FLORIAN SECURITY SYSTEMS S.A.

CO₂

FIRE FIGHTING SYSTEMS OF CO₂

F.S.S. has been making considerable advances in the development of CO₂ technology regarding fire fighting in the last twenty five years. With a great sense of responsibility F.S.S. keeps its knowledge constantly updated, modifying and improving thereby its fire fighting branch for hundreds of CO₂ installations in refineries, industries, ships, handicrafts, electricity establishments, electric equipment, computers etc.

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Typical Applications

Flammable liquid storage areas
Flammable tanks/exhaust fume ducts
Paint spray areas
Electrical switchgear & substations
Fryers/Ovens

Advantages of Carbon Dioxide

CO₂ IS PURE: CO₂ is a colourless, tasteless and inert gas. Once the fire is extinguished, it is completely evaporated leaving no residue behind. It leaves no dirt, nothing to clean and, oppose to water, there is no fear of damage. It’s harmless for most materials and it does not contaminate food. It is non-corrosive and non-conductive which makes it safe to use on sensitive electric and electronic equipment, valuable works of art, paintings and manuscripts.
CO₂ IS FLEXIBLE: The three-dimensional action of CO₂ means that it can fight fires vertically as well as horizontally. Its fast movement makes it penetrate any obstacle through some opening and it can thus reach the most hidden spots.
CO₂ HAS A LOW COST: CO₂ is a stable commercial product, with many other uses and is accessible all over the world. Its international use makes easily obtained at low cost; this is essential when regular tank refilling is necessary as in local application systems, where the danger of fire can be common.
FLEXIBILITY OF DESIGN: The wide range of systems that F.S.S. trades, allows us to design machinery that is appropriate for our customer’s special requirements. The system can be operated automatically or manually and it may be adjusted to avoid many hazards. In addition it is supplied with a great number of discharge nozzles. Automatic control can be achieved mechanically, pneumatically or electronically, or even a combination of these under any circumstances.

Various types of equipment are available such as the supply of a delay discharge nozzle system and also different methods of automatic prevention in crowded areas.
CO₂ is stored in room temperature in steel cylinders approved by the EEC. The pressure changes with the temperature and at 21°C it is approximately 59 bar. There can be a multiple heap of cylinders with concurrent release of CO2, according to the plan’s requirement.

Table 1: Concentrations for deep seated hazards

Hazards	Flooding Factor
Dry electrical wiring and insulation	1.35 kg.m³
Computer equipment	1.5 kg.m³
Data processing and tape storage	2.25 kg.m³
Record stores/archives	2.00 kg.m³
Dust collectors	2.7 kg.m³

Table 2: Determine basic CO₂ quantity

Volume - m³	Factor - kg.m³
>4	1.15
>4 >14	1.07
>14 >45	1.01
>45 >126	0.90

Table 3: Determine higher concentrations for specific hazards

Material Conversion Factor
Ethylene	1.6
Ethyl Ether	1.5
Acetylene	2.5
Benzol	1.1
Butadiene	1.3
Hexane	1.1
Kerosene	1.0
Petrol	1.0
Hydrogen	3.2

CLEAN AGENT FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
IG541- IG01- IG100- IG55

F.S.S. company develops technology for fire fighting systems for 15 years. We are constantly been informed and improve the sector of fire safety with responsibility for hundreds of IG-541, IG-01, IG-100 and IG-55 systems.
Since the decade of the 60’s, the protection of electronic equipment from fire in the presence of people at the same place, was made by HALON 1301 (total flooding fire extinguishing systems). It was clean, it didn’t leave residues or dust in order to destroy the equipment. But in the year 1987, it was actually revealed that the HALON destroys the layer of ozone Specifically, it has the maximum ODP (Ozone Depleting Potential) and has a high GWP (Global Warming Potential), which have a very bad consequence at the “greenhouse effect”. Consequently, it was very essential that materials which replace HALON should be found.
The new systems that have replaced HALON 1301 are Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems called IG-541, IG-01, IG-100 and IG-55 and they are effective like HALON, they don’t leave residues as dust, water and they are harmless for the environment.

Formal applications

Computers’ installations and places where files are stored
Installation of telecommunication, radio and television stations
Industrial installations and areas of flammable liquids
Laboratories
Banks
Places of cultural heritage (like museums)
Medical diagnostic centres
Engine rooms of boats

