Special Hazard SystemsMAXIMIZING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND

USE OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS IN THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND PROPERTY IN

CANADA

This education seminar and its content is provided by the Canadian fire alarm association.

The Canadian fire alarm association does not represent any other agency or authority.

Ensure you abide by all applicable codes, standards and Authority having jurisdiction Decisions for your work area.

SPECIAL HAZARDS OVERVIEW

Pre-Action Sprinkler SystemsDeluge Sprinkler SystemsFoam SystemsInert Gas/Clean Agent Systems

•Fluid Clean Agent Systems (Novec, Saphire, FM-200)•Inert Gas Clean Agent Systems (CO2, Inergen, ProInert)•Hybrid Systems (Vortex: Nitrogen and Water)

Room Integrity TestingWater Mist Systems

•High Pressure (Marrioff, Securiplex, Aquasonic)•Low Pressure (Securiplex)

Kitchen Suppression Systems• Residential/Commercial

SPECIAL HAZARDS OVERVIEW

PRE-ACTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

The hazard being protected could be damaged by introducing water.

Need to have an extra step that confirms fire before releasing water.

Electronic detection is connected a separate panel or fire alarm panel to solenoids.

Only suppress with water when both the electronic detection takes place and a sprinkler head is activated.

Also available in ready-to install cabinets, which include detection, suppression, and releasing equipment.

These systems are very simple to install and maintain.

PRE-ACTION SYSTEMS

Typical Pre-Action Sprinkler Releasing operationTypical Pre-Action type system conform to the following sequence:

• To ensure a fire exists, two devices (may be cross-zoned) have to activate first.

• Pre-Action panel or Fire Alarm panel activate electric solenoid to allow water to flow upon activation of a sprinkler head due to heat in protected room. This is a close-head automatic sprinkler pipe system.

Typical Deluge Releasing operationDeluge type systems conform to the following sequence:• To ensure a fire exists, two devices (may be cross-zoned) have to activate

first.• Deluge panel or Fire Alarm panel activate electric solenoid to start water

flow to all sprinkler heads in protected room. This is an open sprinkler pipe system.

• The sprinkler valve will indicate Deluge on it.• There can also be pneumatic type deluge systems not requiring fire alarm

panels

Typical Deluge

Releasing Layout

•Fire fighting foam systems suppress fire by separating the fuel from the air (oxygen). Depending on the type of foam system, this is done in several ways:– Foam blankets the fuel

surface smothering the fire –The fuel is cooled by the

water content of the foam –The foam blanket suppresses

the release of flammable vapors that can mix with the air

SPECIAL HAZARDS: FOAM SYSTEMS

•Typical applications are high-hazard situations, such as airport hangers, fuel storage & processing, heavy industrial, etc.

Why use Inert gas/clean agent systems:

•In some situations, the discharge of a water sprinkler system will cause significant damage and very costly damage. For example: IT/LAN Rooms, Switching stations, art galleries, etc.

•Sprinkler Systems are typically required for insurance and building code requirements, however additional systems can be installed to suppress a fire before it activates the sprinkler system. These systems extinguish fire by releasing a non-water suppression agent into the area.

• When the contents as well as the building require protection• Valuable Commodities• Minimize downtime from a fire event avoiding business interruption

INERT GAS/CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS

What are Clean Agents

NFPA 2001 Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems:

• 1.4.1.1 (2008) The fire extinguishing agents addressed in this standard shall be electrically nonconducting and leave no residue upon evaporation.

Two types of clean agents• Chemical Agents • Inert Gas

Image: FSSA

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS/CLEAN-AGENT SYSTEMS

Fire Tetrahedron

Chemical agentsHeat AbsorptionInterruption of the chain reaction

Inert gasReduces O2 level below 15% Inhibit combustion

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS/CLEAN-AGENT SYSTEMS

Chemical (Clean) agents

• FK-5-1-12 - 3M™ Novec 1230™ Fire Fighting Fluid• HFC 227ea - DuPont ™ FM- 200 ™• HFC 125 - DuPont ™ FE-25 ™ Fike ECARO• HFC -23 - DuPont ™ FE-13

Inert gas

• IG-01 – Argon • IG-100 – Nitrogen• IG-55 – Argonite - Argon Nitrogen mix• IG-541 – Nitrogen (52%) Argon (40%) CO2 (8%) - Inergen

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS/CLEAN-AGENT SYSTEMS

Where do we consider Clean Agents?

• Data Centers / Computer Rooms • File Storage• Wind Turbines• Museums / Art Galleries / Libraries• Electrical Vaults / Switchgear Rooms

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS/CLEAN-AGENT SYSTEMS

Conceptual Design:

Space planning• How many Cylinders?• How large are the Cylinders?

