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Critical Asset Fire Protection

3M to Focus on Critical Asset Fire Protection at NFPA Expo

Any serious discussion of critical asset fire protection must include not only considerations of safety and effectiveness – it must also take into account the long-term economic and environmental sustainability of the fire protection agent itself. That is why it is important to choose a technology that not only provides fast extinguishment, but is also not burdened with the likelihood of use restrictions or phase-outs.

3M Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is an advanced alternative to previous generations of clean agents such as Halons and HFCs. It was designed at the molecular level to address the need for extinguishing efficiency, human safety and environmental sustainability. Novec 1230 fluid knocks-down fires over twice as fast as inert gas or CO2; extinguishing flames before they have a chance to spread. It also offers the widest margin of safety relative to other chemical clean agents, CO2 and inert gas mixtures.

As a clean agent, Novec 1230 fluid is safe for use on sensitive electronics and allows uninterrupted operation of energised equipment – keeping essential facilities up and running in the event of a fire. The agent is stored as an unpressurised liquid, making transportation much less complicated than gaseous materials, contributing to a more cost-efficient supply chain.

With zero ozone depletion potential, a global warming potential of one and an atmospheric lifetime of just five days, Novec 1230 fluid can deliver up to a 99 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions relative to HFCs – making it today’s sustainable solution for critical asset fire protection.

For HFCs, an Uncertain Future

Several regulatory initiatives launched in 2014 herald a change in the status of HFCs – with global implications. For example, the European Parliament has voted to support a proposal to cut the use of HFCs by 79 percent by 2030. The U.S. EPA has already announced that it will propose a rule in 2014 to change the status of HFCs under SNAP, in an effort to reduce the use of HFCs and promote low-emissions technologies.

Areas such as the Middle East may not see an immediate impact, but the global regulatory trends are clear; today’s policy realities suggest a future that severely restricts or financially burdens those using HFCs for their fire protection solutions. Fortunately, in Novec 1230 fluid, the fire suppression market has a proven, cost-effective and sustainable alternative that is available today.

Novec 1230 fluid is an ideal alternative for protecting facilities such as data centers, control rooms, museums and archives whose contents could be irreparably damaged by water, foam and dry chemical agents.

Low acute toxicity, combined with high extinguishing efficiency, gives Novec 1230 fluid a significant margin of safety – making it ideal for occupied spaces aboard ship and in communication and control centers.

Visit us during the 2014 NFPA Expo, 9th to 12th June 2013, Booth: 2125