Inert Gas Fire Extinguishants CXS490 New Technology Inert Gas Fire Extinguishants

Introduction relevant standard is NFP-A2001 At least four inert gases or gas mixtures commercialized clean total flooding fire suppression agents design concentrations of 35-50% by volume reduces ambient oxygen concentration 14% to 10% by volume agents mixed with air - extinguish by physical mechanisms agents consist of nitrogen, argon & blends of these One blend contains 8% carbon dioxide.

Inert Gases Not liquefied gases like Halocarbons stored as high pressure gases require high pressure storage cylinders may have storage volume and weight impact. use pressure reducing devices at or near the discharge manifold reduces the pipe thickness requirements alleviates concerns regarding high pressure discharges.

Inert Gases Discharge times - one (typical) to two minutes limit some applications - rapidly developing fires (explosions) Not subject to thermal decomposition form no byproducts. electrically non-conductive

Physiological Effects Primary health concern effect of reduced oxygen concentration on occupants reduced oxygen extensively researched & studied Many countries granted health & safety approval for use of inert gases in occupied areas in the workplace One product contains 8% carbon dioxide intended to increase blood oxygenation & cerebral blood flow in low oxygen atmospheres

Physiological Effects Inert gas agent IG-541 (Inergen) contains 8% carbon dioxide & approved by the U.S. EPA SNAP rules safe alternative to halon 1301 - total flooding systems At elevated concentrations carbon dioxide not safe for human exposure & lethal at fire extinguishing concentrations

Physiological Effects Generic Name Trade Name Maximum Exposure Concentration 5 minutes Maximum Exposure Concentration 3 minutes Maximum Exposure Concentration Above 53% (Volume %) IG-01 Argotec 43 52 (*4) IG-55 Argonite IG-100 NN-100 IG-541 Inergen

Notes 1: Nominal maximum discharge time is 60 seconds in all cases 2: Inert gas systems designed to concentrations below 43 percent (corresponding to an oxygen concentration of 12 percent, sea level equivalent of oxygen) shall be permitted, where means are provided to limit exposure to no longer than 5 minutes. 3: Inert gas systems designed to concentrations between 43 and 52 percent (corresponding to between 12 and 10 percent oxygen, sea level equivalent of oxygen) shall be permitted, where means are provided to limit exposure to no longer than 3 minutes. 4: Inert gas systems designed to concentrations between 52 and 62 (corresponding to between 10 and 8 percent oxygen, sea level equivalent of oxygen) shall be permitted given the following: (a) The space is normally unoccupied. (b) Where personnel could possibly be exposed, means are provided to limit the exposure to less than 30 seconds. (c) Inert gas systems designed to concentrations above 62 percent (corresponding to 8 percent oxygen or below, sea level equivalent of oxygen) shall only be used in unoccupied areas where personnel are not exposed to such oxygen depletion.

Environmental Factors Inert gas agents are neither ozone depleting substances nor greenhouse gases pose no risk to the environment

Environmental Factors Generic Trade Ozone Global Name Depletion Warming Potential (100 year) IG-01 Argotec IG-55 Argonite IG-100 NN-100 IG-541 Inergen

Specific Volume (m3/kg) Physical Properties Generic Name IG-541 IG-55 IG-01 IG-100 Trade Name Inergen Argonite Argotec NN100 Agent Composition Nitrogen 52% 50% - 100% Argon 40% Carbon Dioxide 8% Properties k1 (m3/kg) 0.65799 0.6598 0.5612 0.7998 k2 (m3/kg) 0.00239 0.00242 0.00205 0.00293 Specific Volume (m3/kg) 0.697 0.708 0.602 0.858 Gas Density 20oC, 1 atm kg/m3 1.434 1.412 1.661 1.165

Extinguishing Design Concentration Physical Properties Generic Name IG-541 IG-55 IG-01 IG-100 Trade Name Inergen Argonite Argotec NN100 Extinguishing Design Concentration (% Vol.) Minimum Class A fire (% Vol.) 36.7 41.1 39.9 39.0 Oxygen (% Vol.) 13.3 12.3 12.6 12.8 Class B Heptane (% Vol.) 31.7 36.5 39.3 33.6 Minimum Class B fire (% Vol.) 41.2 47.5 51.1 43.7 11.0 10.2 11.8 Inerting - Methane/Air (% Vol.) 47.3 * 61.4 41.7 - 8.1 12.2 * Not Reported

Flooding Factor Calculation (X) X - volume of inert gas ONLY added at 14.7 psia, 70oF (1.013 bar, 21oC) per volume hazard space (ft3/ft3 or m3/m3) VS - specific volume at 70oF (21oC) at 14.7 psia (1.013 bar) (ft3/lb or m3/kg) sV - specific volume at lowest temperature at 1 atmosphere t - minimum anticipated temperature (oF or oC) c - inert gas design concentration (%)

Specific Volume Inert gas k1 k2 Unit type SI English IG-01 (Argotec 0.5612 0.00205 8.40299 0.018281 IG-55 (Argonite) 0.65979 0.001207 9.8809 0.021496 IG-100 (Nitrogen) 0.7997 0.00293 11.973 0.0261 IG-541 (Inergen) 0.659 0.0024 9.858 0.0214

Flooding Factors (X) The calculation result in a series of flooding factors required to achieve various inert gas concentrations.