Advantages of Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems

They are safe for the environment
These systems are not constituted by synthetic gases, but are produced by the components of atmospheric air that we are surrounded by. These inert gases are N2, Ar and CO2. As these systems use natural gases, gained by natural sources, they appear null ODP and GWP. After the fire fighting, they are entirely vaporized, so they don’t leave residues and thus the replacement of the surfaces that have been affected by the fire is facilitated. They are harmless for materials and they don’t infect foods. As the temperature of inert gases remains constant as long as the evacuation lasts, they don’t get under thermal decomposition, so they don’t produce by-products. If there is a leakage of these inert gases from the apartment they have been discharged, they keep their initial density inside the space that is protected (far more better than Halon did). When these agents are discharged into a room, they introduce the proper mixture of gases that allow a person to breathe in a reduced oxygen atmosphere, enhancing the body’s ability to accumulate oxygen.
Inert gases are flexible
Their three-dimensional action means that they can extinguish fires vertically, as well as horizontally. They are very penetrating and have the capability of access of any obstacle through some opening reaching in concealed points.
Approvals
The Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems have been approved and can be found in the list of ISO 14250, NFPA 2001, CEA 4008, EPA and VdS for the extinguishing of fires of categories A, B, C and in the presence of electric current.
Flexibility of planning
As F.S.S. produces a wide spectrum of systems, we can easily design the suitable extinguishing mechanism for the individual requirements of each customer. In special cases, the planning can be done in such way so that the already existing extinguishing lines of HALON systems can be used. The Clean Agent Fire Extinguisher Systems called IG-541, IG-01, IG-100 and IG-55 are stored in cylinders with high pressure of operation 200 or 300 bar that always fullfill the latest European Specifications, as the 97/23/EC European Directive with CE marking or 99/36/CE Directive with π marking. The valves that are used fulfill the EN 849 European Standard or the 97/23/EC European Directive, they also have CE marking and manometer in order to indicate the stored pressure inside the cylinders, thus knowing every single moment that the content is found in good operation. All the components of the fire fighting systems (high pressure hoses, collectors, etc.) are drawn in order to cover the high pressures that these systems require.

PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF INERT GASES (SI UNITS)

FIWAREC SYSTEMS

PRINCIPLE OF FUNCTION

DIRECT SYSTEMS
F.S.S. Direct Systems are efficient and simple self-activating system for small enclosed hazard areas. They are failsafe against malfunction.

Upon flame impingement or heat the pressurized sensor tube which is connected to a cylinder containing the suppression agent ruptures with a burst at the hottest point. The agent is then discharged through the burst hole directly to the heart of the fire. Flexible and fast acting.

INDIRECT SYSTEMS
F.S.S. Indirect Systems are efficient and self-activating systems for larger enclosed and even open hazard areas.

Upon flame impingement or heat the pressurized sensor tube will burst and by depressurization will activate the cylinder valve to open. The agent is then released through separate pipe work and nozzles which are aiming the hazard areas. Flexible and fast acting.

APPLICATIONS

TRANSPORT/LEISURE Buses, boats, trains-engine compartments	CNC MACHINES (automated operations) Injection moulding machines, roboting welding machines, machining centers	ELECTRICAL CABINETS AND CONTROLS Electrical distribution cabinets, process control cabinets, communication racks

INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT, CONSTRUCTION Fork Lifts, Machinery Engine Protection, Industrial Process Equipment,Generators, Air compressors	LOCAL APPLICATION SYSTEMS (main, most important application) Kitchens, roaster-baker and fast-food stores

RANGE OF EXTINGUISHANTS

It is clear that specific risks require specific extinguishing materials. Possible materials that can be used in F.S.S. Automatic Fire Suppression Systems include:

Rühl Favorit Home (Foam for oil & grease)
AFFF (Foam)
ABC Powder
CO₂
FM200
Water
Inert gases (IG541-IG01-IG100-IG55)

FAT & OIL SYSTEMS FOR LOCAL APPLICATION

Complex and unique requirements for perfect fire protection for local applications do not necessarily need complicated product arrangements. Simplicity, best performance and common sense are our answers to reaching highest efficiency and safety.
There are many situations where dealing with a fire at source will both minimize the damage of valuable assets by extinguishing the fire early and before it more fully develops, enabling a quicker recovery of operations.
The range of F.S.S. automatic fire suppression systems builds on the years of experience and technical knowledge that F.S.S. has acquired in the fire extinguisher field.
F.S.S. automatic fire suppression systems can cover a range of applications and can be tailored to customer requirements, but the following common features apply:

Simple to install and cost effective to maintain.
Totally self contained requiring no electrical source and remaining operational during power interruption.

Systems include detection/discharge tubing, superbly engineered specialist valves / regulators and pressure vessel(s) containing an appropriately selected fire extinguishing agent.

PRINCIPLES OF OPERATION

The heart of any F.S.S. Automatic Fire Suppression System is our special sensor tubing which acts as a linear heat and flame detector. The pressurized sensor tubing is completely flexible, tough enough to withstand the harshest of conditions and can be run throughout the installation to follow the hazard risk area. Upon flame or heat impingement, the tube ruptures at the hot spot and by depressurization the cylinder valve is activated to operate the extinguishing system. No external energy or any electrical power needed for detection or actuation.
The outstanding features to detect the fire and to activate the system are:

Linear heat and flame detection allows for an unlimited number of detection points.
Flexible sensor tubing following hazard and risks areas-even in difficult-to-reach-areas resulting in fast reaction.
Failsafe by design principles and simplicity.
Flexible tube remains unaffected by dirt, dust, debris, oil, vibrations in nearly all industrial environments.
No need for any external energy or power supply for detection or actuation.

Fire Fighting Systems

CO2

CO₂