3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fluid Fire Wire – Winter 2018

In a world with continuously changing customer needs and regulatory guidelines, our Original Equipment Manufacturer partners are developing new systems designed to help meet those needs.

In 2018, several 3M Novec 1230 fluid Authorized OEMs launched new fire suppression systems including the latest in high pressure fire suppression systems.

High pressure fire protection: Many special hazards marry challenging fire types with challenging design specifications: multiple areas to protect with one system, facilities with limited room for containers, or buildings where the containers must be placed far from the protected area. In 2018 we’ve seen Johnson Controls launch the SAPPHIRE PLUS 70 bar gaseous fire suppression system, based on clean agent Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid from 3M. The system enables higher fill densities up to 1.4kg/L (87.4 lb/ft³) and a substantial increase in pressure to 70 bar from the traditional SAPPHIRE 25 and 42 bar – helping reduce footprint, installation costs and service time.

Sea-Fire Europe has announced that, starting in October 2018, it will stop distributing fire suppression systems using HFC-based agents (PDF, 171.45 KB). "We're taking this first step in Europe because we know it's the right thing to do," says Ernie Ellis, president of Sea-Fire Marine.

Sea-Fire Europe examined the environmental impact of HFCs and the growing supply issues resulting from the HFC phase-down in Europe in 2018. The company determined that the most responsible action to take would be to recommend and distribute sustainable alternatives such as systems using Novec 1230 fluid.

Fact. Novec 1230 fluid is stored and transported as a liquid – not a compressed gas or liquefied gas – which gives it unique flexibility in how it can be transported. It is not regulated as a dangerous good by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), meaning that bulk containers of Novec 1230 fluid are not subject to hazardous materials requirements for labeling, packaging or quantities shipped.

U.S. and international regulations place additional requirements on the transport of compressed gases or liquefied gases as Class 2 Hazardous Materials. As identified under 49 CFR 173.115 (b) this includes not only common hydrofluorocarbon fire suppression agents (HFC-227ea, HFC-125, etc.), but also inert gases and other compressed gases such as CO₂. These materials have regulatory requirements for packaging, marking, labeling, and documentation, and the International Air Transport Association limits the size of air shippable cylinders.

After an intentional or accidental system discharge, refilling the system and restoring full functionality is essential to maintaining critical operations, whether on an oil rig in the ocean, in a data center or at a remote facility. While all clean agents can be transported from point to point via a variety of methods, systems using Novec 1230 fluid can be quickly refilled – with a minimum of regulatory delays or difficulties in transport.