WHICH SYSTEM?
HFC227ea (FM200) † - Useful where space and weight is a consideration. Not suitable for manual release only. Not suited for unheated storage locations. Global warming gas. Atmospheric lifetime 37 years.
HFC125 (FE25) † - Suitable for Class A fires. Not suitable for occupied areas. Suitable for cold locations. Global warming gas. Atmospheric lifetime 33 years.
HFC23 (FE13) † - High atmospheric lifetime. Not suitable for manual release only. Suitable for cold locations. Global warming gas. Atmospheric lifetime 264 years.
FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230) - Low atmospheric lifetime. Not suitable for manual release only. Global warming fluid/gas. Atmospheric lifetime 0.014 years.
Inert Gas - Usually used for normally occupied spaces. Disadvantage is the weight and area required for the cylinder storage. Inert gas is the ideal 'clean' agent, especially for life safety & environmental issues, usually our preferred agent.
CO2 – Extinguishing properties are well established and proven and it should be the preferred gas for suppression in unoccupied rooms and local application. It is especially suitable for electrical, chemical and deep-seated fires and is under specified. As it is heavier than air and toxic, care should be exercised when it is proposed to use it in below ground level risks or where cable trenches or ducts exist. Global warming gas.
Water Mist - Not normally a direct halon replacement. Regarded as a suppressant, rather than an extinguishant. Useful in high temperature fires where agent converted to steam. Water alone is not recommended for electrical risks (e.g. IT, switchgear etc.)
Feature |
FM200 |
NOVEC 1230 |
Inert Gas |
CO2 |
Water Mist |
| Global Warming Potential (100 year time horizon) | 2900 |
1 |
0 |
1 |
0 |
| 'Automatic' control in occupied areas at normal concentration. | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
| Toxic hazard to occupants at normal concentrations | No |
No |
No |
Yes |
No |
| Evacuation of personnel before discharge. | Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Discharge period | 10s |
10s |
60s |
60s * |
600-1200s |
| Room/enclosure integrity requirement | 10 min hold time |
10 min hold time |
10 min hold time |
10 min hold time ** |
No |
| Fire extinguishing performance – typical | Flames out within 10s |
Flames out within 10s |
Flames halved in 20s, out in 60s |
Flames halved in 20s, out in 60s |
Variable |
| Fogging on discharge | Yes |
Yes |
No |
Yes |
Yes |
| Force/turbulence of discharge | High |
High |
Low |
High |
HP systems Yes |
| Extinguishing mechanism | Mainly physical, some chemical reaction |
Mainly physical, some chemical reaction |
Reduction of oxygen concentration |
Reduction of oxygen concentration |
Cooling |
| Agent breakdown in flames | Yes hydrogen fluoride |
Yes hydrogen fluoride |
No |
No |
Steam |
| Cylinder storage space requirement, floor area | Twice that for halon |
Twice that for halon |
5 times that for halon |
3 times that for halon |
5 times that for halon |
| Cylinder location | Next to protected area |
Next to protected area |
Up to 80 metres |
Up to 20 metres |
Up to 20 metres |
| Single cylinder bank protecting several risks | Limited possibilities |
Limited possibilities |
Yes |
Yes |
Yes |
| Agent refill cost | High |
Very High |
Low |
Low |
Low |
* 1 minute for surface fires but up to 7 minutes for deep-seated fire risks.
** 20 minutes for deep-seated fire risks.
† HFCs. The UK government advises that HFCs can continue to be used where there is no safe, cost effective, practical and more environmentally acceptable alternative.
All data contained on this sheet is for general information purposes only and does not form (expressly or implied) a contract, agreement or a quotation. The information is to the best of our knowledge, accurate and is supplied for guidance only.