How do we determine the amount of Agent Required?• Select Agent type• Determine the design concentration• Volume of the space being protected LxWxH

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS/CLEAN-AGENT SYSTEMS

Halon 1301 Gas:

•Halon gas was the first major gas suppression system used for fire protection.

•Halon suppressed fires by displacing oxygen. As a result, it is a dangerous system for building occupants and is environmentally hazardous and was banned in the Montreal Protocol in 1991.

•Many Halon systems exist, but can no longer be recharged. Halon suppression systems are used for aircraft suppression in military applications.

•Existing Gas Systems are often reclaimed by Halon dealers

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS SYSTEMS

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

•The original "clean" agent

•Carbon dioxide suppresses fire without leaving behind an agent to damage sensitive equipment.

•CO2 should not be used in occupied areas due to health concerns.

•CO2 is relatively inexpensive and readily available

•For large systems, it may not be practical due to requirement for large cylinders banks

SPECIAL HAZARDS: GAS SYSTEMS

Intert Gas Suppression:Inergen:• ANSUL® INERGEN® systems protect enclosed

areas where there is a need for quick reaction to a fire, where people may be present, where fire may strike day or night, and where damage from conventional agents cannot be tolerated. This environment-friendly, people-safe agent boasts ZERO ozone depletion potential, ZERO global warming potential, and ZERO atmospheric lifetime.

SPECIAL HAZARDS: INERT GAS SYSTEMS

FM-200:

•First widely used replacement for Halon 1301

•FM-200 is a colourless gas which is liquefied under pressure for storage. The liquid is pressurized by Nitrogen, released as a gas and extinguishes most commonly found fires through a combination of chemical and physical mechanisms.

•FM-200 is commonly used due to low relative cost of installation

SPECIAL HAZARDS: CHEMICAL CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS

Novec 1230: • Fixed nozzle, fire suppression systems total

flooding applications. The agent has 0.0 ozone depletion potential, an atmospheric lifetime of just five days, and a global warming potential of 1.0.

• Very commonly used in data centre and server room applications

SPECIAL HAZARDS: CHEMICAL CLEAN AGENT SYSTEMS

INERT GAS/CLEAN AGENT SUPPRESSION LAYOUT

Releasing Panel

Base Building FACP

Special Hazard

controller

Relays/ Fan Control

GAS SUPPRESSION GENERAL LAYOUT

Room notification/Relays/ Fan

Control

Addressable Releasing Modules

Base Building FACP

Special Hazard

controller

Room Notification

/Relays/ Fan Control

GAS SUPPRESSION GENERAL LAYOUT

Inert Gas Releasing operationTypical Gas type releasing systems conform to the following sequence:

When two cross-zoned fire detection devices or releasing manual station operate:

• The control panel will start a countdown timer(programmable) for the release of the gas.

• Activate notification appliance devices inside and outside the protected room.

• If the control panel is separate from the fire alarm system an alarm signal will be sent to the fire alarm system and annunciated with notification accordingly.

• Should persons need time to evacuate the protected room an abort button, located at an exit above the release manual station (typically an all-in one type device but can be two separate), may be pressed and held in.

Inert Gas Releasing operation (Continued)

Sequence continued:

• With the abort button still actuated the count-down timer for release of the gas will continue however will stop at a predetermined time until the abort button is released at which time the final countdown will continue and allow the last person to exit the protected room.

• When the count-down timer expires, the control panel will activate the electric solenoid(s) on the gas cylinder(s) allowing the gas to fill the protected room via the nozzles spaced throughout the protected room. It is important to complete a room integrity test in the design phase to ensure the gas does not escape the room too fast allowing the fire to restart.

HIGH PRESSURE SYSTEMS

• High pressure means smaller tanks

and less floor space.

• 725psi system allows longer pipe runs,

smaller pipe sizes, remote tank

location, and multi-zone protection

from a single cylinder bank.

ADVANTAGES OF HIGH PRESSURE

▪Smaller Cylinders or less cylinders

▪Smaller piping diameters

▪Fewer pipe runs

▪Long distance piping

▪Unbalanced piping

▪Flexible Cylinder placement

▪Multi-zone option

▪Replacement of Halon Systems

Superpressurized 360psi

Superpressurized 725psi

Nitrogen

Novec 1230

ADVANTAGES OF HIGH PRESSURE

Much more pressure to work with pipe runs

360 psi 725 psi

typical minimum nozzle pressure

78 psi 116 psi

typical pressure loss at cylinder valve

111 psi 111psi

pressure left for agent push through pipes, T’s etc.

