Nov-07

Rev. 6
Safety
Products

Total Flooding Systems

- Guideline -

HFC-227 ea
CF3-CHF-CF3
Heptafluoropropane

Note: This guideline has been prepared with the best information available at the time of publication. Changes in
standards mentioned or technical changes may apply without further notice.

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

1) General Information

FM200® has been developed as an alternative to Halon 1301, production of which ceased at the end of 1993,
under the agreed adjustments made to the Montreal Protocol in November 1992.
FM200® contains no Bromine or Chlorine and has therefore an Ozone depleting potential of zero.
FM200® systems utilize one or more storage containers arranged to provide the protected area with a pre-
determined quantity of gas.
FM200® storage containers are designed to hold FM200® in liquid form and Nitrogen, which is used to super-
pressurize the container to 24.8 bar (360 psi) at 20°C.
Handling and Installation of FM200® equipment should only be carried out by persons experienced in dealing
with this type of equipment.

2) Properties of FM200®

FM200® is stored as a liquefied compressed gas and is discharged into the protected area as a vapour.
FM200® (HFC-227ea) is a clean, gaseous agent containing no particles or oily residues. It is produced under
ISO 9002 guidelines to strict manufacturing specifications ensuring product purity. FM-200® leaves no residue
or oily deposits on delicate electronic equipment, and can be removed from the protected space by ventilation.

The present understanding of the functioning of FM200® is that 80% of its fire fighting effectiveness is
achieved through heat absorption and 20% through direct chemical means (action of the fluorine radical on the
chain reaction of a flame).

FM200® decomposes at temperatures in excess of 500°C and it is therefore important to avoid applications
involving hazards where continuously hot surfaces are involved. Upon exposure to the flame FM200® will
decompose to form halogen acids. Their presence will be readily detected by a sharp, pungent odour before
maximum hazardous exposure levels are reached. It has been concluded from fire toxicity studies that
decomposition products from the fire itself specially carbon monoxide, smoke, oxygen depletion and heat may
create a greater hazard.

Chemical Formula: CF3CHFCF3

Boiling Point @ 1 atm: -16.4 °C
Vapour Pressure @ 20°C: 3.91 bar (56.7 psi)
Vapour Density @ 20°C: 31.18 kg/m³ (1.95 lb/ft³)
Liquid Density @ 20°C: 1407 kg/m³

3) Approvals

The FM200® system and components used in the TSP extinguishing system have been tested and approved
by LPCB (European System) and UL/FM (non-European System).
Only approved components may be used in the FM200® system.

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

4) Safety Margins

Use Conc. NOAEL* Safety Margin

Novec 1230™ 4% - 6% 10% 67% - 150%
Halon 1301 5% 5% Nil
®
FM-200 6,4% - 8,7% 9% 3% - 29%

* No Observable Adverse Effect Level

Low Observable Adverse Effect Level (LOAEL) for FM-200® is >10.5% !

5) Environmental Comparison

Ozone Depletion Potential Global Warming Potential Atmospheric Lifetime

(ODP) (GWP) (years)
Novec 1230™ 0 1 0,014
Halon 1301 12 6900 65
HFC-227ea 0 3500 33

* IPCC 2001

6) General System Design

Total Flooding is the only approved application method for FM200® systems!
Manifolded System Modularized System

All cylinders the same size

and the same filling!

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

7) Hazard Analysis

Note: A thorough hazard analysis is important for a qualified quotation.

The following questions should be answered:

PROJECT: (enter name if applicable; country must be indicated)

Name Country

SUPPRESSION SYSTEM:
…CO2 HP …FM-200 …Novec™ …i2/i3 …Inergen …Other (specify) __________________________
Type

…NFPA/FM …NFPA/UL …ISO …VdS …Other (specify) __________________________

Design Standard / Approval

…DOT …TPED …None …Other (specify) __________________________

Agent Container Approval

…Electric … Manual …Pneumatic

System Release

…Inside Hazard …Outside Hazard: ________ [m] horizontal distance ________ [m] vertical distance
Agent Container Location

HAZARD:

No. Name Hazardous Material

[°C] [°C] [m]

Minimum Temperature Maximum Temperature Altitude above/below sea level

Hazard Dimensions:
[m] [m] [m²]
Length Width Floor Area (alternative)

[m] [m] [m]

Height of Ceiling Void (if applicable) Height of Room (excl. ceiling/floor void) Height of Floor Void (if applicable)

Impermeable Building Structures: [m³]

Only permanent impermeable building structures within the area may be deducted from the gross volume

Note In the following cases please supply additional sketches/drawings with dimensions and any relevant details:
ƒ irregular room shapes
ƒ ceiling obstructions such as beams greater than 300 mm (12 in.) height
ƒ other unusual conditions.

