Professional Documents
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Rev. 6
Safety
Products
HFC-227 ea
CF3-CHF-CF3
Heptafluoropropane
Note: This guideline has been prepared with the best information available at the time of publication. Changes in
standards mentioned or technical changes may apply without further notice.
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Nov-07
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Safety
Products
1) General Information
FM200 has been developed as an alternative to Halon 1301, production of which ceased at the end of 1993,
under the agreed adjustments made to the Montreal Protocol in November 1992.
FM200 contains no Bromine or Chlorine and has therefore an Ozone depleting potential of zero.
FM200 systems utilize one or more storage containers arranged to provide the protected area with a predetermined quantity of gas.
FM200 storage containers are designed to hold FM200 in liquid form and Nitrogen, which is used to superpressurize the container to 24.8 bar (360 psi) at 20C.
Handling and Installation of FM200 equipment should only be carried out by persons experienced in dealing
with this type of equipment.
2) Properties of FM200
FM200 is stored as a liquefied compressed gas and is discharged into the protected area as a vapour.
FM200 (HFC-227ea) is a clean, gaseous agent containing no particles or oily residues. It is produced under
ISO 9002 guidelines to strict manufacturing specifications ensuring product purity. FM-200 leaves no residue
or oily deposits on delicate electronic equipment, and can be removed from the protected space by ventilation.
The present understanding of the functioning of FM200 is that 80% of its fire fighting effectiveness is
achieved through heat absorption and 20% through direct chemical means (action of the fluorine radical on the
chain reaction of a flame).
FM200 decomposes at temperatures in excess of 500C and it is therefore important to avoid applications
involving hazards where continuously hot surfaces are involved. Upon exposure to the flame FM200 will
decompose to form halogen acids. Their presence will be readily detected by a sharp, pungent odour before
maximum hazardous exposure levels are reached. It has been concluded from fire toxicity studies that
decomposition products from the fire itself specially carbon monoxide, smoke, oxygen depletion and heat may
create a greater hazard.
Chemical Formula:
Boiling Point @ 1 atm:
Vapour Pressure @ 20C:
Vapour Density @ 20C:
Liquid Density @ 20C:
CF3CHFCF3
-16.4 C
3.91 bar (56.7 psi)
31.18 kg/m (1.95 lb/ft)
1407 kg/m
3) Approvals
The FM200 system and components used in the TSP extinguishing system have been tested and approved
by LPCB (European System) and UL/FM (non-European System).
Only approved components may be used in the FM200 system.
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4) Safety Margins
Novec 1230
Halon 1301
FM-200
Use Conc.
NOAEL*
Safety Margin
4% - 6%
10%
67% - 150%
5%
5%
Nil
6,4% - 8,7%
9%
3% - 29%
5) Environmental Comparison
Ozone Depletion Potential
(ODP)
Atmospheric Lifetime
(years)
Novec 1230
0,014
Halon 1301
12
6900
65
HFC-227ea
3500
33
* IPCC 2001
Modularized System
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Products
7) Hazard Analysis
Note: A thorough hazard analysis is important for a qualified quotation.
The following questions should be answered:
PROJECT:
Name
Country
SUPPRESSION SYSTEM:
CO2 HP
FM-200 Novec i2/i3
Inergen
Type
NFPA/FM
NFPA/UL ISO
VdS
DOT
TPED
None
Electric
Manual
Pneumatic
System Release
Inside Hazard
Outside Hazard:
HAZARD:
No.
Name
Hazardous Material
[C]
Minimum Temperature
[C]
Hazard Dimensions:
[m]
Length
[m]
Maximum Temperature
[m]
[m]
Width
[m]
Height of Ceiling Void (if applicable)
[m]
[m]
[m]
Only permanent impermeable building structures within the area may be deducted from the gross volume
Note
In the following cases please supply additional sketches/drawings with dimensions and any relevant details:
irregular room shapes
ceiling obstructions such as beams greater than 300 mm (12 in.) height
other unusual conditions.
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8) System Design
The system design requires the following steps:
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Check on design standard / hazardous material involved to get the design concentration
Determination of net* hazard volume.
*Only permanent impermeable building structures within the hazard may be deducted from the overall hazard volume.
Determination of the extinguishing agent quantity
Check the max. reached concentration
Determination of number and size of agent containers.
