1. Argonite Fire Extinguishing System

2. Contents Basics of the product Environment Safety
Standards and approvals
Testing, commissioning and handling
System Design
Components
Calculation and documentation
VdS software
Summary
Examples

3. Basic Properties

4. What is Argonite?
Argonite is an inert gas blend consisting of a 50:50 mixture of Argon & Nitrogen - two gases found naturally in the atmosphere
Argonite is harmless to personnel at the design concentration

5. ISO Listed Inert gases

6. Why Argon and Nitrogen?
The use of Argonite results in a gas mixture with a density similar to that of air, thus:
Hold times are greatly increased
Need for room sealing reduced
Release of an Argonite system produces some cooling effect but not sufficient to cause fogging

7. Cup-Burner Test Comparison: Argon/Nitrogen Blends
100% 90% % % % 50% % % % % %

8. Hold Times: Argonite versus Nitrogen21 20 18 16 14 12 O2
1350mm
150mm
2250mm
465mm
900mm
12,1%
(%)
ARGONITE 10
12,4% 1
NITROGEN 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 11

9. Mixture of air before and after release of Argonite
78,1 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10

10. Environment

11. Argonite - A Clean Agent
Zero Ozone Depletion Potential
Zero Global Warming Potential
No Secondary Combustion Products are Produced

12. Safety

13. Where Argonite can be used
Can extinguish fires in almost all flammable substances
Suitable for extinguishing fires in flammable and combustible liquids and gases
Non-conductive, therefore excellent for extinguishing fires involving electrical equipment
No residue, excellent for protecting delicate artefacts and high-value assets

14. Where Argonite cannot be used
Fires in chemicals containing their own oxygen supply and which are capable of rapid oxidation in the absence of air (such as cellulose nitrate & gunpowder)
Mixtures containing oxidising materials (such as sodium chlorate & sodium nitrate)
Chemicals capable of undergoing autothermal decomposition (such as organic peroxides & hydrazine)
Reactive metals (such as sodium, potassium, magnesium, titanium and zirconium)
Reactive hydrides

15. Applications Telecommunication Computer rooms Control rooms Cabinets
Archives
Others

16. Residual Oxygen Concentrations
NFPA Class A ROL 10% %:
NOAEL - 12% oxygen:
Above 12% leave area within 5 minutes
% oxygen, leave area within 3 minutes
LOAEL - 10% oxygen:
Below 10% only unmanned areas

17. Standards
And
Approvals

18. Industrial Approvals
FM (Factory Mutual) Approval Project Id. no.:
Underwriters’ Laboratories of Canada under Project Id. No. Cex1200; 34036
VdS - Approval initiated under Kidde Deugra
LPCB (Loss Prevention Council Board in UK) Project Id. no.: CP – BC 6749
FESC (Japan) Appraisal No. YO-130
CNBOP (Poland) Nr. 1314/2003 Type KD-300
SSL (Australia) No. Afp – 1628
Ref- Chapter 18 in Manual No. MA

19. Recognition of Argonite
NFPA, National Fire Protection Association. (NFPA 2001, 2000 edition No. IG-55)
Danish Institute of Fire Technology (DBI)
Det Norske Veritas (DNV)
EPA's SNAP program (Significant New Alternatives Policy)
LPCB (Loss Prevention Certification Board)
SSL, Activfire register of Fire Protection Equipment
Further to the above type approvals, many local authorities around the world have approved/recognised the use of Argonite for Fire Extinguishing systems: CNPP – CNOP – BV - LR
Ref- Chapter 18 in Manual No. MA

20. Testing &
Commissioning

21. Component Listing / Testing / Approvals
Valve BAM II-4149/2000 and II-5194/1999, Bauarts Zulassung number 05-DK bar cylinder with valve, National Board of Occupational Safety and Health CTP 2332/00
LPCB listed -
VdS: Initiated -
FM: Project , Class 5611, Dated
UL: Completed, awaiting certificate
SSL: Listed -
Fire Testing Performed by;
IMO - ISO – Vds – CEA – FM – ULC - LPCB (LPS 1230)
Ref- Chapter 18 in Manual No.MA

22. System
Design

23. Single Area cylinder bank arrangement
Bracket
Cylinder
Contact pressure gauge unit
Cylinder valve
Interconnecting pilot hose
Support for manifold
Manifold
Restrictor
Distribution piping
Discharge nozzle
Check valve
Discharge hose
Solenoid valve actuator unit with contact pressure gauge
Label for cylinder
Single core cable for remote pressure monitoring

