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Nov-07Rev. 3
bk Guideline for TSP Inergen Systems Rev3.doc
Safety Products
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-- GGuuiiddeelliinnee --
Note: This guideline has been prepared with the best information
available at the time of publication. Changes in
standards mentioned or technical changes may apply without
further notice.
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Nov-07Rev. 3
Guideline For TSP Inergen Extinguishing Systems
bk Page 2 of 13
Safety Products
1) General Information Inergen has been commercialized in Europe
in 1991. Inergen has zero Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP=0). The
Global Warming Potential (GWP) is not applicable since Inergen
consists of naturally occuring gases only. Inergen is stored as a
gas in steel cylinders with a storage pressure of 150 bar, 200 bar
or 300 bar at 15C. The components of an Inergen system are designed
to operate in the temperature range of -20C to +50C., or as
otherwise stated in separate component listings. Handling and
installation of Inergen equipment should only be carried out by
persons experienced in dealing with this type of equipment. Note:
This guideline has been prepared with the best information
available at the time of publication.
Changes in standards mentioned or technical changes may apply
without further notice.
2) Properties of Inergen Inergen is a mixture of three naturally
occurring gases that do not support combustion. The three gases,
Nitrogen, Argon and Carbon Dioxide are mixed in the following
proportions: Nitrogen 52% Argon 40% Carbon Dioxide 8%
The Carbon Dioxide stimulates automatically the respiration in
the human body for oxygen transport to the brain.
Inergen is a colorless and odorless gas mixture with a density
similar to that of air (slightly heavier than air).
Inergen extinguishes fires by reducing the oxygen concentration
below the combustion value of approx. 15%.
A typical Inergen system with 40% design concentration will
reduce the oxygen concentration in the hazard to approx. 12.5%
Inergen is effective on class A, B and C fires
3) Approvals The Inergen systems from Tyco Safety Products (TSP)
are available in two versions:
1. Tyco Safety Products, Cologne / Germany and Great Yarmouth /
UK
The TSP system is based on components which are approved and
listed by VdS.
The TSP system is available as 200 bar or 300 bar system.
2. Ansul, Marinette / USA.
The Ansul system is UL listed and FM approved.
The Ansul system is available as 150 bar or 200 bar system.
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Safety Products
4) Safety Table 1: Safety levels for Inergen
Inergen Oxygen Flooding Factor*** NOAEL* 43% 12% 0,56 m/m
LOAEL** 52% 10% 0,74 m/m
* No Observable Adverse Effect Level ** Lowest Observable
Adverse Effect Level *** approximate value based on 20C. Table 2:
Agent comparison
Used Conc.* NOAEL Safety Margin Inergen 34,2% - 39,9% 43% 7,8% -
26% Novec 1230 4,2% - 5,3% 10% 88% - 138% FM200 6,4% - 7,9% 9% 14%
- 40%
* Surface class A fire
5) Environmental Comparison* Table 3: Environmental
comparison
Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP)
Global Warming Potential (GWP)
Atmospheric Lifetime (years)
Inergen 0 n.a. n.a. Novec 1230 0 1 0.014 FM200** 0 3500 33
* IPCC 2001 ** HFC-227ea
6) General System Design
Total Flooding is the only approved application method for
Inergen systems!
Single hazard system Distribution valve system
In certain configurations the TSP systems require pilot
cylinders for actuation. For details see system manuals.
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Safety Products
7) Hazard Analysis Note: A thorough hazard analysis is important
for a qualified quotation. The following questions should be
answered: PROJECT: (enter name if applicable; country must be
indicated) Name Country SUPPRESSION SYSTEM: HPCO2 FM-200 Novec
i2/i3 Inergen Other (specify) __________________________ Type
NFPA ISO VdS UL FM LPCB VdS Other (specify) _________ Design
Standard Approval
DOT TPED None Other (specify) __________________________ Agent
Tank Approval
Electric Manual Pneumatic System Release
Inside Hazard Outside Hazard: ________ [m] horizontal distance
________ [m] vertical distance Agent Tank Location HAZARD: No. Name
Hazardous Material
[C] [C] [m] Minimum Temperature Maximum Temperature Altitude
above/below sea level Hazard Dimensions:
[m] [m] [m] Length Width Floor Area (alternative)
[m] [m] [m] Height of Ceiling Void (if applicable) Height of
Room (excl. ceiling/floor void) Height of Floor Void (if
applicable) Impermeable Building Structures: [m] Only permanent
impermeable building structures within the area may be deducted
from the gross volume Note In the following cases please supply
additional sketches/drawings with dimensions and any relevant
details:
irregular room shapes ceiling obstructions such as beams greater
than 305 mm (12 in.) height other unusual conditions.