Flooding Factors (X) 36 36.1 36.2 36.3 36.4 36.5 36.6 36.7 36.8 36.9 0.446368 0.447932 0.449498 0.451067 0.452638 0.45421 0.45579 0.457367 0.458949 0.460532 37 37.1 37.2 37.3 37.4 37.5 37.6 37.7 37.8 37.9 0.462119 0.463708 0.465299 0.46689 0.46849 0.470088 0.471690 0.473294 0.474901 0.476510 38 38.1 38.2 38.3 38.4 38.5 38.6 38.7 38.8 38.9 0.478122 0.479736 0.481354 0.482973 0.484596 0.486221 0.487848 0.48948 0.491111 0.492747 39 39.1 39.2 39.3 39.4 39.5 39.6 39.7 39.8 39.9 0.494385 0.496026 0.497670 0.499316 0.500966 0.502617 0.504272 0.505929 0.50759 0.509252 40 40.1 40.2 40.3 40.4 40.5 40.6 40.7 40.8 40.9 0.510918 0.512586 0.51426 0.515931 0.517608 0.51929 0.520970 0.522655 0.524343 0.526034 41 41.1 41.2 41.3 41.4 41.5 41.6 41.7 41.8 41.9 0.527728 0.529424 0.531124 0.532826 0.534532 0.536240 0.537951 0.539665 0.541382 0.543102 42 42.1 42.2 42.3 42.4 42.5 42.6 42.7 42.8 42.9 0.544825 0.546551 0.548280 0.55001 0.551747 0.553485 0.555226 0.556970 0.558717 0.560467 43 43.1 43.2 43.3 43.4 43.5 43.6 43.7 43.8 43.9 0.562220 0.563976 0.565736 0.567498 0.569264 0.571032 0.572804 0.57458 0.576357 0.57814 44 44.1 44.2 44.3 44.4 44.5 44.6 44.7 44.8 44.9 0.57992 0.581711 0.583501 0.585295 0.587093 0.588893 0.590697 0.59250 0.594314 0.596128 45 45.1 45.2 45.3 45.4 45.5 45.6 45.7 45.8 45.9 0.597945 0.599765 0.601588 0.603415 0.60525 0.607079 0.608916 0.610756 0.612600 0.614447 46 46.1 46.2 46.3 46.4 46.5 46.6 46.7 46.8 46.9 0.616297 0.618151 0.620008 0.621869 0.623733 0.625601 0.627472 0.629347 0.631226 0.633107 47 47.1 47.2 47.3 47.4 47.5 47.6 47.7 47.8 47.9 0.634993 0.636882 0.63877 0.640670 0.642570 0.644473 0.646380 0.648291 0.65020 0.652123 48 48.1 48.2 48.3 48.4 48.5 48.6 48.7 48.8 48.9 0.654044 0.655970 0.657899 0.65983 0.661768 0.663708 0.66565 0.667600 0.669551 0.671507 49 49.1 49.2 49.3 49.4 49.5 49.6 49.7 49.8 49.9 0.673466 0.675429 0.677396 0.679367 0.681341 0.683320 0.685302 0.687289 0.68928 0.691274 50 50.1 50.2 50.3 50.4 50.5 50.6 50.7 50.8 50.9 0.693272 0.695274 0.69728 0.699291 0.701306 0.703324 0.705347 0.707374 0.709404 0.711439 51 51.1 51.2 51.3 51.4 51.5 51.6 51.7 51.8 51.9 0.713478 0.715522 0.717569 0.719621 0.721677 0.723737 0.725801 0.727870 0.729943 0.732020 52 52.1 52.2 52.3 52.4 52.5 52.6 52.7 52.8 52.9 0.734101 0.736187 0.73828 0.740372 0.742471 0.744575 0.746682 0.74879 0.750912 0.753033

Sample Calculation - Inert Gas Room houses electronic equipment Ambient temperature is 70° F Room Dimensions are: Length: 40 feet Width: 20 feet Height: 10 feet Room Volume = L x W x H = 40 x 20 x 10 = 8000 cubic feet

Amount of Agent A = V x X where A is amount of agent (m3 or ft3) V is volume of space (m3 or ft3) X is flooding factor of space from calculation or chart (m3/m3 or ft3/ft3)

Sample Calculation - Inert Gas Using IG-541 Inergen Class A design concentration is: 39.9% Maximum Human Exposure Concentration for 5 minutes is: 42.8% Maximum Human Exposure Concentration for 3 minutes is: 52.3% Available cylinder sizes for Inergen are: 205 ft3, 266 ft3, 355 ft3 and 439 ft3 Flooding factor for 39.9% concentration is: 0.509252 Amount /Volume of Inergen required to create a 39.9% concentration in an 8000 ft3 enclosure is: A = V x X = 8000 x 0.509252 = 4074 ft3 of Inergen

Sample Calculation - Inert Gas Cylinder Selection Round up to 10 439 ft3 cylinders AACTUAL = NumberCYLINDERS x CylinderSIZE = 10 x 439 = 4390 ft3

Sample Calculation - Inert Gas Check to determine the actual concentration that will be achieved, by looking at “Flooding Factors for Inert Gases @ 70° F for selected concentrations. 0.54875 relates to a concentration of ≥ 42.2% but ≥ 42.3%. This is < maximum allowable concentration of 42.8% for 5 minute human exposure & > Class A design concentration 39.9% The quantity of Inergen is acceptable.