Further Information / Comments:

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

8) System Design

The system design requires the following steps:

1. Check on design standard / hazardous material involved to get the design concentration
2. Determination of net* hazard volume.
*Only permanent impermeable building structures within the hazard may be deducted from the overall hazard volume.
3. Determination of the extinguishing agent quantity
4. Check the max. reached concentration
5. Determination of number and size of agent containers.
6. Determination of nozzle size and quantity.
7. Determination of pipe sizes and pipe run.
Note: Pipes and fittings are generally not supplied by TSP.

8.1) Design Standards

The following information/examples have been based generally on ISO 14520 - Gaseous Fire Extinguishing
Systems (BS ISO 14520 in the UK). NFPA 2001 values are mentioned additionally.

Minimum design concentrations for FM200® acc. to ISO 14520:

Class A solid surface / electrical fires 7,9%

Class A higher hazard fires 8,5% Important!
Class B liquid (Heptane) min. 9% These design concentrations
Class C gas fires 7,9% are not applicable (and are
not to be used) for Marine
Minimum design concentrations for FM200® acc. to NFPA2001: applications.
UL FM
Class A solid fires 6,4% 7,17%
Class B liquid/gas fires min. 9% min. 9%
Class C electrical fires 6,4% 7,17%

Table 1: FM200® weight requirements per volume of protected space:

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

Table 2: Altitude correction factor:

®
At elevations above sea-level, FM200 has a greater specific volume because of the reduced atmospheric
pressure. A system designed for sea-level conditions will therefore develop an actual higher concentration at
levels above sea-level and an actual lower concentration at levels below sea-level.

®
8.2) Determination of FM200 Quantity

W = V × C F × C Alt[kg ]
Where V = Hazard volume [m³]
CF = Flooding factor [kg/m³] (see Table 1)
CAlt = Altitude correction factor (see Table 2)

Example:

Type of hazard: Computer room (class A surface fire)

– Design ISO 14520
Gros volume: 8,0 m x 4,25 m x 2,5 m = 85 m³
Minimum hazard temperature: 20°C
Maximum hazard temperature 30°C
Altitude: 1500 m

W = 85 × 0.6254 × 0.83 = 44 .13[ kg ]

®
Round up to the next full kg x Required agent quantity = 45 kg FM200 .

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

8.3) Check the max. reached concentration

To check the concentration C reached in a hazard the following formula can be used:

W × S × 100
C=
V + (W × S )

Where W = Agent quantity supplied from the system [kg]

V = Hazard volume [m³]
S = Specific vapor volume [m³/kg] = 0.1269+0.0005131*T x at sea level !
T = Temperature [°C]

This check needs to be performed:

• to make sure that the NOAL/ LOAL is not exceeded at the max. expected temperature in the hazard
• whenever there is a change in the volume to verify that the change will not effect the system
performance / human safety

A system concentration will always need to be:

• high enough to put out the fire (min. design concentration to be reached !)
• low enough not to risk human safety (under NOAL 9% for occupied areas; under LOAL 10.5% for
unoccupied areas.

Example:

Type of hazard: Computer room (class A surface fire)

– Design ISO14520
Gros volume: 8,0 m x 4,25 m x 2,5 m = 85 m³
Minimum hazard temperature: 20°C
Maximum hazard temperature 30°C
Altitude: 1500 m

®
A quantity of 45 kg FM200 has been calculated at an altitude of 1500 m.
®
At sea level this would result in 45 kg / 0,83 = 54.22 kg FM200
What concentration is reached at the max. hazard temperature of 30°C ?

S = 0.1269 + 0.0005131 * 30 = 0.1423

54 .22 × 0.1423 × 100 771 .55

C= = = 8,32 %
85 + (54 .22 × 0.1423 ) 92 ,72

Concentration is less than NOAEL (9%) – okay for occupied space !