171 psi 498 psi

ADVANTAGES OF HIGH PRESSURE

For example…… 13 x 500lb/725psi = 24.9 ft²7 x 1000lb/360psi = 50 ft²

ADVANTAGES OF HIGH PRESSURE

•Employ a unique self pressure regulating valve design•Constant pipe pressure and flow rate•Reduced “Peak Flow Rate”•Reduced “Vent Area”•Smaller pipe sizes and lower pressure schedule

NEW INERT GAS SYSTEMS

NEW INERT GAS SYSTEMS

•All piping used in the system from the cylinder to the nozzle is the same as used in chemical systems, Schedule 40 piping and 300 pound fittings

•Traditional inert gas systems require the use of Schedule 160 piping before their required pressure reducing orifice plate and Schedule 80 piping above 2 ½” throughout system.

•Traditional fittings are 2,000 or 3,000 forged steel before their required pressure reducing orifice plate

NEW INERT GAS SYSTEMS

Storage containers can be housed up to 200 ft. away from protected area

Selector valves allow the same bank of cylinders to

protect multiple areas

Fewer nozzles needed

Low pressure (schedule 40) piping

Constant Flow Valve

Sch. 40 Pipe and lower pressure

fittings everywhere

10% to 20% equipment savings

Environmentally neutral

Longer pipe networks

Lower room pressure

50% smaller vent size required

10% to 20% less agent

NEW INERT GAS SYSTEMS

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

● Originally developed for the marine industry in the 40’s

● Montreal Protocol a catalyst that brings Water Mist back into consideration in buildings vs Halon○ Montreal Protocol for Substances that Deplete

the Ozone Layer was put into action in January 1989 naming Halon as a substance that needed to be phased out.

● In 1991 Marrioff established what is now known today as the “Hi Fog” system that works in different types of Hazards within a building (movement from marine to land based).

● NFPA creates Water Mist standard in 1993

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

Water Mist Systems control, suppress, and extinguish fires by discharging a fine water mist at high velocity. The water mist is created by pushing regular water through specialized nozzles at very high pressure, created either by pressurized gas or high-pressure pumps.

Some manufacturers:• Securiplex• Marioff Hi-FOG • Ansul• Fike

Typical Applications: Sites with minimal water supply and/or room integrity, ie: industrial turbines, machines, remote locations, historical buildings

Advantages:• minimal water supply required; can be supplied by static water

supply (tank)• Low cost, water is readily available• No room integrity required & very flexible • installation requirements• People & Environmentally friendly

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

Water Mist puts out a fire by discharging water at a high velocity through lightweight, small diameter stainless steel tubes and specially designed sprinklers. The result is a mist consisting of fine droplets that have significantly greater specific surface area and heat-absorbing capacity compared to water dispensed from low pressure water mist systems and traditional sprinkler heads. The water droplets vaporize more efficiently, which reduces oxygen available at the fire source.

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

Water Mist Suppression

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

CoolingFinely divided water sprays enhance the speed at which the spray extracts heat from the hot gases and flame. Reducing the drop size increases the surface area of the water mass and thereby increases the rate of heat transfer The conversion of water droplets to steam absorbs additional heat.

O2 ReductionWhen the discharge occurs and the water rapidly evaporates it displaces the oxygen in the vicinity of the flame and replaces it with steamThis will impede combustion and allow easy extinguishing using cooling

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

Water Mist Applications: ● Machinery Environments ● Extra Hazard Classifications ● Flammable Liquid Applications ● Gas Turbines Enclosures● Enclosed conveyor belts● No readily available water supply● Room integrity issues● Starting to gain acceptance in the data room market

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

NFPA and Water MistIn 1993, members of various industries met and organized the NFPA Technical Committee on Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems to standardize the technology. NFPA 750, ● 2000 ed.: The first major overhaul of the document to expand

on the base understanding of the technology, design objectives, and pertinent definitions

● 2003 ed.: Inspection, testing, calculation and supervisions ● 2006 ed.: Requirements for hangers supports, reserves, pumps

and test connections

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

In December 2011, the technology achieved a critical milestone when a major brand became the first water mist fire protection product to receive Underwriters Laboratory (UL) listing for Ordinary Hazard Group 1 (OH1) applications. This, together with Factory Mutual (FM) Light Hazard (LH) system approval, has paved the way for water mist to provide a complete fire protection solution for a range of commercial buildings including data centers, high-rise buildings, hospitals, cultural heritage sites and hotels.