Determination of nozzle size and quantity.
Determination of pipe sizes and pipe run.
Note: Pipes and fittings are generally not supplied by TSP.
7,9%
8,5%
min. 9%
7,9%
Important!
These design concentrations
are not applicable (and are
not to be used) for Marine
applications.
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At elevations above sea-level, FM200 has a greater specific volume because of the reduced atmospheric
pressure. A system designed for sea-level conditions will therefore develop an actual higher concentration at
levels above sea-level and an actual lower concentration at levels below sea-level.
W = V C F C Alt[kg ]
Where
Example:
Type of hazard:
Gros volume:
Minimum hazard temperature:
Maximum hazard temperature
Altitude:
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C=
Where
W S 100
V + (W S )
x at sea level !
to make sure that the NOAL/ LOAL is not exceeded at the max. expected temperature in the hazard
whenever there is a change in the volume to verify that the change will not effect the system
performance / human safety
high enough to put out the fire (min. design concentration to be reached !)
low enough not to risk human safety (under NOAL 9% for occupied areas; under LOAL 10.5% for
unoccupied areas.
Example:
Type of hazard:
Gros volume:
Minimum hazard temperature:
Maximum hazard temperature
Altitude:
C=
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FM200 container
Each assembly may be provided with a range of FM200 fills to suit the design requirements.
After filling, the containers are super-pressurised with dry nitrogen to 24.8 bar +5% (at a temperature of 20C).
Table 3b:
Table 3a:
FM 200 Containers
Containers manufactured to meet 84/527/EEC (TPED)
Ht. to
Min.
Container
Tare
Diameter Valve
FM 200
Size
Weight*
Outlet
Filling
(litre)
--8
16
32
52
106
147
180
---
(mm)
--254
254
254
406
406
406
406
---
(mm)
--300
499
831
596
1020
1354
1633
---
(kg)
--15
19
26
44
72
90
106
---
(kg)
--4.0
8.0
16.0
26.0
53.0
73.5
90.0
---
Max.
Max.
FM 200 Gross
Filling Weight*
(kg)
--9.0
20.0
38.0
59.0
119.5
165.5
204.0
---
(kg)
--26
41
68
111
205
274
332
---
(mm)
178
254
254
254
406
406
406
406
610
(mm)
241
304
502
833
596
1020
1350
1630
1466
(kg)
5
15
19
26
49
72
90
106
207
(kg)
2.5
4.5
9.0
17.0
27.0
53.5
74.0
91.5
172
(kg)
4.5
8.0
17.5
33.5
53.0
106.5
147.5
182.0
343.5
(kg)
10
26
41
68
111
205
274
332
595
Note: 1) For extinguishing systems to be installed in Europe (EU) TPED-compliant containers have to be used.
2) Approximate 80% of the max. filling can be used for practical reasons (pipe hydraulic).
Min. Filling
26,0 kg
53,0 kg
Max. Filling
59,0 kg
119,5 kg
x o.k
x not o.k. / min. filling not reached
* experience value
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Nozzle Coverage:
180 Pattern
360 Pattern
Number of ports
Available size
15/20/25/32/40/50 mm
see figure
4.87 m
Example:
Hazard = 8,0 m x 4,25 m x 2,5 m
42 kg FM200
Note:
Discharge time for a FM200 system is max. 10 seconds (according to ISO14520/ NFPA2001)
A) Number of nozzles:
B) Nozzle size:
0.5 W = 2.125 m
180 Nozzle:
S180 = 5.9 m
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0.5 L = 4.0 m
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Side Tee
30-70%
90-70%
minimum length
of 10 x nominal
pipe diameter
10-30%
70-30%
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Incorrect
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9) Pressure Venting
The designer of a fire suppression system should be aware that the discharge of any gaseous extinguishing
agent into an enclosure will raise the pressure within that enclosure, which could affect the structural integrity of
the enclosure.
The protected enclosure will require a pressure relief device.
To calculate the free venting area, use the following formular:
QAgent vAgent
A=
c2
p v HOM
A
Q
v
p
vHOM
c2
*
**
Example:
A=
4,2 * 0,137
0,58
1 =
= 0.043 [m]
300 0,6
13,4
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Products
bk
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