Further Information / Comments:
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Safety Products
8) System Design The system design requires the following
steps:
1. Check on design standard / hazardous material involved to
determine the design concentration. 2. Determination of net* hazard
volume.
*Only permanent impermeable building structures within the
hazard may be deducted from the overall hazard volume. 3.
Calculation of the extinguishing agent quantity 4. Determination of
the number and size of agent cylinders. 5. Check the achieved agent
concentration. 6. Determination of nozzle quantity. 7.
Determination of pipe sizes and nozzle sizes.
Note: Pipes and fittings are generally not supplied by TSP.
8.1) Design Standards 8.1.1) ISO 14520 The minimum design
concentration acc. to ISO 14520-1 shall be the extinguishing
concentration increased by a safety factor of 30%. Table 4: Minimum
design concentrations for Inergen acc. to ISO 14520-15 (2005/2006
edition)
Class A surface fires (solid and electrical) 39.9% Class A
higher hazard fires * 39.9% Class B heptane 41.2%
* Acc. to ISO 14520-1, higher hazard class A conditions may
include cable bundles greater than 100 mm in diameter, cable trays
with a fill density greater than 20 percent of the tray
cross-section; horizontal or vertical stacks of cable trays (closer
than 250 mm); equipment energized during the extinguishment period
where the collective power
consumption exceeds 5 kW. 8.1.2) NFPA 2001 The minimum design
concentration for Class A surface fires shall be an extinguishing
concentration determined by test, as part of a listing program,
plus a 20% safety factor. Table 5: Minimum design concentrations
for Ansul UL listed Inergen systems
Class A* surface fires (solid) 34.2% Class B* heptane 40.7%
Class C* electric fires 34.2% *Fire classifications are according
to US rules.
Note: The above design concentrations are not applicable (and
are not to be used) for Marine applications !
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Table 6: Flooding factor table for Inergen: Table 7: Altitude
correction factor:
The specific volume of a gas changes depending on the elevation
below / above sea level due to the change in atmospheric pressure.
At elevations above sea-level, Inergen has a greater specific
volume because of the reduced atmospheric pressure. A system
designed for sea-level conditions will therefore develop an actual
higher concentration at levels above sea-level and an actual lower
concentration at levels below sea-level.
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Safety Products
8.2) Calculation of the Inergen quantity Multiply the net hazard
volume by the appropriate flooding factor and by the altitude
correction factor.
Where W = Required agent quantity V = Net hazard volume [m]
CF = Flooding factor [m/m] (see Table 6) CAlt = Altitude
correction factor (see Table 7)
Example: Design according to ISO 14520 Type of hazard: Computer
room (class A surface fire) Gros volume: 10.0 m x 7.0 m x 2.5 m =
175 m Minimum hazard temperature: 15C Maximum hazard Temperature:
30C Altitude: 1200 m
Find the altitude next lower than the hazard altitude and
determine the correction factor.
W = 175 m * 0.5179 m/m * 0.885 = 80.3 m Inergen Note: The above
mentioned method of Inergen quantity calculation is not VdS
compliant.
For VdS compliant calculations refer to VdS 2380.
AltF CCVW =
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8.3) Determination of the number and size of the agent cylinders
Inergen cylinders are available in the following sizes / fills:
Table 8: TSP 200 bar system* Table 9: TSP 300 bar system*
Cylinder Size Inergen Fill Cylinder Size Inergen Fill 27 ltr 5.6
m 7.9 kg 80 ltr 23.6 m 33.5 kg 40 ltr 8.4 m 12.0 kg 67 ltr 14.1 m
20.1 kg 80 ltr 16.8 m 23.9 kg
*Cylinder approvals: 84/527/EEC / EN 1964-2 (TPED)
Table 10: Ansul 150 bar system** Table 11: Ansul 200 bar
system**
Cylinder Size Inergen Fill Cylinder Size Inergen Fill 200 ft 205
ft 5.8 m 575 ft 572 ft 16.2 m 250 ft 266 ft 7.5 m 350 ft 355 ft
10.1 m
LC-350 ft 355 ft 10.1 m LC-425 ft 429 ft 12.1 m
435 ft 439 ft 12.4 m
**Cylinder approvals: DOT 3AA2300
Example: TSP 300 bar system
Inergen required (m) 80.3 m Number of cylinders =
--------------------------------- = ------------------ = 3.4
Cylinder filling (m) 23.6 m
Note: Always round up to the next full number! 4 cylinders 80
ltr required.
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8.4) Check the achieved Inergen concentration Why to check?
the number of Inergen cylinders is always rounded up x more
agent discharged than needed worst case at maximum expected hazard
temperature x higher specific vapour volume of the agent
How to calculate?
