Novec 1230 Fire Suppression
A fire suppression system that helps protect everything in your care — people, businesses, assets and even the planet — requires advanced science with no compromises.
You need information to make a thoughtful and forward-looking decision, including understanding how different fire suppression agents work and considering the ways they can impact your business, your workers and your world. Take a closer look at how 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid compares against the primary types of fire suppression available today. Then talk to us about how 3M science can help you.
3M Novec 1230 vs. FM-200® and other hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
Avoid the current and coming regulatory limits on HFCs.
Protecting the world we live in has become an important part of our lives. At 3M, we seek out science that supports this mission. The regulatory actions of world governments and corporate initiatives are accelerating a transition from environmentally harmful HFC fire suppression clean agents such as FM-200® (HFC-227ea) to more sustainable alternatives.
As a result, HFCs face strict regulations calling for a production phasedown. When specifying a fire extinguishing agent, you not only have to consider its impact on the planet but also the potential cost and availability of replacement agents following a regulatory phasedown.
Novec 1230 fluid has a very low GWP of less than 1, is non-ozone-depleting, doesn’t linger in the atmosphere and is not targeted for regulatory restrictions or phasedown. We’re so confident in this product that we guarantee it with the 3M™ Blue Sky℠ Warranty, offering peace of mind with 20-year protection against losses arising from regulatory action.
Download information comparing 3M Novec 1230 and HFCs
3M Novec 1230 vs. Inert Gas
The hidden costs of inert gas systems add up fast.
Specifying the right fire suppression system carries with it long-term implications. What are the costs related to maintaining and recharging this system?
Part of the job of a fire protection expert (FPE) is to make smart investments for the organisation. That means not only preventing loss from a catastrophic event like a fire but also identifying the hidden costs of systems like inert gas fire suppression.
Inert gas systems take up more room, and that space has a cost. They need to displace more air to put out a fire than an advanced clean agent like Novec 1230 fluid. That means more cylinders of gas to ship, install and maintain - not to mention the hidden costs to recharge.
There are also extra costs required to make an inert gas system safe, like extra ventilation, extra structural strength to support the weight of the system, and more expensive testing and checkout costs.
Add it all up and see how Novec 1230 fluid can help make your investment in smarter fire suppression pay dividends for your project.
Download information comparing 3M Novec 1230 and inert gas fire suppression
3M Novec 1230 vs. water mist and water sprinkler systems
Water mist and water sprinkler systems can cause catastrophic damage to electronics, artefacts and overall business continuity.
Fire protection for critical assets is not simple. While water mist and water sprinkler systems might seem like an obvious fire suppression method, there are many circumstances where water can be almost as damaging and harmful as the fire itself.
Consider the electronic and electrical components that play a critical role in our lives today. Water is conductive and can cause short circuits, irreparable damage and data loss — damage that can lead to downtime of systems critical to your business, a city and even human lives.
Likewise, irreplaceable art, archives and artefacts often damaged by water can only be recovered at great cost and effort — if at all.
Even when performing as intended, the cleanup and recovery of spaces protected by water can be significant. And don’t let the “mist” name fool you. Water is water, whatever its form. Make the smart choice to specify an advanced fire suppression system to protect your most important assets.
Download information about how 3M Novec 1230 fluid compares with and water and water mist systems
3M Novec 1230 vs. carbon dioxide (CO2) gas fire suppression
CO2 is dangerous and deadly to people.
Simply put, carbon dioxide gas is not a safe fire suppression agent for any environment where people live or work. By displacing breathable air, it deprives the fire of its oxygen — but it does the same for any people in the area.
The inherent danger of CO2 means it is governed by a different standard. As a rule, it is not to be installed in normally occupied enclosures. When the space is occupied such as for maintenance, there is a "lock-out" period delaying system deployment to give people time to evacuate - time in which a fire might spread.
Additionally, there are a number of other hidden costs associated with CO2 systems, some associated with the danger it poses and others with installation requirements. While it is true that carbon dioxide itself is inexpensive, consider these costs of owning a CO2 system:
- Employee training on the risks of CO2 and evacuation procedures
- Lock out valves to protect adjacent spaces
- High pressure cylinder hydrostatic testing requirements
- 30 day inspection requirements
- Downtime costs from maintenance and inspections
- Full discharge test on each hazard
- Real estate costs for system storage
Play it safe. Play it smart. Specify 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid.
Download information about how 3M Novec 1230 fluid compares with and CO2-based fire suppression systems
