharged leaves no residue and does not result in "fogging" of the hazard. IG-55 is relatively odorless; however, some odor may be detected after flame extinguishment due to decomposition products from the materials affected by the fire. Complete listing of physical and chemical properties of IG-55 are listed below.
Use and Limitations ProInert Fire Extinguishing Systems must be designed and installed in accordance with the requirements outlined in the manual, and in accordance with the requirements of latest editions of NFPA 2001 and other applicable standards. Other countries and insurance organizations may have differing requirements. ProInert Fire Extinguishing Systems are used to protect hazards that are enclosed and described as Total Flooding; this provides a means to establish and maintain an effective extinguishing concentration. Typical hazards that can be protected include the following:
ProInert Fire Extinguishing Systems shall NOT be used on fires involving the following materials:
Exposure Although IG-55 is composed of gases that occur naturally in the atmosphere and is considered to be non-toxic, the following guidelines have been established regarding human exposure. These guidelines are defined as follows (extracted from NFPA 2001)
(a) The space is normally occupied (b) Where personnel could possibly be exposed, means are provided to limit the exposure to less than 30 seconds.
WARNING: Unnecessary exposure of personnel to the heat or by-products produced by the products affected by the fire should be avoided. WARNING: For risks that are occupied, ensure that the system is designed such that exposure of personnel to agent concentration is within the limits specified above. Pre-discharge alarms and time delays are intended to prevent unnecessary exposure to humans where their presence is not critical to the operation of the area being protected. Suitable safeguards shall be provided to ensure prompt evacuation of (and prevent entry into) protected areas after discharge. Safety devices, such as warning signs, audible devices, self-contained breathing apparatus, evacuation plans and personnel training shall be considered where applicable. Pre-discharge alarms and evacuation drills shall be provided for areas where the design concentration results in a residual Oxygen level of less than 10%. Information provided from FIKE ProInert Manual. Agent CO2 is an odorless, colorless, electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive, and non-deteriorating inert suppression agent. It is approximately 50% heavier than air, and is normally present in the atmosphere at about 0.03% by volume. CO2 is instrumental in controlling respiration and other vital responses in animals and humans, but it WILL NOT support life. Usage Limitations and Personnel Safety Recommendations CO2 is a standard commercial product commonly used for carbonating beverages, fast-freezing food products, purging pipes and tanks, medical purposes, and a multitude of additional tasks. It is also used for fire fighting purposes: i.e. hose reels, portable hand extinguishers, and engineered fixed pipe systems. CO2 is available in most large cities and seaports throughout the world. CO2 extinguishes fire by reducing the oxygen content of the protected space and/or local flame front to a point where it will not support combustion. Oxygen reduction below 16% by volume will extinguish most fires. Surface or “flash” type fires (oils, paints, etc.) are quickly extinguished. Deep-seated or “smoldering” type fires (paper, baled cotton, clothing, etc.) are extinguished by the prolonged action of a high concentration of CO2. Retaining the agent within the protected space reduces the fire’s ability to re-ignite. In addition, CO2 has a cooling effect on the surrounding atmosphere that has been found to be a benefit to fire extinguishment. Storage and Pressure When used as a fire-fighting agent, CO2 is stored under pressure in a liquid/vapor state. There are two forms of CO2 storage: Low Pressure, using a refrigerated storage tank, and High Pressure, using spun-steel cylinders of smaller capacities. Fike systems utilize high-pressure storage cylinders containing CO2 at an internal pressure of 850 psig (5861 kPa) when stored at an ambient temperature of 70ºF (21ºC).
Temperature The temperature of liquid CO2 is approximately –110ºF. (-78.8ºC.) as it is discharged from a nozzle. Direct contact with the liquid agent being discharged from the nozzle(s) will have a freezing effect on objects within the hazard and can cause frostbite and/or freezing if contact is made with the skin. The liquid phase of the agent vaporizes quite rapidly when coming into contact with the atmosphere, thus limiting this hazard to the immediate vicinity of the nozzle. Visibility The discharge of CO2 resembles a cloud as liquid agent vaporizes. The low temperature of the agent chilling the moisture in the atmosphere causes this cloud effect, or fogging. The fine “snow” accompanying the discharged liquid is remnant particles of “dry ice”. Noise
Cleanup
Use and Limitations
Areas of Use
Some of the hazard types and equipment that can be satisfactorily protected with CO2 include:
Areas of Non-Use CO2 should NOT be used on fires involving the following materials:
While CO2 will not extinguish fires involving these products, it will not react dangerously with them or increase their burning rate. A CO2 system designed for Total Flooding will provide protection of adjacent combustibles when used in these situations. Local Application systems with their attendant high velocity and directed discharge should NOT be used for these applications. Static Electricity CAUTION: Where CO2 may be discharged into potentially explosive atmospheres. Electrostatic charging of non-grounded conductors may occur during the discharge of liquefied gases. These conductors may discharge to another object causing an electric spark of sufficient energy to initiate an explosion. Personnel Safety Extinguishing concentrations of CO2 create a health hazard to area personnel. High concentrations of CO2 will cause suffocation. In addition, fogging during and after discharge can limit visibility in protected areas. CO2 does not contain oxygen in any form or quantity and WILL NOT sustain life.
The above effects are important to note as inexperienced personnel may fail to think clearly and take proper action if suddenly exposed to relatively low concentrations of CO2.
