Halon Fire Suppression

Any atmosphere displacing system (Halon, N₂, CO₂) can do a very good job of extinguishing a flame. None of these gasses are life sustaining, they are also non-toxic. CO₂ has a useful safety characteristic. Since it is the waste gas we produce, breathing the significantly higher concentrations of CO₂ required to extinguish a fire will cause an immediate gag reflex. So an accidental, potentially hazardous, discharge of CO₂ will not go unnoticed when anyone walks into your archive room.

A drawback of all of any atmosphere displacement system is that the gas only removes one of the three sides of the fire triangle, oxygen or air. Despite the highly localized cooling that will occur at the nozzles, this will not be sufficient to cool the previously burning material. (Well maybe if the nozzle was located right over the fuel, but I would not anticipate being that lucky.) So once the flame is out and the CO₂ dissipates, the remaining heat can cause re-ignition. This is one of the advantages of using water to extinguish a fire, for it first robs heat and then the plume of water vapor displaces the atmosphere. The force of the stream can even move the fuel away from other fuel elements so all three parts of the triangle can be worked on with water. It will ruin you archive, so you shouldn't use water but you should know why it is preferred.

Halon is very effective, but very bad to breath and I think the EPA needs to be notified when there is a discharge for environmental reasons. I would think CO2 is best for all the reasons already listed. Drew

Thanks - guys for the input! Perhaps CO2 is the way to go, since it does help out with "advanced warning" of release. I have never heard of a "gag reflex" before, but it is an interesting advantage. I can't imagine that it would have any sort of ill effect on the archives as well.

I do know that the chances of the system being triggered while someone is in the room is rather remote, and they could get out pretty quickly. How much time would a person have to vacate the premises if a trigger occurred while they were down there? Literally the exit (up a flight of stairs) is only 15 to 20 steps away, which would no doubt be covered pretty quickly if someone saw the sudden release of the gasses from the system. I would further guess that flame would be pretty visible inside a room that size before it was enough to trigger a gas-purge... Plus there would be smells (combustion, gas???, etc.).

Anyone else, any thoughts?

The gag reflex is exactly the same response a petulant two year old gets when they hold their breath. But instead of the petulant child suddenly gasping out the higher concentration of CO2 in the lungs to get new fresh air, more CO2 comes into the lungs of the person in the room. This person will not need any klaxon warning, flashing lights or signs to know to flee. I believe this reflex has been used by paramedics and doctors to restart a spastic diaphragm.

I assume there is a smoke/fire detection and annunciation system in place; without one, the extinguishing agent would never know when to discharge. This is, of course, the fire alarm, and should be pretty hard to misunderstand the alarm signal. Systems are commonly set up to automatically call the FD, and can call an authorized representative of the building as well.

The usual scheme on CO₂ systems includes a mechanically actuated bell, powered by the CO₂ piping. This warns any occupants before the CO₂ builds up enough to trigger the gag reflex. A local fire safety system supplier would be a good source of additional info.

Check out FM200:

http://www2.dupont.com/FE/en_US/products/FM200.html

There are other brands of similar composition. FM200 is widely used in computer server rooms.

Mark Bingham
Relativity PL

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/08/world/main4586203.shtml?source=RSSattr=HOME_4586203

Halon leaves the structure in tact and kills people, sort of like a neutron bomb. I think it was also put on the list of greenhouse gases. In concentrations greater than 10% it can cause a nerve reaction.

Is it possible to "house" the artifacts in a separate glass covered or all glass container to allow looking at them but not touching them- except for the in-house personnel?

If so, consider doing that and filling the housing with nitrogen or carbon dioxide at minimal pressure. Then- you could use a sprinkler (water) system to protect the room and be able to knock down PLUS stop any fire outbreak without worry about damaging the artifacts- which would be secondarily protected from fire by the non-combustible gas in the containers.

Novec is used by Firetrace. http://www.firetrace.com/why-firetrace/why-firetrace/why-firetrace.html

Firetrace Technology is the leading technology used in the precision machining industry for lights out unattended machining applications, and their applications including computer installations military and a host of others.

