3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fluid Fire Wire – Summer 2019

Fire Wire is 3MTM NovecTM 1230 Fire Protection Fluid’s quarterly fire suppression newsletter, developed for specifying engineers, architects and everyone else working in special hazards fire protection.

Stop by and see us at NFPA 2019!

Want to learn more about why museums and other facility managers choose Novec 1230 fluid? We’ll be in San Antonio, TX from June 17-20 for the NFPA Conference & Expo 2019. Please stop by our booth, #1145 – we would welcome the opportunity to talk to you.

We’re particularly excited to be in San Antonio because there’s a system using Novec 1230 fluid close to the Expo on the grounds of the Alamo, protecting the valuable documents and artifacts within The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library. Check out our case study below for more on that installation.

In a time that has been marred by recent tragic fires in both Brazil’s National Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral, museum and archive curators have an increased awareness that choosing an effective fire suppression system and agent to protect valuable treasures is more critical than ever. We look forward to talking with you and when you’re in San Antonio, “Remember the Alamo!”

Future Proof Fire Protection: Protecting the Alamo with Novec 1230 fluid

After the Daughters of The Republic of Texas suffered an accidental discharge of the outdated fire suppression system installed in their library within the original Alamo compound in San Antonio, Texas, they began to look for a replacement system with an eye to the future. 38,000 original artifacts from books to photographs to maps needed protection not only from fire, but also from the potential collateral damage caused by a system discharge.

They needed a cost-effective solution, retrofittable into a historic building, that would be environmentally sustainable and residue-free while having a high margin of safety for curators, researchers and tourists. In short, they needed Novec 1230 fluid.

“The library houses many one-of-a-kind pieces representing the cultural heritage of Texas and that are irreplaceable and vital to the education of future generations,” said Leslie Stapleton, library director at The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library. “Fire safety is always a concern in a preservation setting and Novec 1230 fluid is our insurance policy that lets us breathe a little easier.”

This is just one of the many interesting case studies available on the new Novec 1230 fluid case study resource hub. Click here to view our collection of downloadable case studies showing the versatility of Novec 1230 fluid – including this Alamo Museum case study – and consider sharing any of these with your customers and clients.

READ THE CASE STUDY (PDF, 230.26 KB)

E-learning tools for clean agent fire extinguishment

Looking for a quick refresher on clean agent fire extinguishment? Learning about clean agent specifications for the first time?

Explore the training materials available in the 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fluid Academy, a convenient and comprehensive online resource for insights around clean agent fire suppression. Whether you’re newer to the industry, or an experienced fire suppression professional and subject matter expert looking to add details to your client or customer presentations, these modules and videos can provide the valuable information you need. Current modules and videos include:
- Overview of Clean Agent Fire Suppression
- Safety Margins and Fire Suppression Agents
- Comparing Water and Clean Agent Discharges
Registration is free, quick, and offers insights into the safety, sustainability and design considerations involved in specifying a clean agent system.

Register or sign in here.

Fact or Fiction: States in the U.S. are taking steps to phase down greenhouse gases, including HFCs

Fact. In the U.S., multi-state coalitions such as the United States Climate Alliance have recently formed to drive comprehensive climate action. In the last three months of 2018 alone, California, Connecticut, Maryland and New York all announced aggressive climate action via either state-level legislation such as the California Cooling Act or executive action via the governors’ offices. These states have set timelines for phasing down HFCs as part of their overall commitments to reducing their contributions to global warming. Read more about U.S. climate and sustainability action in our recent Novec Hot Topic.

Over 15 years ago, 3M developed Novec 1230 fluid as a fire suppression agent designed for an environmentally sustainable future, providing zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and less than 1 global warming potential (GWP), compared to GWPs greater than 3,000 for several common HFCs used in fire suppression. Novec 1230 fluid is also protected by the 20-year 3M™ Blue Sky℠ Warranty against certain environmental regulatory actions based on ODP or GWP. The 3M core value on sustainability continues to be promoted today, with the announcement of 3M’s new Sustainability Value Commitment for all new products in 2019 and beyond.

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