Clean Agent System Plan Review - SC Engineeringscengineeringconference.org/2015 presentations/SATURDAY 6.pdf · WHAT IS A CLEAN AGENT NFPA 2001 3.3.6 A gaseous fire extinguishant

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

6-Jun-14

2 Clean Agent Plan Review

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


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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MOVIE

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rdE2g_FtamQ

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:

6-Jun-14 Clean Agent Plan Review

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


14

FAN TEST APPARATUS


15

EXAMPLE OF A LEAK

This leak ran the entire room

perimeter

It accounted for the same as a 4

sq ft opening


16

SMOKE PEN USED TO FIND LEAKS


17

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)


18

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%


24

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


29

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


30

THE PEN IN THE CENTER WILL MOVES &

ACTIVATED THE CYLINDER

ALWAYS REMOVE BEFORE SYSTEM

TESTING!!!


31

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

6-Jun-14


THANK YOU FOR ATTENDING!

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Documents

Clean Agent System Plan Review - SC Engineeringscengineeringconference.org/2015 presentations/SATURDAY 6.pdf · WHAT IS A CLEAN AGENT NFPA 2001 3.3.6 A gaseous fire extinguishant