Introduction

Introduction

The CO2 Agent

 The Agent
CO2
• Naturally occurring compound
• Closely linked to the life cycle of plants
and animals
• Plant life uses CO2 and Water in
Photosynthesis to make Oxygen and Food

CO2
 The Agent
CO2
• No Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
• No Global Warming Potential (GWP)
(GWP is measured relative to 1 kg CO2)
• No atmospheric lifetime
• No decomposition products
The Agent
CO2
• Clear, colorless and odorless
• Doesn’t leave a residue
• Non-corrosive
• Does not react to other materials

• Easily obtainable and relatively low cost

 The Agent
CO2 – Extinguishing
• Effective on Class A, B & C
• Extinguishes by OXYGEN DEPLETION
• Provides cooling of fuels
• 1 1/2 times heavier than air

Heat

Fuel Oxygen
The Agent - Application
 Rotating machinery
 Electronic Facilities
 Telecommunications
 Marine Machinery Spaces
 Dust collection areas
 Artifact Facilities
 Turbines
 Oil & Gas Facilities
 The Agent
CO2 Shall not be used to protect:
 Chemical compounds containing their own
oxygen supply (Gunpowder, Cellulose Nitrate)
 Reactive Metals (Sodium, Potassium,
Magnesium, Titanium, Zirconium)
 Metal Hydrides
 Hydrazine or Organic Peroxides
 The Agent - Properties
CO2 PRESSURE VS TEMPERATURE

1200

1100
Critical Temp
1000
900

800
PRESSURE (PSIA)

700
SOLID
600
Triple LIQUID
500
Point VAPOR
400
300

200

100 Atmospheric pressure

0
-110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
TEMPERATURE (°F)
 The Agent
CO2 – Extinguishing
• Stored in liquid phase under
pressure (cold /cloudy discharge)
• Forms dry ice when it vaporizes
 The Agent
• CO2 flows as 2-phase flow through pipe

• The discharge from the nozzle is part liquid,

which can be directed at specific risk >> the liquid
phase discharge allows Local Application
protection of risks, without the need to seal and
totally flood the rooms
 The Agent
CO2 can be used
•Total Flooding
•Local Application
 The Agent
 Tends to “sink” to lower levels of room
 The effectiveness of CO2 depends on the
ability to retain or “hold” concentration
 Hold-time dependent on room integrity
(number, size and location of holes, gaps and
vents), which is necessary for total flooding
 Low-level extract ducting is necessary to clear
the room following successful extinguishing of
the fire
 The Agent
CO2 used in:
• Low Pressure Systems
• High Pressure Systems

(Portable Extinguishers)
 The Agent

CO2 STORAGE

LOW PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE

25 bar @ -18°C 60 bar @ 21°C

LP STORAGE UNIT CYLINDER SIZES

3/4 TO 60 TONS 35, 50, 75, 100
POUNDS
MINI BULK
800, 1000, & 1500
POUNDS
 The Agent – LP or HP
M-BULK LPCO2 HPCO2
 Requirement over ~ 1000 kg xx xx
 Requirement under ~ 1000 kg xx xx
 Multiple shot discharge xx
 Hydrostatic testing xx
 Content supervision xx xx
 Semi-annual weight check xx
 Actuation supervision (Pilot) xx xx
 Over pressure indication xx xx
 Sch.80 required for 3/4”
and larger discharge piping xx
 The Agent
NFPA 12
Standards used for CO2 Standard on
Carbon Dioxide
 NFPA 12 Extinguishing
Systems
 BS5306 2000 Edition

Both standards based

on the same design code.
 The Agent - Comparison

Inert Gas systems - Low gas costs, clean, safe for

humans, for total flooding only
Halocarbons - High gas costs, smaller quantity of gas
required, by-products can be toxic, question of long-term
availability
Carbon Dioxide - many years of experience, low gas
costs, readily available, can be used as total flooding and
local application systems, toxic, cloudy discharge
 The Agent - Comparison
CO2 FM-200 INERGEN
Total flooding YES YES YES
Local application YES NO NO
Deep-seated hazards YES NO NO
Hose reel capability YES NO NO
Safe for occupied areas NO “YES” “YES”

Liquefied, compressed gas agent YES YES NO

Nominal storage pressures HIGH 60 bar N/A 150/200 bar

LOW 21 bar 25 bar N/A

The Agent

DANGER OF ASPHYXIATION
in confined spaces
 The Agent
NORMAL AIR

EXHALED BREATH
DECREASED
BREATHING
LOSS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS

BREATHING STOPS

FIRE SUPPRESSION

0 5 10 15 20 25 30
CO2 CONCENTRATION
 The Agent

 Discharge time delays

 Adequate audible / visual alarms
 No abort stations - per NFPA 12
 Location of storage containers
 Exit locations
 The Agent

 Vent CO2 after discharge

 Beware of low lying areas
 Shutdowns & Interlocks
 Personnel training
 The Agent

Has probably extinguished, without

incident, more fires than any other
gaseous agent.