Introduction
Introduction
The CO2 Agent
The Agent
CO2
• Naturally occurring compound
• Closely linked to the life cycle of plants
and animals
• Plant life uses CO2 and Water in
Photosynthesis to make Oxygen and Food
CO2
The Agent
CO2
• No Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
• No Global Warming Potential (GWP)
(GWP is measured relative to 1 kg CO2)
• No atmospheric lifetime
• No decomposition products
The Agent
CO2
• Clear, colorless and odorless
• Doesn’t leave a residue
• Non-corrosive
• Does not react to other materials
• Easily obtainable and relatively low cost
The Agent
CO2 – Extinguishing
• Effective on Class A, B & C
• Extinguishes by OXYGEN DEPLETION
• Provides cooling of fuels
• 1 1/2 times heavier than air
Heat
Fuel Oxygen
The Agent - Application
Rotating machinery
Electronic Facilities
Telecommunications
Marine Machinery Spaces
Dust collection areas
Artifact Facilities
Turbines
Oil & Gas Facilities
The Agent
CO2 Shall not be used to protect:
Chemical compounds containing their own
oxygen supply (Gunpowder, Cellulose Nitrate)
Reactive Metals (Sodium, Potassium,
Magnesium, Titanium, Zirconium)
Metal Hydrides
Hydrazine or Organic Peroxides
The Agent - Properties
CO2 PRESSURE VS TEMPERATURE
1200
1100
Critical Temp
1000
900
800
PRESSURE (PSIA)
700
SOLID
600
Triple LIQUID
500
Point VAPOR
400
300
200
100 Atmospheric pressure
0
-110 -100 -90 -80 -70 -60 -50 -40 -30 -20 -10 0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100
TEMPERATURE (°F)
The Agent
CO2 – Extinguishing
• Stored in liquid phase under
pressure (cold /cloudy discharge)
• Forms dry ice when it vaporizes
The Agent
• CO2 flows as 2-phase flow through pipe
• The discharge from the nozzle is part liquid,
which can be directed at specific risk >> the liquid
phase discharge allows Local Application
protection of risks, without the need to seal and
totally flood the rooms
The Agent
CO2 can be used
•Total Flooding
•Local Application
The Agent
Tends to “sink” to lower levels of room
The effectiveness of CO2 depends on the
ability to retain or “hold” concentration
Hold-time dependent on room integrity
(number, size and location of holes, gaps and
vents), which is necessary for total flooding
Low-level extract ducting is necessary to clear
the room following successful extinguishing of
the fire
The Agent
CO2 used in:
• Low Pressure Systems
• High Pressure Systems
(Portable Extinguishers)
The Agent
CO2 STORAGE
LOW PRESSURE HIGH PRESSURE
25 bar @ -18°C 60 bar @ 21°C
LP STORAGE UNIT CYLINDER SIZES
3/4 TO 60 TONS 35, 50, 75, 100
POUNDS
MINI BULK
800, 1000, & 1500
POUNDS
The Agent – LP or HP
M-BULK LPCO2 HPCO2
Requirement over ~ 1000 kg xx xx
Requirement under ~ 1000 kg xx xx
Multiple shot discharge xx
Hydrostatic testing xx
Content supervision xx xx
Semi-annual weight check xx
Actuation supervision (Pilot) xx xx
Over pressure indication xx xx
Sch.80 required for 3/4”
and larger discharge piping xx
The Agent
NFPA 12
Standards used for CO2 Standard on
Carbon Dioxide
NFPA 12 Extinguishing
Systems
BS5306 2000 Edition
Both standards based
on the same design code.
The Agent - Comparison
Inert Gas systems - Low gas costs, clean, safe for
humans, for total flooding only
Halocarbons - High gas costs, smaller quantity of gas
required, by-products can be toxic, question of long-term
availability
Carbon Dioxide - many years of experience, low gas
costs, readily available, can be used as total flooding and
local application systems, toxic, cloudy discharge
The Agent - Comparison
CO2 FM-200 INERGEN
Total flooding YES YES YES
Local application YES NO NO
Deep-seated hazards YES NO NO
Hose reel capability YES NO NO
Safe for occupied areas NO “YES” “YES”
Liquefied, compressed gas agent YES YES NO
Nominal storage pressures HIGH 60 bar N/A 150/200 bar
LOW 21 bar 25 bar N/A
The Agent
DANGER OF ASPHYXIATION
in confined spaces
The Agent
NORMAL AIR
EXHALED BREATH
DECREASED
BREATHING
LOSS OF
CONSCIOUSNESS
BREATHING STOPS
FIRE SUPPRESSION
0 5 10 15 20 25 30
CO2 CONCENTRATION
The Agent
Discharge time delays
Adequate audible / visual alarms
No abort stations - per NFPA 12
Location of storage containers
Exit locations
The Agent
Vent CO2 after discharge
Beware of low lying areas
Shutdowns & Interlocks
Personnel training
The Agent
Has probably extinguished, without
incident, more fires than any other
gaseous agent.