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

8.4) Determination of number and size of containers

Each container assembly consists of

®
ƒ FM200 container
®
ƒ FM200 valve with pressure gauge
ƒ Siphon tube

Containers are painted red as standard.

Containers are fitted with a label which provides handling, maintenance and recharge instructions.
All containers are designed for vertical mounting only.

®
Each assembly may be provided with a range of FM200 fills to suit the design requirements.
After filling, the containers are super-pressurised with dry nitrogen to 24.8 bar +5% (at a temperature of 20°C).

Table 3a: Table 3b:

FM 200 Containers FM 200 1230 Containers
Containers manufactured to meet 84/527/EEC (TPED) Containers manufactured to DOT
Ht. to Min. Max. Max. Ht. to Min. Max. Max.
Container Tare Container Tare
Diameter Valve FM 200 FM 200 Gross Diameter Valve FM 200 FM 200 Gross
Size Weight* Size Weight*
Outlet Filling Filling Weight* Outlet Filling Filling Weight*
(litre) (mm) (mm) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg) (litre) (mm) (mm) (kg) (kg) (kg) (kg)
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 4.5 178 241 5 2.5 4.5 10
8 254 300 15 4.0 9.0 26 8 254 304 15 4.5 8.0 26
16 254 499 19 8.0 20.0 41 16 254 502 19 9.0 17.5 41
32 254 831 26 16.0 38.0 68 32 254 833 26 17.0 33.5 68
52 406 596 44 26.0 59.0 111 52 406 596 49 27.0 53.0 111
106 406 1020 72 53.0 119.5 205 106 406 1020 72 53.5 106.5 205
147 406 1354 90 73.5 165.5 274 147 406 1350 90 74.0 147.5 274
180 406 1633 106 90.0 204.0 332 180 406 1630 106 91.5 182.0 332
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- 343 610 1466 207 172 343.5 595

Note: 1) For extinguishing systems to be installed in Europe (EU) TPED-compliant containers have to be used.
2) Approximate 80% of the max. filling can be used for practical reasons (pipe hydraulic).

Example: using TPED Cylinders

®
Required agent quantity = 45 kg FM200 .

Container size Min. Filling Max. Filling 80% Max. Filling*

52 l 26,0 kg 59,0 kg 47,2 kg x o.k
106 l 53,0 kg 119,5 kg 95,6 kg x not o.k. / min. filling not reached
* experience value

1 x 52 liter container required – filled with 45 kg FM200®.

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

8.5) Determination of number and size of nozzles

®
FM200 Discharge Nozzles: Nozzle Coverage:

180° Pattern 360° Pattern

Number of ports 7 8
Available size 15/20/25/32/40/50 mm
Max. area of coverage see figure
Max. coverage height 4.87 m

Example:

Hazard = 8,0 m x 4,25 m x 2,5 m

®
42 kg FM200

Note:
®
Discharge time for a FM200 system is max. 10 seconds (according to ISO14520/ NFPA2001)

A) Number of nozzles: Check of nozzle coverage

8.0 m
ƒ check nozzle coverage vs. hazard area
ƒ check max. coverage height (4.87 m) vs.
height of hazard
360° Nozzle:
1 nozzle 180° or 1 nozzle 360° possible. S360 = 4.53 m
4.25 m
180° Nozzle:
B) Nozzle size: S180 = 5.9 m
0.5 W = 2.125 m
ƒ check agent flow [kg/s] per nozzle and
determine nozzle size from table 4 (see §8.6)

Agent flow = 4.2 kg/s 0.5 L = 4.0 m

Nozzle size = 32 mm (1 1/4")

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

8.6) Determination of pipe sizes and pipe run

System Limitations

Flow limitations at T-splits

Bull Tee Side Tee

30-70% 90-70%
minimum length
of 10 x nominal
pipe diameter

70-30% 10-30%

Pipe arrangments at T-splits

Correct Incorrect

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

Pipe Size Estimation

Use table 4 to determine the pipe size Table 4: FM200® Flow in Schedule 40 Pipe
according to the agent flow.

Note: Table 4 is for estimation purpose only.

The final pipe size will be determined
by the hydraulic flow calculation
software.

