®
DUAL Page 3 of 28
Integrated Fire Protection System
OWNER'S OPERATION & MAINTENANCE MANUAL
FM-0860-0-31F
2. CLEAN EXTINGUISHING AGENT
2.1 AGENT
The clean extinguishing agent used in
FIREFLEX
®
DUAL total
flooding system is NOVEC 1230.
Note: The term NOVEC 1230 employed throughout this
manual refers to the extinguishing agent Dodecafluoro-2-
methylpentan-3-one known as SEVO 1230 Fire
Protection Fluid (also known as FK-5-1-12, 3M™
NOVEC™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, C
6
-F-ketone)
produced by 3M™.
2.2 DESCRIPTION
NOVEC 1230 is a colorless fluid. It is stored as a pressurized
liquid and injected into a room, area, or compartment that has
the structural integrity to retain the agent that has been
discharged.
NOVEC 1230 is dispensed as an odorless, electrically non-
conductive vapor. It leaves no residue.
NOVEC 1230 is a clean, efficient fire-extinguishing agent that
can be used on Class A, B, or C fires. It is a very stable, inert
and electrically non-conductive gas. Its primary use is for
energized electric equipment fire containment and preventing
reigniting.
2.3 ENVIRONMENTAL
NOVEC 1230 does not contribute to depletion of the
stratospheric ozone layer. NOVEC 1230 has an atmospheric
lifetime of 0.014 years. Its global warming potential is 1.
2.4 SAFETY CONSIDERATIONS
2.4.1 TOXICITY
The table 2.1 identifies the toxicological data on
NOVEC 1230 and compares this with HALON 1301.
Table 2.1 - Toxicological data
NOVEC 1230 HALON 1301
No Observed
Adverse Effect Level
(NOAEL)
10% 5.0%
Low Observed
Adverse Effect Level
(LOAEL)
10% 7.5%
Acute Exposure
LC50 (4 hour rate -
ppm)
100,000 800,000
Design Concentration
(minimum)
4.2% 4.3%
2.4.2 NOISE
Discharge of a NOVEC 1230 system can cause noise loud
enough to be startling but ordinarily insufficient to cause
traumatic injury.
2.4.3 TURBULENCE
High velocity discharge from nozzles may be sufficient to
dislodge substantial objects directly in the path of the
discharge. General turbulence in the enclosure may be
sufficient to move light objects, unsecured paper, etc.
Ceiling tiles in the vicinity of the nozzles should be clipped
in place to prevent them from being dislodged during the
discharge.
2.4.4 COOLING
Direct contact with vaporizing liquid NOVEC 1230 will have
a strong chilling effect on objects and can cause frostbite
burns to the skin. The liquid phase vaporizes rapidly when
mixed with air and thus limits the hazard to the immediate
vicinity of the discharge nozzle.
2.4.5 VISIBILITY
Upon discharge reduced visibility will be evident,
especially in humid atmospheres, as a result of the
condensations of vapor. The period of reduced visibility will
normally be brief.
2.4.6 PRESSURE
The discharge nozzle is between
73 Psi and 290 Psi (5 bar and 20 bar).
To Next Page
Loading...