Automatic fire suppression systems control and extinguish fires without human intervention.
According to the National Fire Protection Association, there were 1,602,000 fires reported in the United States in 2005. There were 3,675 civilian deaths, 17,925 civilian injuries, and $9.2 billion in property damage. A fire department responded to a fire every 20 seconds and a structure fire was reported every 62 seconds.[1]
Although man has fought fire for centuries, it was not until Feb. 10, 1863 that the first fire extinguisher patent was issued to Alanson Crane of Virginia. The first fire sprinkler system was patented by H.W. Pratt in 1872. But the first practical automatic sprinkler system was invented in 1874 by Henry S. Parmalee of New Haven, CT. He installed the system in a piano factory he owned.
The Society of Fire Protection Engineers was founded in Boston on Oct. 31, 1950,
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Today there are numerous types of Automatic Fire Suppression Systems. Systems are as diverse as the many applications. In general, however, Automatic Fire Suppression Systems fall into two categories. These are engineered and pre-engineered systems.
Engineered Fire Suppression Systems are design specific. Engineered systems are usually for larger installations where the system is designed for the particular application. Examples include marine and land vehicle applications, computer clean rooms, public and private buildings, industrial paint lines, dip tanks and electrical switch rooms.
Pre-Engineered Fire Suppression Systems do not require the involvement of a design engineer beyond the original product design. Pre-engineered systems are made of pre-designed components. Examples of pre-engineered systems include commercial kitchen systems and industrial paint rooms and paint booths and industrial storage areas.
Pre-engineered systems most commonly use a simple wet or dry chemical agent, such as potassium carbonate or monoammonium phosphate (MAP). Engineered systems use a number of gaseous or solid agents. Many are specifically formulated. Some, such as 3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, are stored as a liquid and discharged as a gas.
By definition, an automatic fire suppression system can operate without human intervention. To do so it must possess a means of detection, actuation and delivery.
In many systems, detection is accomplished by mechanical or electrical means. Mechanical detection uses fusible-link or thermo-bulb detectors. These detectors are designed to separate at a specific temperature and release tension on a release mechanism. Electrical detection uses heat detectors equipped with self-restoring, normally-open contacts which close when a predetermined temperature is reached.
Remote and local manual operation is also possible.
Delivery is accomplished by means of piping and nozzles. Nozzle design is specific to the agent used and coverage desired.
In the early days, water was the exclusive fire suppression agent. Although still used today, water has limitations. Most notably, its liquid and conductive properties can cause as much property damage as fire itself.
| Agent | Primary Ingredient | Applications |
|---|---|---|
| FM-200 | Heptafluoropropane | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centers, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms |
| 3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid | Fluorinated ketone | Electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centers, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms |
| Argonite | Argon and nitrogen | Same applications and FM-200 and Novec 1230 fluid; less Class B style hazards |
| FE-13 | Fluoroform | Police evidence freezers, inerting natural gas pumping stations or trains/trucks/cranes operating in cold weather, electronics, medical equipment, production equipment, libraries, data centers, medical record rooms, server rooms, oil pumping stations, engine compartments, telecommunications rooms, switch rooms, engine and machinery spaces, pump rooms, control rooms |
| Wet Chemical | Potassium carbonate | Commercial kitchens |
| ABC Dry Chemical | Monoammonium phosphate | Paint booths, dip tanks, coating operations, flammable liquid storage areas, paint mixing areas, exhaust ducts |
| Regular Dry Chemical | Sodium bicarbonate | Gasoline, propane and solvents, live electrical equipment, flammable liquids |
| Carbon Dioxide | Carbon Dioxide | Non-occupied control rooms, coating operations, paint lines, dust collectors, transformer vaults, live electrical equipment, flammable liquids, commercial fryers |
| Foam | Synthetic detergent, polysaccharide, fluoroakyl suffaccant | Flammable liquids |
| Purple K Dry Chemical | Potassium bicarbonate | High hazard commercial and industrial applications, especially with flammable liquids |
| Halotron 1 | 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane | Live electrical equipment, flammable liquids |
| Water Mist | Water | Ordinary flammables (Paper, wood, cloth) |
| Water | Water | Ordinary flammables (Paper, wood, cloth) |
Despite their effectiveness, chemical fire extinguishing agents are not without disadvantages. In the early 20th century, carbon tetrachloride was extensively used as a dry cleaning solvent, a refrigerant and as a fire extinguishing agent. In time, it was found carbon tetrachloride could lead to severe health effects.
From the mid 1960s Halon 1301 was the industry standard for protecting high value assets from the threat of fire. Halon 1301 had many benefits as a fire suppression agent; it is fast acting, safe for assets and required minimal storage space. Halon 1301s major drawbacks are that it depletes atmospheric ozone and is potentially harmful to humans.
Since 1987, some 191 nations have signed The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. The Protocol is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of a number of substances believed to be responsible for ozone depletion. Among these were halogenated hydrocarbons often used in fire suppression. As a result manufacturers have focused on alternatives to halogenated hydrocarbons, such as Halon 1301 and Halon 1211.
A number of countries have also taken steps to mandate the removal of installed Halon systems. Most notably these include Germany and Australia, the first two countries in the world to require this action. In both of these countries complete removal of installed Halon systems has been completed except for a very few essential use applications. The European Union is currently undergoing a similar mandated removal of installed Halon systems.
Since the early 1990s manufacturers have successfully developed safe and effective Halon alternatives. These include DuPont FM-200, American Pacific’s Halotron and 3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid. Generally, the Halon replacement agents available today fall into two broad categories, in-kind (gaseous extinguishing agents) or not in-kind (alternative technologies). In-kind gaseous agents generally fall into two further categories, Halocarbons and Inert Gases. Not in-kind alternatives include such options as water mist or the use of early warning smoke detection systems.
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