While your museum application may not be on their current applications list, This company is a leader and their listing of Novec supports SANITREX's great advice. GA, Santirex.

milo

As Santirex pointed out Novec is the extinguisher of choice for archives and museums. More here.

Yes, Novec seems like a better product than CO2. A GA for Santirex.

Perfect for boats and contained work areas. No atmospheric displacement and, being non conductive, no damage to sensitive equipment (though whether the equipment needs to be cleaned afterwards I'm not sure). Fairly simple to maintain.

You need a clean agent suppression system with a single hazard panel. Keep it simple as possible. Clean Agents are those approved agents per NFPA(National Fire Protection Assoc.) and the EPA to replace Halon. Halon was banned as being an Ozone depletor in 1994.

Clean Agents like ECARO-25 and FM-200 are available and used today to protect critical areas due to historical value as well as critical areas like control rooms and electrical areas.

Look for a Special Hazard Suppression company in your area. I would start with Fike's website and look for a Dist in their area. If you have problems please let me know. Fike is a manufacturer of special hazard suppression systems. www.fike.com

If you have problems give me a shout I would be glad to help you richard.puig@gmail.com

Thank you all! I appreciate all the input, and knew the CR4'ers would be able to send me in the right direction(s) in short order.

It looks like I have plenty of homework to do...

check this this out regarding halon

http://www.fireprotectiononline.co.uk/news/3/Whatever-Happened-To-Halon-Fire-Extinguishers.html

http://www.ptsdcs.com/comproomfireprotect.asp

http://www.thomasnet.com/products/fire-suppression-systems-computer-room-96184577-1.html

http://www.ansul.com/en/Products/co2_systems/co2_sys.asp

While it's nice to see that my suppositions were not that far off the mark, I do recognize a knowing authority. GA

Would not a misting system destroy the artifacts? Books, documents, artworks and manuscripts just to list a few?

That is the original problem I was trying to get away from - water on the paperwork. I can actually live better with a personnel danger than water on the artifacts. That is not to say that I don't care about people, but it is to say that the artifacts have to be in the room 24-7 with no chance for removal in case of fire. There are no people from the general public in the room ever, and only for 3 hours a week is it inhabited by one or two trained volunteers who are out of the room more often than in the room. Plus they would detect a fire before the suppression system most likely would, anyway...

As long as I am not putting those volunteers directly in harm's way, I need to be sure that I do not place the artifacts in harm's way. If the artifacts are in danger of destruction by the fire suppression system, then I don't want to waste the money on any system. I will take my chances on the fire department saving the documents in the corner of the building, rather than put something in place that will specifically destroy the documents handily in one fell swoop. Code does not require we do anything at this time, since the structure is already grandfathered in.

With your sound concern of artifact preservation in mind, I wonder if you can make this storage room a sealed room. A fire in a sealed room will consume all of the oxygen all by itself. I realize this may not be practical with the age of the room, but I just wanted to make another proposal.

Good idea. I think there are paints and sealers that are also fire resistant.

I thought that might be the determining factor.

The manuscript library in the Ottawa parliament buildings has switched to novec since one of the older museums here suffered severe water damage (sprinklers went off accidentally). Many historical books and manuscripts took years to restore. Many were lost.

I think the determining factor for using novec was that it dries within minutes.

Perhaps it might be cost effective to designate specific areas to this type of suppressant instead of the entire building?

OK, as said, Novec don't cause damages to paper and paints. Myself I used to test introducing some documentS inside Novec and no damages for paper and also no damages for ink (You can write on the paper meanwhile the paper is submerged inside Novec)

Other good solution could be (if the room is well sealed) to use the technic of Oxyreduct, developped by Wagner, a true innovation in fire prevention.

Watch www.wagner-uk.com/

If you need more information contact me at srex@iese.edu

Depending on how small your area is there might be some loss cost alternatives you can reach me direct to discuss if you want we are a company that recycles halon and I can help you with this project. don.connor@halonbankingsystems.us