Any person overcome by CO2 should be moved immediately to a location where plenty of fresh air is available and artificial respiration applied, as in a case of drowning. DO NOT use CO2 as a stimulant. Call a physician or take the patient to a hospital for examination. Persons rendered unconscious by exposure to CO2 can usually be revived without any permanent ill effects when promptly removed from a CO2 atmosphere. Exposure Direct contact with liquid CO2 or the dry ice particles associated with the agent discharge will cause severe frostbite burns to the skin. CO2 vaporizes quite rapidly; therefore, the hazard is generally limited to the immediate vicinity of the discharge nozzle(s). Agent Migration CO2 can drift into, and settle in adjacent spaces unless specific precautions are taken to prevent leakage from the protected space, and/or leakage into nearby areas. Such leakage can accumulate into dangerous concentration levels if left unattended. Consideration must be given to warning all personnel in the area of possible agent migration. A means of ventilating the CO2 from enclosed areas, pits, etc., shall be considered when designing a CO2 suppression system. Consult NFPA 12 for additional personnel safety guidelines. Typically, flooded hazards and low-lying areas must be well ventilated before personnel are allowed to re-enter the protected space(s). Under some circumstances, it may be necessary to provide self-contained breathing apparatus (SCBA) to all persons responsible for investigating the event. When all traces of the fire have been extinguished and the possibility of re-ignition eliminated, thoroughly ventilate the hazard to ensure that only fresh air is remaining in the protected space. When there is a question as to the presence of CO2 after a discharge, DO NOT ENTER. Rely on the fire department or other responsible authorities to determine when it is safe to re-enter. 1.4.3 SAFETY RECOMMENDATIONS
Information provided from Fike Carbon Dioxide Manual Rev. 8/06
Introduction Fike Corporation is proud to present the Fike Micromist Fire Suppression System. The Fike Micromist System is a self-contained, single fluid, pre-engineered, water mist fire suppression system for total compartment protection of machinery spaces and gas turbine spaces. Micromist is an intermediate pressure, 175 to 500 psi (11,207 to 3,447 kPa), system that uses a fine water spray to extinguish a fire. The fine spray extinguishes a fire by cooling the flame and fire plume, displacing oxygen with water vapor, and reducing the amount of radiant heat. Micromist systems are designed, and have been tested, for use in protecting flammable liquid (Class B) processes and incidental combustible (Class A) materials. Micromist applications include, but are not limited to, the following:
System Limitations The following limitations apply to the use and application of Fike Micromist Systems: 1. Micromist systems are capable of protecting hazards with maximum volumes not exceeding 9,175 ft3 (260 m3), with a maximum ceiling height of 16 ft. (4.9 m).
2. The following items pertain to the hazard enclosure: • The protected hazard should be equipped with: Automatic door closures, a ventilation system, and • Lubrication supply should be shutoff as soon as possible. 3. Micromist skid must be installed in a location where the ambient temperature is maintained within +40°F to +130°F (4.4°C to 54.4°C) and must be protected from inclement weather, mechanical, chemical, or other damage. 4. The Micromist System shall not be used for direct application to materials, or products, that react with water to produce violent reactions or significant amounts of hazardous products. These materials include: • Reactive metals (e.g. Sodium, Potassium, Magnesium, Titanium, Lithium, Uranium, and Plutonium) 5. Micromist Systems CAN be used to protect an area having a flammable liquid present, provided it is a Flammability Class of 1, 2, or 3 as defined by the Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials, 2001 Edition. Examples of Class 1, 2, and 3 flammable liquids are: • Fuels such as #2 Diesel Fuel, Gasoline, Kerosene, Mineral Spirits, and Jet Fuels (4, 5, & 6) 6. Liquids with a flash point below 73°F (22.8°C) and a boiling point below 100°F (37.8°C) are Class 1A liquids that CANNOT be protected with a Micromist System. Liquids with a flash point above 73°F (22.8°C) that are categorized as Class 1B, 1C, 2, or 3 (A or B) as defined by the Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials, 2001 Edition, CAN be protected with a Micromist System. 7. Micromist Systems CANNOT be used to protect an area with a Class 4 flammable liquid as defined by Fire Protection Guide to Hazardous Materials, 2001 Edition. Examples of Class 4 flammable liquids are: Methane, Propane, Natural Gas, Butane, and Hydrogen. • Exception: Natural Gas and Propane driven Turbine Generator units may be protected providing the fuel source is shut down prior to discharge. 8. The Micromist System provides 10 minutes of active protection for Machinery Spaces. For Gas Turbine Spaces, the Micromist System provides 20 minutes of active protection. 9. Micromist Systems can be used to protect hazards having a range in temperature from +40°F to +325°F (+4.4°C to +162.7°C). Operating Principles Water is an outstanding fire suppression agent due to its high heat capacity and latent heat of vaporization. The Micromist nozzles use a plate to slice the small jets of water that flow through the nozzle orifice. The resulting water mist contains a variety of droplet sizes. The larger droplets provide the necessary energy and momentum to carry the smaller droplets to the base of the fire where the mist vaporizes and extinguishes the fire. The simple theory behind this development is a large amount of small droplets have a greater surface area than the same number of large droplets, therefore absorbing more heat. Water mist systems extinguish fires using the following basic principles:
The Micromist System extinguishes a fire by delivering a controlled, cyclic supply of water to a network of nozzles. Upon activation, and throughout the active protection period, the Fike Cheetah Control Panel sends signals to both high and low pressure side solenoids, to provide and control the required cyclic supply of water. The Nozzle Assemblies receive the water through the pre-engineered piping network. The nozzles create a fine water mist by the impingement of the water on the edge of a plate. The fine mist produced is directed into the protected space by nozzle placement. Personnel Safety Definitions
Information provided from Fike Micromist Manual Rev. 2/99 Clean Agent Systems (Including Ecaro-25, FM-200, ProInert, Inergen) NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems Inspection Requirements
Carbon Dioxide System Testing High Pressure Carbon Dioxide Systems NFPA 12 Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems Inspection Requirements
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