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LOW OZONE-DEPLETING HALOCARBONS AS TOTAL-FLOOD AGENTS: VOLUME 2. LABORATORY-SCALE FIRE SUPPRESSION AND EXPLOSION PREVENTION TESTING
Citation:
Skaggs, S., E. Heinone, T. Moore, AND J. Kirst. LOW OZONE-DEPLETING HALOCARBONS AS TOTAL-FLOOD AGENTS: VOLUME 2. LABORATORY-SCALE FIRE SUPPRESSION AND EXPLOSION PREVENTION TESTING. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., EPA/600/R-95/150b (NTIS 96-109079), 1995.
Impact/Purpose:
information
Description:
The report gives results from (1) flame suppression testing of potential Halon-1301 (CF3Br) replacement chemicals in a laboratory cup burner using n-heptane fuel and (2) explosion prevention (inertion) testing in a small-scale explosion sphere using propane and methane as fuels. Test equipment and techniques are described. Agent performance is given in terms of the concentration required to achieve flame extinguishment in the cup burner and as the concentration required to achieve explosion inertion, defined as an explosive overpressure of 1 psi (6.9 kPa) or less. Results are also expressed in terms of weight and storage volume equivalents, reflecting the weight and storage volume of a candidate agent required to achieve the same performance effectiveness as Halon-1301. At the time of this project, the NFPA (National Fire Prevention Association) had selected a number of Halon-1301 replacement candidates with potential use in the near term. All of these chemicals were included in the laboratory-sale tests performed in this study. Results of this study indicate that, of the NFPA candidates, only FC-3-1-10 (CF3CF2CF2CF3) and HFC-23 (CF3H) would be acceptable based on NFPA standards for use in occupied areas designed for protection against propane explosions and fires. HFC-227ea (CF3CHFCF3) would also be acceptable for use in occupied areas for fire protection only.