24. Typical Argonite Installation

25. Evaluation of Risk / Hazard
Integrity of enclosure
Geometry of enclosure to include all voids
Unclosable openings (air conditioning units – OFF)
Pressure relief vents to free air
Determine nature of hazardous materials involved
Extinguishing value
Extended discharge
Evaluation of cylinder storage room
Diverter valve system

26. Calculation of Room Volume
All voids and open spaces such as window recesses should be included in the calculated volume
Fixed building structures such as pillars can be taken out of the calculated volume
Objects that can potentially be moved, such as cupboards or racking cannot be deducted from the calculated volume

27. Storage Stored as a pressurised gas
Filling pressure 150, 200 and °C
Storage remote from the risk area - or inside if permitted by local authorities
Cylinder fill can be read directly from a pressure gauge

28. Operating Pressure
Manifold: 150 / 200 / 300 bar
Distribution pipes: Bar
A pressure-reducing orifice is fitted between the manifold and the discharge pipe network
Hydraulic calculation programme determines the necessary pipe and orifice sizes

29. Discharge and Hold Time
Discharge time 60 seconds to achieve 95% of the design concentration according to NFPA 2001
Recommended minimum hold time 10 minutes, or “as required by the authority having jurisdiction”

30. System Features Means of activation
Solenoid valve, Pneumatic, Manual *Single solenoid valve can control up to 60 cylinders
Contact pressure gauge and pressure gauge fitted on each cylinder valve
Valve incorporates a bursting disc for relief of excess pressure

31. Diverter Valve Systems
If more than one area is to be protected, a centralised cylinder battery can be used
The size of the battery is calculated from the volume of the largest room and provides a single discharge into any one of the protected areas at a time
The total cost can be reduced due to the smaller number of cylinders required compared to stand-alone systems

32. Extended Discharge
Not safe to use in a manned area
Must be considered for rooms with unclosable openings
Rate determined by a door fan test
Constant flow arrangement
Separate pipe work

33. Calculation of Quantity of Argonite
Minimum design concentration defined by risk and design standard
The design quantity must be adjusted to compensate for the ambient pressure when installation is carried out more than 900m from standard sea level equation

34. Extinguishing Values: Class A & C Fires

35. ISO Defined “Higher Hazard” Electrical Risks
Where cable bundles of diameter greater than 100mm are present in the protected space.
Where open cable trays with a fill density > 20% of the cable tray cross section are present in the protected space.
Where horizontal or vertical stacks of cable trays occur (a stack is defined as parallel cable trays within a proximity of 250mm)
Where electrical and electronic equipment with a collective power consumption of >5kW within the protected space remains energised during the course of the extinguishant deployment.

36. Extinguishing Values: Class B Fires

37. Temperature Limitations – Storage and Operation
ISO 14520: Min -20°C Max +50°C
NFPA 2001: Min -29°C Max +54°C
IMO: Min -20°C Max +55°C
Min -20°C Max +50°C
Min -29°C Max +54°C
Min -20°C Max +55°C

38. Evaluation of Cylinder Storage Room
Floor capable of carrying the load?
Floor Loading
Maintenance area ambient storage temperature
Closed piping involved

39. Nozzle Requirements
Determine position and quantity of discharge nozzles in accordance with:
Coverage
Room dimensions
Building structure including obstructions and equipment and voids
Ceiling tile arrangement
Nozzles can be positioned to discharge in different directions, e.g. downwards / upwards or at a 45 degree angle taking advantage of the direction of spray to create uniform mixture

40. Nozzle Coverage Guidelines
“Specific area coverage determination in m² of discharge nozzles in an Argonite system would be an inaccurate, almost un-measurable task as the actual throughput of a particular nozzle size depends on the upstream pressure and the related size of orifice”
VdS
1 nozzle to cover no more than 30m²
Maximum of 6m between nozzles
No further than 3m from a wall
FM / UL
1 nozzle to cover no more than 110m²
Maximum of 10.5m between nozzles

41. Calculation of Nozzle Quantity
Determine nozzle Quantity by ensuring appropriate coverage
Rule of thumb for false ceilings and floor voids are:
For each Void use the same number of nozzles as in the room
Obstructions must always be considered

42. Components

43. Cylinder Valve
Available for 150, 200 and 300 bar cylinder pressure
New 300 bar components tested according to ISO 12094
Pressure tested to 1065 Bar by BAM in Germany
Can be unscrewed manually
Simple release system
Simple refilling

