The AIM Act has taken a step toward fire suppression that is safer for the environment by phasing out agents such as FM-200™ for the new Novec™ 1230.
In a previous blog, we discussed FM-200™, the clean agent alternative to Halon fire suppression systems. The fire protection industry is always innovating to design systems and agents that are safe for the environment as well as people, and FM-200™ was only the first step in clean agent fire suppression. Over the years the industry has continued to innovate, which lead to the development of 3M™ Novec™ 1230 clean agent fire suppression systems.
Environmental Impact
One of the main goals of continuing the development of clean agent fire suppression systems is to create agents that are environmentally friendly. While FM-200™ systems were a significant improvement in environmental impact as compared to Halon due to Halon’s Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP), the fire protection industry knew it could do better and continued to develop greener alternatives which eventually led to the induction of Novec™ 1230. This clean agent has 0 ODP and <1 Global Warming Potential (GWP). Global Warming Potential is a standard set forth by the EPA which is a measure of how much energy the emissions of 1 ton of a gas will absorb over a given period of time, relative to the emissions of 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO₂). The low GWP of Novec™ 1230 indicates that it absorbs less energy and has a shorter atmospheric lifespan than CO₂, making it safer for the environment.
Safer for Humans
A standard known as the No Observed Adverse Effect Level (NOAEL) is used by the fire protection industry to determine the safety of a suppression agent at design concentration. The design concentration of an agent refers to how much agent is required to safely and effectively extinguish a fire. The relative difference between the established NOAEL and design concentration determines the agent’s safety margin. Novec™ 1230 has the highest safety margin of all clean agents at 122% for Class A & C fires, and 70% for Class B fires.
Convenience Realized
In addition to being a cleaner agent with minimal environmental impact and a safer alternative for the health and safety of people exposed to it, Novec™ 1230 is a highly convenient fire suppression agent. It has a significantly lower design concentration than comparable alternatives, meaning you need less of it. This results in more compact fire suppression systems with fewer cylinders to store and maintain. Being a clean agent, Novec™ 1230 is stored as a liquid but discharges as a gas that leaves no residue and is electrically non-conductive—making it safe around vulnerable paper documents, as well as sensitive and costly electronic equipment. Ultimately, Novec™ 1230 is an excellent fire suppression solution for many facilities.
Fire Protection Services from Fireline
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people and property from fire damage since 1947—and our experience shows in our excellent work! We are known for our superb customer service, our expertise, and our reliability. For more information on how we can help your residential or commercial property, visit us online or give us a call at (800) 553-3405. We are in Baltimore, MD, with a second office in Leesburg, VA. For more fire safety tips, be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.