ALTERNATIVE AGENT UPDATE

1
ALTERNATIVE AGENT UPDATE

• Louise C. Speitel
• Fire Safety Branch AAR-440
• FAA W.J. Hughes Technical Center
• Atlantic City International Airport, NJ 08405

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OUTLINE
_________________________________________________

• Task Group Report on Halon Options
• Agents Under SNAP Internal Review
• New Agents
• NFPA 2001 Standard Proposed Update for 2003
• CF3I Discharge Testing at 40º C in Cold Aircraft
  Engine Nacelle Simulator

3
TASK GROUP REPORT ON HALON OPTIONS

• Options to the Use of Halons for Aircraft Fire
  Suppression Systems- 2002 Update
• Published February 2002, Update of 1995 and 1996
  reports
• Summarizes all aspects of aircraft fire
  suppression technologies relating to halon
  replacement for
  
• engine nacelles lavatory
  trash receptacles
• cargo compartments hand-held
  extinguishers
• Topics include Chemical, physical, toxicological
  and environmental properties and considerations,
  alternative technologies, FAA requirements,
  current regulatory status, test results, agents
  and manufacturers
• http//www.fire.tc.faa.gov/reports/report1.stm

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4
AGENTS UNDER SNAP INTERNAL REVIEW
_________________________________________________

• NOVEC 1230- C6 Perfluoroketone- (3M)
  C2F5C(O)CF(CF3)2 - Streaming (nonresidential)
  Flooding
• H Galden Hydrofluoropolyethers- (Ausimont)
  Mixture of polymeric and oligomeric
  hydrofluoropolyethers- streaming
  -(nonresidential)
• HFC-227-BC FM200 with NaHCO3- (Kidde Dual
  Spectrum for army)- total flooding- interim
  armored vehicles-separate cylinders- come out
  together
• Goodrich 244- powdered aerosol-pyrotechnically
  generated- contains bromide salt
• EPA anticipates publishing final decisions in
  early 2003

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NEW AGENTS
_________________________________________________

• Bromotrifluoropropene (BTP) CH2CBrCF3

• Contains bromine, chemically acting
• Similar efficiency to Halon 1211 and Halon 1301
  by mass
• Toxicity similar to Halon 1211 NOAEL0.5 for
  both
• Drop-in replacement for Halon 1211-handhelds
• Total flooding in non occupied areas
• Kidde Research Advanced Agent Working Group
• Further toxicity testing is required
• BTP is currently only available via
  laboratory-scale custom synthesis

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ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES
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Name Halon 1301 Halon 1211 BTP Novec 1230
Chemical Formula CF3Br CF2BrCl CH2CBrCF3 C2F5C(O)CF(CF3)2
ODP 10/12 3/4 0.0037 0
Atmospheric Lifetime (Years) 65 11 0.011 0.014
Molecular Weight 148.9 165.36 174.95 316.04
GWP (100 year) 6900 1300 ____ 1
Boiling Point (ºC) -57.8 -4 34 48
Vapor Pressure (bar (a) at 25ºC) 16.0 2.8 0.74 0.33
Liquid Density at 25 ºC 1.54 1.8 1.65 1.58 At 20 ºC
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NFPA 2001 NORMALLY OCCUPIED SPACES
_________________________________________________

• As of Jan 2002, the EPA does not set use
  conditions - Deferred to latest version of NFPA
  2001
• PBPK modeling translates 5 minute dog LOAEL
  cardiotoxic concentrations to LOAELSafeHuman
  concentration-time response curves with a
  built-in safety factor (2 standard deviations)
• The current standard allows the system designer
  to use LOAELSafeHuman concentrations up to the
  LOAEL. Means must be provided to limit the
  exposure to the corresponding time.
• Proposed update to standard Vote in 2003-
  Allows only 5 minute LOAELSafeHuman
  concentrations of agent (with exceptions). LOAEL
  can be exceeded.
• More conservative and scientifically based than
  current standard

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NFPA 2001 NORMALLY UNOCCUPIED SPACES
_________________________________________________

• The current standard allows the system designer
  to use LOAELSafeHuman concentrations. Means must
  be provided to limit the exposure to the
  corresponding time. Concentrations can exceed the
  LOAEL
• Proposed Update to Standard Vote in 2003- No
  change in wording.

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NFPA 2001 (2003) STANDARD TOXICITY
__________________________________________________
_______

• Permitted in Occupied Areas

for n-Heptane Cup Burner Conc. X 1.3
10
CF3I DISCHARGE TESTING AT 40º C
_________________________________________________

• Testing in a cold aircraft engine nacelle
  simulator
• Entire facility housed in environmental test
  chamber
• The temperature of the agent and the airflow
  temperature have a significant effect on agent
  dispersion
• Dispersion of CF3I was not very effective Peak
  concentrations as much as 4x lower
• This research was conducted under DODs Next
  Generation Fire Suppression Technology Program
• Program Manager Dr. Richard Gann (NIST)
• http//www.bfrl.nist.gov/866/HOTWC/title/title.htm