Relate the resulting flooding factor to NOAEL and LOAEL. Inergen
discharged Resulting flooding factor =
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
altitude correction factor * flooding factor correction * hazard
volume
0.7058 flooding factor correction = --------------------------
0.658 + 0.0024 * t
t = maximum expected hazard temperature (C) Example: 4 cylinders
* 23.6 m 94.4 m Resulting flooding factor =
------------------------------------------------ =
------------------- = 0.63 0.885 * 0.967 * 175 m 149.8 m
0.7058 flooding factor correction = ----------------------------
= 0.967 0.658 + 0.0024 * 30
Inergen Oxygen Flooding Factor NOAEL 43% 12% 0.56 m/m LOAEL 52%
10% 0.74 m/m At "worst case" conditions (max. expected hazard
temperature) the Inergen concentration will be between NOAEL and
LOAEL. ISO 14520-1 / 5.2.2 The maximum concentration shall not
exceed the LOAEL unless a lock-off valve is fitted. It is
recommended that systems where the NOAEL is expected to be exceeded
be placed in non-automatic mode whilst the room is occupied.
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8.5) Determination of the minimum nozzle quantity Standard
nozzle Available sizes (pipe thread connection - NPT or BSPT):
15 mm (") 25 mm (1") 40 mm (1")
Each nozzle size is available with two discharge patterns:
180 360
Nozzle material:
brass Maximum coverage Maximum throw 95 m if hazard height max.
3.7 m 360 nozzle 180 nozzle 70 m if hazard height max. 5.0 m
Maximum total volume per nozzle:
352 m Note: The above mentioned maximum coverage does not apply
for VdS compliant systems. VdS generally limits the nozzle coverage
to 30 m. Example: Hazard = 10.0 m x 7.0 m x 2.5 m
1) Check hazard hight to find the max. coverage allowed per
nozzle
Hazard hight of 2.5 m x max. coverage = 95 m per nozzle 2) Check
hazard floor area to determine the minimum number of nozzles
required
Hazard floor area = 70 m x minimum number of nozzles = 1 (360 or
180)
nozzle orifice
max. 5.5 m max. 7.7 m
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3) Check maximum nozzle throw against hazard dimensions
1 nozzle 360 not acceptable 1 nozzle 180 not acceptable
2 nozzles 360 are acceptable Final result for the example: 2
nozzles 360 are needed as a minimum. Note: Specific hazard
conditions may require more nozzles than the minimum quantity
determined by
the nozzle limits. This can be due to obstructions, room shape
or other conditions.
NO NO
YES
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Safety Products
Flow Ratemm inch m/min10 3/8" 10.015 1/2" 14.020 3/4" 24.525 1"
45.532 1 1/4" 87.540 1 1/2" 11950 2" 21665 2 1/2" 39880 3" 698
Pipe SizePipe Size Estimation Table
8.6) Determination of pipe sizes and nozzle sizes General: ISO
and NFPA require that 95% of the minimum design concentration shall
be achieved
within 1 minute. For pipe size estimation use 95% of the
calculated agent quantity. This is accurate enough. Use table 12 to
determine the pipe size according to the agent flow. Table 12:
Note: Table 12 is for estimation purpose only. The final pipe size
will
be determined by the hydraulic flow calculation software.
Example: Calculated Inergen quantity = 80.3 m 80.3 m : 2 nozzles =
40.2 m/min per nozzle x nozzle size = 25 mm (1")
40.2 m/min x 25 mm
80.3 m/min x 32 mm
40.2 m/min x 25 mm
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Guideline For TSP Inergen Extinguishing Systems
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Safety Products
9) Pressure Venting The designer of a fire suppression system
should be aware that the discharge of any gaseous extinguishing
agent into an enclosure will raise the pressure within that
enclosure, which could affect the structural integrity of the
enclosure. The protected enclosure will require a pressure relief
device. To estimate the free venting area, use the following
formular: Note: The above calculation is for estimation only. The
final free venting area will be calculated by the
hydraulic flow calculation software. Example: 4 Inergen
cylinders to be discharged. Maximum overpressure allowed = 300
Pa.
0.28 m free venting area is required.
A required free venting area (m) Q Inergen quantity (m) p max.
allowable pressure increase (Pa)** vHOM specific volume of the
homogeneous air / Inergen mixture*** HOM
Agent
vp045.0QA
= *
* As the initial flow of Inergen is greater at the start of the
discharge than at the end, it is necessary to base the agent flow
on the peak flow rate. The figure used is 4.5% of the agent
quantity, but the actual figure used must be taken from the flow
calculations.
** A value between 100 and 300 Pascals should be used if there
is no other value offered by the client or clients
representative.
*** 0.77 is a good average value for 40% concentration.
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