FM5560 – Approval standard for Water Mist Systems

WATER MIST SYSTEMS

NEW DEVELOPMENTS INHYBRID SUPPRESSION

SYSTEMS

In 2008 the first Hybrid suppression system is released after 5 years of research and testing

In 2009 FM comes out with its own approval standard for hybrid (water and inert gas) fire extinguishing systems NFPA in early stages today of creating separate categories for this type of technology.

This system incorporates the beneficial features of:• NFPA 750 - Standard on Water Mist Fire Protection Systems • NFPA 2001 - Standard on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing

Systems

HYBRID SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS - History

“approve the development of a standard on hybrid, gas and fire water droplet systems”

NEW NFPA STANDARD APPROVED

A Hybrid Fire Suppression System utilizes both the Oxygen-inerting properties of Nitrogen, as well as the cooling properties of atomized water.

The correct amount of Nitrogen is used to lower the Oxygen level to 14% in the space, which is safe for human occupancy (NFPA 2001 states anything below 12% requires immediate evacuation), but there is not enough Oxygen present for a fire to sustain itself. All fires, regardless of fuel go out at 16%.

HYBRID SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS – How it works

Each emitter is only utilizing .26 GPM, and atomizing the water to sub -10 micron sized water droplets using multi-layer shock wave of nitrogen, which are also much too small to conduct electricity, thus not allowing any potential for arcing. With such a small quantity of water being discharged, there is no requirement for floor drains or clean-up.

HYBRID SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS – How it works

NitrogenEMMITER

Water Input

Shadow photography demonstrates 4+ shock waves at foil• Shockwave = instantaneous transition from supersonic

to subsonic velocity• Homogenous suspension of H20 and N2

EMITTER DETAILS

Atomization occurs at the emitter

• N2 velocity VERY HIGH

• H2O velocity at zero

Resulting suspension has high momentum due to the high gas velocity

Mass of H2O helps to transport low mass N2 around the room

HYBRID SUPPRESSION

AtomizationAir is pushed out of the way and drawn in, causing wrapping around dispersion - “Vortex effect”

As suspension disperses, N2 reduces air drag and H2O particles maintain velocity

HYBRID SUPPRESSION

How it works as an inert gas (Data Centre)Nitrogen gas actively dilutes the oxygen even in large roomsEffective for smaller firesRoom integrity/Dampers/Ventilation- not required 6 : 1 ratio of N2 to H20

How it works as a water mist system (Turbine)Atomized water absorbs heat from the fire to vaporize as steam Effective for large fuel based fires – Class B Flame is cooled while steam displaces oxygen at fireNo high pressure pumps are required-Nitrogen propelled 1 : 1 ratio of N2 to H20

2 TYPES OF APPLICATIONS2 TYPES OF EMITTERS

Nitrogen gas pressure of 25psig

Nitrogen flow is 250 SCFM per emitter

Water pressure of only <5 psig

Water flow is approximately 0.26 GPM per emitter

Each emitter covers ~ 1500 ft3 (42 m3)

With Demineralized water the discharge has zero conductivity

SYSTEM FOR ELECTRICAL SPACES

ROOM INTEGRITY TESTING

Gas suppression systems only work effectively if the room has only limited leakage. If the room leaks, the fire suppression agent will escape before the fire is effectively controlled.

With any gas fire suppression system – such as Inergen®, SAPPHIRE™ or FM200 – the room must be sufficiently air tight to hold these gases at the designed concentration while they suppress the fire. Building joints and cable penetrations move over time introducing leak points that may not be noticed during normal building inspections. Building maintenance activities may also inadvertently create places where gases can leak.

Room Integrity Testing calculates the leaktightness of a room. It predicts how long the extinguishing agent will remain at the correct concentration to effectively suppress the fire.

ROOM INTEGRITY TESTING

NFPA 2001 SECTION ON TESTING7.7.2.3* Review of Enclosure Integrity. • All total flooding systems shall have the enclosure

examined and tested to Locate and then effectively seal any significant air leaks that could result in a failure of the enclosure to hold the specified agent concentration level for the specified holding period.

• Quantitative results shall be obtained and recorded to indicate that the specified agent concentration for the specified duration of protection is in compliance with Section 5.6, using an approved blower fan unit or other means as approved by the authority having jurisdiction.

ROOM INTEGRITY TESTING

ROOM INTEGRITY TESTING

ROOM INTEGRITY TESTING

KITCHEN SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS1. Suppression wet

chemical line.2. Hood links to initiate

suppression.3. Manual Station to

initiate suppression.4. Nozzle, unique to

each type of appliance being protected.

5. Bottom left shows gas line shutoff.

5

Questions?

MAXIMIZING THE EFFECTIVENESS AND USE OF FIRE ALARM SYSTEMS IN THE PROTECTION OF LIFE AND

PROPERTY IN CANADA