Gas fire extinguishing agent is one of the four traditional fire extinguishing agents (water, gas, foam, dry powder). The clean gas fire extinguishing agent refers to a non-conductive gas or vaporized liquid fire extinguishing agent. Its basic characteristics are gaseous or Automatic evaporation, no residue, good electrical insulation, no pollution to the protected object, etc.
Main category
The current clean gas fire extinguishing agents can be divided into five categories:
① Halon fire extinguishing agent (halon fire extinguishing agent): 1211, 1301
②Hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agent: heptafluoropropane, trifluoromethane, hexafluoropropane
③ Perfluorohexanone
④ Inert gas fire extinguishing agent: IG541, IG01, IG100, IG55
⑤ Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent
Note 1: Haloalkane fire extinguishing agents, hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agents, and perfluorohexanone are all synthetic gas fire extinguishing agents, commonly known as chemical gas fire extinguishing agents.
Note 2: Heptafluoropropane is FM-200, and FM-200 is a registered trademark of Great Lakes Chemical Company in the United States.
Note 3: According to the definition of relevant regulations, a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent is not classified as a clean gas fire extinguishing agent, but it has the characteristics of a clean gas fire extinguishing agent and meets the definition requirements, so it is included in this table together.
Halon fire extinguishing agent (halon fire extinguishing agent)
1. Haloalkane fire extinguishing agent is a synthetic chemical fire extinguishing agent, which has been phased out, mainly including ① Haloalkane 1211 (molecular formula CF2ClBr) has been discontinued. ② Haloalkane 1301 (molecular formula CF3Br) has been disabled.
2. Beginning in the 1980s, Halon and other ozone-depleting substances were phased out globally, and Halon 1211/1301 was phased out in the 1990s. At the same time, its substitutes, such as heptafluoropropane, were widely used as hydrofluorocarbon fire-extinguishing agents.
Hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agent
1. Heptafluoropropane, trifluoromethane, and hexafluoropropane belong to hydrofluorocarbons and are artificially synthesized chemical fire-extinguishing agents. They are typical representatives of chemical gas fire extinguishing agents. They are highly efficient and clean and are currently the most widely used chemical gases. Extinguishing agent.
Hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agents:
① Heptafluoropropane (molecular formula CF3CHFCF3): Widely used in various forms such as hanging type, cabinet type, and pipe network.
② Hexafluoropropane (molecular formula CF3CH2CF3): mainly used in portable fire extinguishers and hanging fire extinguishers.
③Trifluoromethane (molecular formula CHF3): rarely used
Hydrofluorocarbons do not destroy the atmospheric ozone layer (ozone-destroying potential value ODP=0), but they all have a greater potential for global warming. The “Kyoto Protocol” passed in 1997 listed hydrofluorocarbons as greenhouse gases. my country’s Restricted use will begin in 2024.
Perfluorohexanone fire extinguishing agent
1. Perfluorohexanone fire extinguishing agent is launched by 3M in the United States. The brand name is Novec 1230, usually referred to as 1230.
2. 1230 is liquid at normal temperature and pressure, colorless and odorless, easy to gasify, leaves no residue after release, has excellent performances such as efficient fire extinguishing, environmental protection, cleanliness, does not destroy the ozone layer of the atmosphere (ODP=0), and has a global warming potential low value (GWP=1).
3. As an efficient and clean gas fire extinguishing agent, 1230 has been recognized and widely used by the international fire protection industry and is currently recognized as a substitute for hydrofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agents such as heptafluoropropane.
4. 1230 has been used abroad for nearly 20 years. There are also many domestic chemical companies producing it and exporting it to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions. However, the 1230 fire extinguishing device has just started in China, and heptafluoropropane is still the most popular chemical clean gas fire extinguishing agent and its status cannot be regretted for a certain period of time!
Inert gas fire extinguishing agent
Inert gas fire extinguishing agent is also known as IG series fire extinguishing agent, which is derived from the brand name of Inergen (smoke burnt) of ANSUL company in the United States, and the numerical codes added after it represents the composition ratio of nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide respectively. Inert gas fire extinguishing agents are all atmospheric components, derived from natural or industrial by-products, and are pure “green” gas fire extinguishing agents.
Note: INERGEN is a replacement product of the Halon fire extinguishing system developed and produced by American ANSUL in 1994. The brand name is INERGEN.
The current inert gas fire extinguishing agents mainly include IG541, IG01, IG100, IG55, etc.
① IG541 gas fire extinguishing agent: a gas fire extinguishing agent composed of argon alone.
② IG01 gas fire extinguishing agent: a gas fire extinguishing agent composed of nitrogen alone.
③ IG100 gas fire extinguishing agent: a fire extinguishing agent mixed with nitrogen and argon in a fixed mass ratio (nitrogen and argon are 50% each).
④ IG55 gas fire extinguishing agent: a fire extinguishing agent mixed with nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide in a certain mass ratio (nitrogen is about 52%, hydrogen is about 40%, carbon dioxide is about 8%).
Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent
Carbon dioxide is a component of the atmosphere, mainly derived from industrial by-products, and is a green gas fire extinguishing agent.
It should be noted that, according to the definition of relevant regulations, a carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent is not classified as a clean gas fire extinguishing agent, but it has the characteristics of a clean gas fire extinguishing agent and meets its definition requirements. The reason why the application of carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agents is limited is mainly its potential safety risk.
Current Situation of Clean Gas Extinguishing Agents
1. Heptafluoropropane fire extinguishing agent is suitable for hanging type, cabinet type device, and pipe network systems, and is currently the most widely used clean gas fire extinguishing agent. Regardless of environmental protection factors, safety, economy, cleanliness, and high efficiency are the classic labels of heptafluoropropane fire extinguishing agents!
2. Inert gas fire extinguishing agents are all atmospheric components, which are obtained from natural or industrial by-products. They are pure “green” gas fire extinguishing agents. Regardless of economic factors, they should be the most ideal clean gas fire extinguishing agents. The inert gas fire extinguishing agent represented by IG541 is also widely used at present.
3. Hexafluoropropane fire extinguishing agent is suitable for hanging fire extinguishing devices and portable fire extinguishers and also has a certain market share.
4. Carbon dioxide fire extinguishing agent has certain safety risks, and its application is limited. It is mainly used in unmanned industrial places. 5. 1230 has been used abroad for nearly 20 years. There are also many domestic chemical companies producing it and exporting it to Europe, the Middle East, Southeast Asia, and other regions. However, the 1230 fire extinguishing device has just started in China, but the future is promising!
The Future of Clean Gas Fire Suppressants
In 2016, at the 28th Conference of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol held in Kigali, the capital of Rwanda, nearly 200 countries reached a historic agreement on limiting greenhouse gas hydrofluorocarbons through consensus. my country will Phase out the use of hydrofluorocarbons by 2024.
Heptafluoropropane and hexafluoropropane, which are widely used at present, are all hydrofluorocarbons, which means that these fire-extinguishing agents will be gradually frozen for use in 2024. According to this, 1230 will get huge development opportunities!
At the same time, we believe that the green and environmentally friendly inert gas fire extinguishing system will definitely have better development space. Of course, chemical gas fire extinguishing agents have their special advantages and will not be completely replaced by inert gas fire extinguishing systems. Even if the use of hydrofluorocarbons such as heptafluoropropane, trifluoromethane, and hexafluoropropane is restricted in the future, there will definitely be perfluorohexanone or other alternative chemical gas fire extinguishing agents!