Green Gas for Fire Fighting Sub-Station

Neon makes a green color when electrified. If you want a blue gas, your can use methane.

You don't mean Halon 1301 do you?

Sabeet123, English may not be your first language, but it is the language used on this forum. Please learn to read enough of it to interpret the meaning of a question as straightforward as that in the OP, before making an idiot of yourself again.

The OP specifically stated "At the moment we are still using the CO2 type", to qualify his request for information about "Green Gas for Sub-Station fire fighting system".

Very simple, if you don't start trying to "be smart" and pick fault were there is none.

Oh, My old friend sebee,

You've done it again! That track record is intact.

The Guru JohnDG has given you god advice and you should heed it.

Peace be with you.

There is a product called 'Green Gas' but it contains propane. ???

Are you thinking of the BS EN 3 color code Green? If yes, this indicates one of the varied HALON systems. Is this what you are asking about?

[edit] I see lynlynch asked you about Halon 1301. This is common for a room flood/20 minute soak system.

There are many environmentally friendly Fire Suppression System gasses suitable for substations to chose from (for example Inergen).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inergen

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gaseous_fire_suppression

http://www.google.co.nz/search?num=100&hl=en&q=environmentally+friendly+Fire+Suppression+Systems&aq=f&aqi=&aql=&oq=&gs_rfai=

I don't know what country you are in but a search of your local government and/or fire regulation website may offer advice on locally-approved environmentally friendly gasses.

You did not indicate where in the world you are, so the information I offer is applicable to the US. Your location may vary.

There has been a world wide attempt to halt production of Halon, Both 3101, and 1211. The product is still out there and available for critical missions where the alternatives are not satisfactory.

But seeing as how you are starting a system from existing CO2. You should be able to use any of the alternative "clean" agents. My latest trucks are using Halotron 1. It is about 80% as effective as Halotron 1211. I also have portable extinguishers that use FE36. I am not sure of the exact comparison to the 1211, but it is also close. The only realistic difference is that a larger discharge rate is required for a given fire load. And that usually requires a larger amount of the agent to be carried. But, it seems that the original discharge rates for Halon were quite conservative, so in practice, the agent containers are only slightly smaller than Halon was.

Most of this information is available from the National Fire Protection Association. Also some usefull information from FAA part 139. Where are you located?

I did not mention Inergen because its use is limited, and I do not think it is as effective as the others, and would not be as good a choice for fire fighting unless there was other circumstances.

Thanks for putting us back on topic.

The amount of CO2 released into the atmosphere by your fire suppressant system is totally insignificant when compared to the toxins released if your substation should burn to the ground. That is if I understand your meaning of "green".

If you ask me CO2 is a good greenhouse gas. Try feeding it into your greenhouse - It makes the plants grow far better than any super fertilizer & the plants change it into oxygen for us to breath - keep the stuff I say & use it for good.

Go back to that simple law - Matter can neither be created or destroyed .....

But I do like the idea of different coloured gasses & what effect they may have on the colour of the substation fire - should be a sight to see.

Anyway I say let it burn - if the fault is enough to create a fire that will set of the suppression system it may be that the damaage is already done & unless the sub is in a high risk area - let it burn! & get the insurance claim submitted.

My Dear ,

From my experience, we are using FM-200,HEPTAFLUROPROPANE, which complies to NFPA requirements and proven record for ozone depletion.

You can verify NFPA-2001 and internet for further details.

-K. Peer Mohamed.

Recycling CO2 ... that's a good point ... it's not like you are "creating" CO2. The CO2 type may be more "green", if you consider the nrg requirements needed to "produce" the other stuff.

Lets all try to remember that this is designed to stop a fire. It is not for washing our car, or a gas to blow up balloons. There is a fire. And to stop the fire one wants as effective an agent as possible. Halons were developed, and marketed because they were effective. As the would learned of their dangers, alternative agents were developed. There are some very good reasons that professional fire fighters have gotten away from using CO2 extinguishers.