Clean Agent Systems
Clean Agent Fire Systems
Certain hazards within office, industrial, commercial and institutional facilities require special attention. These hazards include computer rooms, clean rooms, telephone switches, art and historical applications and any facility where water damage from sprinklers must be avoided at all costs. A variety of approaches and chemicals are available to provide a custom solution to your special hazard.
Typical Applications of Clean Agents
Clean Agents are particularly useful for hazards where:
- An electrically non-conductive agent is required
- Cleanup of other agents presents a problem
- Hazard obstructions require the use of a gaseous agent
- The hazard is normally occupied and requires a non-toxic agent
Types of hazards typically protected with clean agents include:
- Computer rooms
- Sub-floors
- Control rooms
- Tape storage rooms
- Critical file storage rooms
- Telecommunications facilities
- Clean rooms
- Electric switchgear
- Vaults
- Process equipment
- Engine test cells and other test bays
- Libraries, museums, art galleries, archives
FM-200 (HFC-227) Fire Suppression Systems
HFC-227 (FM-200), chemically known as heptafluoropropane, is a fire suppression agent manufactured in the United States by Great Lakes Chemical (FM-200) and DuPont Corporation (HFC-227). FM-200 is a replacement agent for the ozone depleting Halon 1301 used extensively before 1994. Just as with Halon 1301, people can be exposed to normal extinguishing concentrations of FM-200 without any fear of health problems. FM-200 is a safe, no-residue protection for Class A, B and C type fires and has zero ozone depletion potential.
Often FM-200 systems are used to protect critical installations formerly protected by Halon 1301, some of these areas include: •Data Processing Centers
- Telephone Switches
- Process Control Rooms
- Art and Historical Collections
- Facilities where water damage from sprinklers must be avoided at all costs
In a typical system the extinguishing agent is stored in cylinders or spheres. It is delivered to the hazard by a piping network and nozzles.
Vital to the functioning of the system is the fire detection and control network. Typically detectors sense the presence of smoke in the protected facility. The detection and control panel then sounds an alarm, performs pre-determined auxiliary functions and releases agent into the protected area.
At DeLau Fire Services our fire protection specialists are factory trained in the design of FM-200 fire suppression systems. Engineered drawings will be prepared using the latest versions of Auto Cad. You will be supplied hydraulic flow calculations and other engineering data detailing the expected performance of your FM-200 system.
Inergen Systems
Inergen is an environmentally friendly three dimensional fire suppression agent replacing Halon 1301. Critical facilities such as data processing rooms, telecommunications switching facilities, process control rooms, and others require a non-water based extinguishing agent that:
- Is electrically nonconductive
- Is safe for use in human occupied facilities
- Will not damage sensitive electronic equipment
- Has zero ozone depletion, zero global warming, and zero atmospheric lifetime
Inergen is a blend of three naturally occurring gases–Nitrogen, Argon, and Carbon Dioxide. The strategy of fire extinguishment employed by an Inergen system is like no other modern suppression system in use today. An Inergen system lowers the oxygen content of the protected area to a point sufficient to sustain human life, but insufficient to support combustion. It’s that simple.
Because it’s not a chemical agent, Inergen will not produce a heavy fog the way other extinguishing agents do, so escape routes remain visible.
The Inergen agent discharges through specially designed nozzles. These nozzles are fitted with discharge deflectors to minimize turbulence in the protected area.
Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression Systems
Carbon dioxide is recommended for the protection of unoccupied facilities. CO2 is economical and can be designed as a local application or total flooding system.
At DeLau Fire Services we install Kidde, and Ansul carbon dioxide fire suppression systems. Carbon Dioxide (C02) gas has a high ratio of expansion which facilitates rapid discharge and allows for three dimensional penetration of the entire hazard area quickly. Carbon Dioxide extinguishes a fire by reducing the oxygen content of the protected area below the point where it can support combustion. Carbon Dioxide Fire extinguishing systems typically store the agent in one of two different ways, high pressure cylinders, or low pressure CO2 tanks.
Advantages of Carbon Dioxide
When designed, engineered, and installed properly, Carbon Dioxide fire suppression systems will not damage sensitive electronic equipment. Carbon Dioxide has no residual clean-up associated with its use as a fire suppression agent. Carbon Dioxide fire extinguishing systems can be used to protect a wide variety of hazards, from delicate electronic equipment to high-voltage electrical equipment, all without causing damage to the equipment being protected.
CO2 Is Versatile
Used on a wide variety of hazards throughout the world:
- Flammable liquid storage
- Printing presses
- Mixing Operations
- Spray Booths
- Industrial Ovens
- Dust Collectors
- Paint Lockers
- Marine Applications
Elements of a CO2 Fire Suppression System
A Carbon Dioxide Fire Suppression system consists of one or more banks of cylinder storage containers to supply the CO2 extinguishing agent. Flexible discharge bends, or hoses, connect the cylinders into a piping manifold. The manifold in turn distributes the agent into the piping network. Nozzles regulate the flow of CO2 into the protected area.
Before Carbon Dioxide is released into the protected facility, fire must be detected by a detection and control system. We use the Pegasys addressable control panel for Kidde systems and the Autopulse control panel for Ansul systems.
Experience
At DeLau Fire Services we have extensive experience in the installation and design of CO2 fire suppression systems; in fact we have installed and maintained CO2 systems since our inception in 1986.
We have worked with major corporations to design CO2 systems nationwide for a variety of applications. Call today and speak with one of our knowledgeable professionals.
FACTS ABOUT HALON 1301
The Montreal Protocol and the U.S. Clean Air Act together have effectively caused the elimination of Halon 1301 from new use throughout the U.S. as well as the rest of the world. While Halon has been known as an extremely safe and effective fire suppressant for about thirty years, it is a member of the chemical family known ozone depleting agents.
As a result, The Clean Air Act dictated that production of Halon 1301 would cease by December 31, 1993. Utilization of new agents as well as recycling of existing Halon would provide the source of fire suppressants beyond this phase out date. It is important to understand that the Act did not make ownership or use of Halon 1301 illegal. Rather, the Act strongly encourages proper use and management of Halon stocks that currently exist. It only precludes any further production of Halon. As a result, many Halon 1301 systems remain in use today and recycled Halon is available for recharging these systems.
To schedule a design review, repair, service, or inspection, please visit our Contact Us page and contact the Division applicable to your needs.