Example:

®
ƒ Total quantity = 42 kg FM200 (in 10 s)
ƒ x 4.2 kg/s
ƒ find the next higher value in "Max. Flow" column

x estimated pipe size = 32 mm (1¼")

General Piping Practices and Rules

ƒ Piping material must comply with the local regulations.

ƒ Always try to design a symmetric pipe run.

Example for balanced pipe run

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

9) Pressure Venting

The designer of a fire suppression system should be aware that the discharge of any gaseous extinguishing
agent into an enclosure will raise the pressure within that enclosure, which could affect the structural integrity of
the enclosure.
The protected enclosure will require a pressure relief device.

To calculate the free venting area, use the following formular:

A required free venting area (m²)

QAgent × vAgent Q FM-200® flow (kg/s)
A= × c2 v specific volume of agent (m³/kg)*
∆p × v HOM ∆p max. allowable pressure increase (Pa)**
vHOM specific volume of the homogeneous
air / FM-200® mixture***
c2 resistance coefficient for the opening****

* Use 0,137 m³/kg for FM-200® .

** A value between 100 and 300 Pascal’s should be used if there is no other value offered by the
client or clients representative.
*** 0.6 is a good average value for 7,9% FM-200® concentration.
**** 0,5<c2<1; to simplify the formular, use c2=1

Example: 42 kg FM-200® to be discharged (within 10 seconds).

Maximum overpressure allowed = 300 Pa.

4,2 * 0,137 0,58

A= ×1 = = 0.043 [m²]
300 × 0,6 13,4

0.05 m² free venting area is required.

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Guideline For TSP FM200 Extinguishing Systems

10) Bill of Material

This list contains the system parts to be supplied by TSP.

8 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 1 ¼ inch / 32mm manifold check valve
16 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 2 inch / 50mm manifold check valve
32 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 65mm 2 port manifold c/w check valve 25mm
52 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 65mm 3 port manifold c/w check valve 25mm
106 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 65mm 4 port manifold c/w check valve 25mm
147 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 80mm 2 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
180 litre FM200 container assembly (EC) 80mm 3 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
4.5 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 80mm 4 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
8 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 80mm 5 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
16 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 100mm 2 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
32 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 100mm 3 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
52 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 100mm 4 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
106 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 100mm 5 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
147 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 100mm 6 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
180 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 150mm 3 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
343 litre FM200 container assembly (DOT) 150mm 4 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
1 ¼ inch / 25mm union adaptor 150mm 5 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
2 inch / 50mm union adaptor 150mm 6 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
3 inch / 75mm union adaptor 150mm 7 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
Solenoid actuator - standard 150mm 8 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
Solenoid actuator - flameproof 150mm 9 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
Local manual actuator 150mm 10 port manifold c/w check valve 50mm
Remote manual actuator (Mechanical) 1 ¼ inch / 32mm discharge hose
Pneumatic actuator 2 inch / 50mm discharge hose
Pressure trip 3 inch / 75mm discharge hose and check valve
3/8 inch / 10mm Nozzle - 180° 3 inch / 75mm discharge hose 3
3/8 inch / 10mm Nozzle - 360° Manual release caution plate
½ inch / 15mm Nozzle - 180° Door caution plate (Lock off)
½ inch / 15mm Nozzle - 360° Door caution plate (No lock off)
¾ inch / 20mm Nozzle - 180°
¾ inch / 20mm Nozzle - 360° Note:
1 inch / 25mm Nozzle - 180° • Manifolds are supplied from the UK only.
1 inch / 25mm Nozzle - 360° • Nozzles are provided in aluminium as standard
1 ¼ inch / 32mm Nozzle - 180° for Europe, but are available in brass or stainless
1 ¼ inch / 32mm Nozzle - 360° steel. For brass nozzles add ‘/B’ to regular part
1 ½ inch / 40mm Nozzle - 180° numbers and for stainless steel add ‘/S’ to regular
1 ½ inch / 40mm Nozzle - 360° part number.
2 inch / 50mm Nozzle - 180° • UL requires brass nozzles.
2 inch / 50mm Nozzle - 360°
4.5 liter container bracket Optional Components:
8/16/32 liter container bracket
52/106/147/180 liter container bracket Discharge Pressure Switch
343 liter container bracket Discharge Pressure Switch BASEEFA

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