Post on 10-Mar-2018
CLEAN AGENT SYSTEM
PLAN REVIEW SC Fire Marshals Association
June 6, 2014
Myrtle Beach, SC
WHAT IS THE PLAN FOR TODAY
What is a clean agent
How does it work
NFPA 2001 Overview
NFPA 2001 – Working Plans
Individual Plan Review
Class Plan Review
Inspection Points
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WHAT IS A CLEAN AGENT
NFPA 2001 3.3.6
A gaseous fire extinguishant
Properties
Electrically nonconductive
Volatile (readily evaporates)
Leaves no residue once evaporated
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TERMS YOU MIGHT HEAR
Montreal Protocol
1995 bans CFC production
CO2 equivalent
Equivalent amount of CO2 = Agent
Atmosphere effects (IR absorption)
Half Life
How long to break down in the upper atmosphere
NOAEL & LOAEL
No & Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level
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HOW THEY WORK…
Different agents work on different parts of the Fire Tetrahedron
Some interrupts the chemical reaction
Some lower the oxygen content of the air
Some Lower the heat
ZerO2Burn
Vortex (Victaulic) & AquaMist (Tyco)
Governed by NFPA 750
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COMMON AGENTS
Agent Trade Names Mfg
HFC-23 FE-13 DuPont
HFC-125 FE-25 DuPont
HFC-227ea FM-200
FE-227
Great Lakes Chemical
Dupont
FK-5-1-12 Novec 1230 &
Ecaro-25 (FE-23)
3M
DuPont
IG-01 Argon Minimax
IG-55 Argonite Chemtron
IG-541 Inergen Ansul Fire Protection 6-Jun-14
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HOW THE AGENT WORKS
Heat Reducing
FM-200
NOVEC 1230
ECARO
Interrupts Chemical Reaction
Halon
FE-13, 25, 36
Oxygen Reducing
Argon
Argonite
Inergen
CO2
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COMMON MISCONCEPTIONS
They cooling the room dramatically!
Room temperature may drop a few degrees
They do less damage than sprinklers!
Smoke is what does more damage to the computers than the fire or
the sprinklers
If the computer is no fire . . . ? (Heat & Smoke)
They replace Halon
Not really as effective on fire and they cost more
The Clean Agent replaces or is a substitute for sprinklers
Read 904 – Building no longer a fully sprinklered
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TYPES OF SYSTEMS
Engineered or Pre-Engineered
NFPA 2001 Definitions
Pre-Engineered – Fixed amount of agent to protect a predetermined hazard and volume
Engineered – Calculates how much agent is needed for the proper concentration in the enclosed space
85% are calculated to save agent ($$$)
State Engineering Law - Practice of Engineering
§40-22-30 (C) requires a PE for design
§40-22-280(B) (2) licensing in SC
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KEY SECTION OF NFPA 2001
4.1.3.2 – locate container within or near hazard protected
4.2.1.1 Piping = Sch 40 or 80 piping , screwed fittings
4.2.3 Fittings = Class 300 lbs fittings
4.2.5.1 – Nozzles listed for use (Refer to Mfg literature)
4.3 Alarm
Dedicated Function Control Unit – Listed for releasing service)
Connect to building alarm panel (Check I/O matrix & Riser Diagram)
4.3.5.6 – Tim delays = 60 sec is normal (personnel evacuation)
4.3.6.4 – disconnect switch (physical) = for maintenance
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WORKING PLANS (SHOP DRAWINGS)
NFPA 2001 requires:
5.1.2 Working Plans (Shop Drawings)
5.1.3 Approval of Plans before installation
5.3.3 AHJ can require a “Fan Test” of room
IFC 904 Requires:
Automatic system interlocks (904.3.3)
Alarm & warning signs (904.3.4)
Monitoring per NFPA 72 (904.3.5)
Annual system testing (904.10.1)
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WORKING PLANS
Building Info
Enclosure info
Agent & concentration
Hazard protected
Description of occupancy &
“Neighboring” areas
Pressure change during discharge
Nozzles, wiring, isometric piping plan
Pressure ratings of components
Pressure ratings of components
Plan view of enclosure (to scale)
Wall sections
Container & pipe attachment
Sequence of Operation
Complete FA plans
Battery Calcs & Voltage drop
Agent & room calculations
Pressure relief vents 13
• 5.1.2.2 – Working plans need 26 items:
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OTHER PREPARATIONS
Enclosure integrity test (Fan Test)
Measures leakage of enclosure
Leakage effects the 10 min hold time (mfg requirement)
Equipment has to be calibrated (5 yrs)
Takes 1 hrs minimum for test (5.3.3)
Do you have the manufacturers manuals
Most manufacturers will provide a copy upon request
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FAN TEST APPARATUS
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EXAMPLE OF A LEAK
This leak ran the entire room
perimeter
It accounted for the same as a 4
sq ft opening
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SMOKE PEN USED TO FIND LEAKS
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PREPARING FOR PLAN REVIEW
Allow 60 min
Scale (Architectural & Engineering)
NFA has a handout for using scales (9 pages with pictures)
Table or desk
8.5 x 11 to 36 x 42 sheets
Calculator, pen, note pad
What type of system are you reviewing
Total flooding or local application
What type of hazard Class A, B, or C (different safety factors)
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GENERAL NOTES
• FM-200’s minimum
concentration is 7.2%
• Wrong % = Wrong
amount of agent
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GENERAL NOTES
• NFPA 2001 – 2012
edition
• ALL system wiring
MUST BE in Conduit
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I/O MATRIX
• All detections
devices are alarms
• Abort may NOT RESET
or HOLD the
countdown timer
• Abort only prevents
system discharge
• Low pressure is a
trouble signal
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VOLUME CALCULATION
Wrong % = Too little agent
Too little agent = no suppression
Be exact OR round up
This make this an Engineered system
Requires a PE
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CORRECT CALCULATIONS
Look at the correct calculations
Note 7.2%
Requires almost 200 lbs more of
agent
Almost 400 cu ft more volume
Rounding up is best practice
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CALCULATIONS
Minimum Design concentration for
FM-200 = 7.2%
Minimum Design Concentration for
NOVEC 1230 = 4.2%
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CALCULATION INPUTS
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WHAT AGENT?
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PIPING AND FITTINGS
4.2.1 – Requires piping be selected
based on system pressures
Normally Class 300 lbs fittings
Fittings may be threaded, welded,
or lister4
Issue for other fittings is pressure
and temperture
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HOW ARE YOU DOING
17 items to find on the plans
Did you find anything else?
Do you have questions
Seismic protection
Not a life safety system
Follow protection requirements for any mechanical system
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INSPECTION POINTS (7.7)
Check enclosure integrity
Check piping
Supported from structure & seismic if required
System wiring
MUST BE in conduit
NEC limits conduit to 40% fill
Check nozzles
Container mounting brackets
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INSPECTION POINTS (7.7)
Inspect mechanical components
Don’t dump agent!
Remove cylinder head & visually verify activation
Check Alarm inputs & out puts (use I/O Matrix)
Detection device
A/V devices
Abort switch
Pneumatic pressure test (40 psi – 10 min)
20% drop allowed
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THE PEN IN THE CENTER WILL MOVES &
ACTIVATED THE CYLINDER
ALWAYS REMOVE BEFORE SYSTEM
TESTING!!!
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HERE IS WHAT WE COVERED TODAY
What is a clean agent
How does it work
NFPA 2001 Overview
NFPA 2001 – Working Plans
Individual Plan Review
Class Plan Review
Inspection Points
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THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!
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