Gaseous fire extinguishing based on 3M Novec 1230 GOTV.
Gaseous fire extinguishing agent 3M TM Novec TM 1230 has been successfully used in the Russian Federation since 2006 in a variety of areas from libraries to flight control centers. 3M TM Novec TM 1230 is the latest development in the gas fire extinguishing market. Therefore, it is quite natural that many questions often arise regarding the fire extinguishing mechanism, design calculations, as well as practical application. We hope that the article will provide answers to many of them. But first, let's figure out what 3M TM Novec TM 1230 is?
3M TM Novec TM 1230 is a substance based on a fluorinated ketone, developed by 3M Corporation. Chemical formula: CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2. Under normal conditions, 3M TM Novec TM 1230 is in the liquid phase. It is used for gas fire extinguishing. The main physical and chemical properties are presented in Table 1.
The main advantage of 3M TM Novec TM 1230 over its competitors is safety for people and the environment. Of course, our fire safety standards prohibit the release of gas until people have been completely evacuated. But there are many rooms where prompt evacuation of people is simply impossible. Such rooms include flight control centers, airport control rooms, and nuclear power plant control posts. In such rooms, special attention is paid to the safety of the fire extinguishing agent for people. For example, in the event of a fire in the flight control center, the dispatchers transfer control to the backup center. Transfer of control takes about 15-20 minutes. And the gas fire extinguishing system is triggered after receiving a fire signal after a delay of 30 seconds. That is, people must be in the room after the release of the gas fire extinguishing composition in the room for 15-20 minutes. Therefore, the use of safe gases in such rooms is vital.
So why is 3M TM Novec TM 1230 safe for people?
Firstly, the 3M TM Novec TM 1230 fire extinguishing mechanism is based on a 100% cooling effect. Each molecule of 3M TM Novec TM 1230 contains 12 fluorine atoms. Fluorine is a very heat-capacitive substance, which takes away thermal energy from the source of fire. The 3M TM Novec TM 1230 fire extinguishing mechanism is not associated with the displacement or binding of oxygen.
Secondly, each fire extinguishing agent has a NOAEL parameter — this is the maximum gas concentration at which no harmful effects on people are observed. By comparing the NOAEL parameter with the calculated concentration of the GFFS, you can understand how safe this or that substance is for people. For example, 3M TM Novec TM 1230 has a calculated concentration of 4.2%, NOAEL — 10%.
Thirdly, in the sanitary and epidemiological standards of the Russian Federation there is a concept — toxicity index. The Federal State Unitary Enterprise VNIIZhG of Rospotrebnadzor conducted tests to determine the toxicity index. A substance is considered non-toxic if the toxicity index is less than 20. According to the conclusion of the Federal State Unitary Enterprise VNIIZhG of Rospotrebnadzor, the toxicity index of 3M tm Novec tm 1230 is 3.45.
Based on the above data, we can say with complete confidence that 3M tm Novec tm 1230 GOTV is safe for people.
If 3M tm Novec tm 1230 is a liquid, then how does it pass into the gas phase?
3M TM Novec TM 1230 has a boiling point of 49ºC, and, therefore, evaporates quickly. The boiling point is supplemented by a special design of spray nozzles. The nozzle has a thick wall — 13 mm — and small holes. Therefore, due to the low boiling point and the pressure created on the nozzle (minimum — 5 atm.) 3M TM Novec TM 1230 GOTV passes into the gas phase when leaving the nozzle. Repeated tests by TYCO and Pozhtekhnika fully confirm this.
An important factor is the economic component of 3M TM Novec TM 1230, which in most cases plays a decisive role in choosing a fire extinguishing agent. The gas fire extinguishing market is growing every year, and, consequently, the number of manufacturers of gas fire extinguishing equipment is growing. New GPT modules appear, which differ in volume, in the module filling factor, as well as in a number of other parameters. Therefore, it is impossible to say in advance which GPT installation will be cheaper. Depending on the volume of the room, the price changes in «jumps», that is, if when calculating a particular room, a transition to a more expensive module with a larger volume is obtained, the price increases accordingly. For example, the CO2 equipment line has a fixed cylinder volume and the amount of extinguishing gas in the module. This explains the high cost of CO2 for small volumes. GPT systems using 3M TM Novec TM 1230 have a more flexible line of modules, so the «jumps» in cost are less noticeable.It should be noted that for the most common volumes of up to 100 m3 and from 120 m3 to 250 m3, the 3M TM Novec TM 1230 fire extinguishing agent is more cost-effective. For other volumes, at a slightly higher cost, unlike traditional GOTV, we get a modern system using a clean, absolutely safe for humans and equipment fire extinguishing agent.
It is not for nothing that the world's leading manufacturers of active fire safety systems have placed their bets on 3M TM Novec TM 1230. This unique composition, without exaggeration, has become the innovation that over time is designed to change the existing concepts of gas fire extinguishing.
3M TM Novec TM 1230 is not on the list of gases permitted for use in the Russian Federation. On the basis of what document can this gas be used?
Indeed, in the current regulatory documents (SP 5.13130.2009) 3M TM Novec TM 1230 is not included in the list of gases. However, the set of rules does not prohibit the use of other gases if separate regulatory documents have been developed for this substance. For 3M TM Novec TM 1230, the «Standard of the organization for the design of gas fire extinguishing systems with MPA-NVC 1230 modules based on the fire extinguishing agent 3M TM Novec TM 1230» «Pozhtekhnika» has been developed, which is registered with the Ministry of Emergency Situations and assigned the designation «VNPB 05-09». There are also fire safety certificates and a sanitary and epidemiological conclusion for GOTV and for the gas fire extinguishing system, a conclusion from the center for the safety of cultural values.
How and where does the filling and recertification of modules with 3M tm Novec tm 1230 take place?
Filling and recertification of modules takes place in Moscow at the Pozhtekhnika filling station. The filling station has a large throughput capacity, which allows for large volumes to be completed in the shortest possible time. The frequency of module inspection is once every 10 years.
To summarize, we can confidently say that the use of 3M tm Novec tm 1230 GOTV in Russia is fully consistent with the legal and fire regulatory framework. 3M tm Novec tm 1230 GOTV is safe for people, for the environment, has good economic indicators and is always available in a warehouse in Moscow.
firepro.ru ansul-r102.ru novec1230.ru protectowire.ru