44. Cylinder Range
150, 200 and 300 bar pressure
With fill capacities of L, 67.5 L and 80 L
67.5 L Cylinder has the same diameter as 45 kg CO2 Cylinder
Contents are stored as a compressed gas which makes the cylinders easier to move

45. Release / Monitoring Units
Solenoid valve / manual release unit
Solenoid valve release unit
Contact pressure gauge unit
Standard and Eex solenoid valve available
Contact pressure gauge features gold contacts

46. ½”, 1”, 1½” & 2” Diverter Valves Available in;
All with dual action pneumatic actuator

47. System Components
Discharge manifolds single & multiple areas
Pressure relief device
Pressure gauge
Pilot Manifold
Solenoid valve 3/2 way, Manual Override
Standard and Eex actuation

48. Available in sizes of ½”, 1”, 1½” and 2” with following threads:
Restrictors
Available in sizes of ½”, 1”, 1½” and 2” with following threads:
F / F, NPT/NPT
F / F, NPT/BSP*
M / F, NPT/NPT
M / F, NPT/BSP
*Used on Manifolds

49. Discharge Nozzles
Available in sizes of ½”, ¾”, 1” & 1½”
Thread male, NPT or BSPT

50. Distribution Piping (60 bar)
Sch 40 & Sch 80 ANSI B36.10 ASTM 53/A106 Grade B
BS 1387, API 5L
DIN 2442
DIN 2448
DIN 2458

51. System Testing
System integrity and effectiveness can be tested easily upon commissioning due to:
zero environmental impact
low refill cost
Test equipment available including:
3 O2 measuring gauges
1 Peak pressure gauge

52. Purpose of System Testing
Check the actual O2 concentration
Check the fire extinguishing efficiency
Check the tightness of the room

53. Reduction of Oxygen Level

54. Handling Cylinders
Weight of 300 bar, 80 L cylinders approx. 150 kg
Ensure protection cap is on when cylinder not secured
Cylinder trolley available for handling

55. Calculation Tools

56. Oxygen Calculation Input: AQT Spreadsheet
Minimum design concentration %
Net room volume
Altitude of room (min. 900 m)
Room temperature
Storage pressure
Max. allowed peak pressure (5mbar)

57. Oxygen Calculation Output: AQT Spreadsheet
Number of cylinders required
Final O2 concentration %
Recommended pressure relief opening

58. Hydraulic Calculation Programme

59. VdS Flow Calculation Program
Verification of distribution piping
Verification of discharge time
Determination of restrictor orifice
Determination of nozzle (s), orifice (s)
Determination of resulting O2 concentration

60. VdS Flow Calculation Program - definitions
“Filling pressure” = filling pressure at 20°C (155 bar, 207 bar, 310 bar)
“Container working pressure” = container pressure at half discharge point
“Container working temperature” = at halfway stage of discharge
Design quantity = quantity needed to meet minimum requirement in discharge time
“Discharge time” = time to achieve 95% of required agent in risk
“Gas composition after discharge” = after release of all stored agent
Storage temperature = temperature where the cylinders are stored

61. VdS Flow Calculation Program: Limits
Maximum of 450 pipe sections
Maximum of 20m per pipe section
Maximum of one T-piece per pipe section
Maximum 4 bends or elbows per section
Maximum of one component per section
Maximum of 21 flooding zones

62. Calculation example ISO 14520 computer room Volume nozzle 1 = 18.2 m3

63. Summary
Safe for use in manned areas
Environmentally clean
Low cost agent
Low refilling and maintenance costs
Possible to refill Argonite Gas locally
Non fogging
Simple to handle
International accepted and approved
Well established worldwide distributor network

64. Examples

65. Examples: HSBC Data Centre UK
436 cylinders
9 miles of pipe
4 area multiway
Oil lamp discharge test
Test discharge extinguishes all flames
Room retested after several minutes; extinguishes fresh lamps

66. Argonite - HSBC Data Centre UK
Full Turnkey Project including cylinder housing
Value in Excess of £1 Million
Fast Track Complex Site
From design to completion inside 22 weeks

67. Argonite - HSBC System Overview
Purpose Built Bottle Store cylinders in total - Largest space volume of 13,997 m3
Distributed System - Serving 4 Areas
150mm Feed Pipes- Running up to 100 meters to the protected space
9 Miles of pipe installed 1116 nozzles fitted throughout

68. Øresund Link

69. Øresund Link - Argonite
Protection of Electrical Control rooms, Computer Suites and railway operation control centre.
15 systems in total
234 cylinders - largest systems installed in Denmark
Turnkey and fast track project

70. Thank you
Any Questions?