GUIDE FOR

FIRE PROTECTION AND

DETECTION SYSTEM
CALCULATIONS

FM-200/ Novec-1230/CO2 System

Prepared by: Eng. Mohammad Sohail

B. Tech.(Mech.) || Member of "Saudi Council of
Engineers", Membership Number: 1064826

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 GAS-BASED FIRE SUPPRESSION
SYSTEM
HFC-227ea & FK-5-1-12
(FM200 & NOVEC 1230)
CO2 System
A Step-by-Step design Procedure

Address
Shuaa Al Zahra Safety Equipment Company , CR No:
2050184445 Postal Code 32243, Dammam, Saudi Arabia

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 Design Process

1. Define the Hazard

2. Determine Design Concentration
3. Determine the Net Hazard Volume
4. Determine Extinguishing agent Quantity
5. Check the maximum reach concentration
6. Determine number and size of agent containers
7. Establish maximum Discharge time
8. Determine nozzle size and quantity to deliver
required concentration at required discharge time
to ensure mixing
9. Determine pipe sizes and pipe run(Pipe Sizing &
Flow Calculation)
10. Evaluate compartment over/underpressurization
and provide venting if required.
11. Establish minimum agent hold requirements and
evaluate compartments for leakage.

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 Example Project -1 : A Computer Room
4.5 Mtr.

Plan view

8 Meter
2.5 mtr

Elevation view

8 Mtr.

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 Step -1 : Define Hazard

Type of Hazard : Computer Room (Surface Class A)

Min. Hazard Temprature : 20 C
Max. Hazard Temprature : 30 C

Step -2 : Determine Design Concentration

FM-200

Select min Design Concentraction from this table

based appropriate design standard
Design Concentraction © = Min.
Concentraction*1.2 For our example we will select NFPA 2001 and design
concentraction of 7 % ( as we should select highter of
C = 7 x 1.2 = 8.4 % extinguishing concentration)

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Step -3 : Determine Net Hazard Volume

V=lxbxh
V = 8 x 4.25 x 2.5
V(Gross)= 85 Cubic Meter.
Volume of Any Impermiable Member such as Fixed Solid objects etc.
V1 = 0 Cubic Meter ( assuming there is no such member in the room)

V(net) = V – V1 = 85 – 0 = 85 Cubic Meter.

Altitude : 1500 Mtr.

Specific Volume(S)= k1+k2xT
S = 0.1268+ 0.0005133 x 20
S = 0.136266

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Step -4 : Determine Agent Quantity

Agent Quantity (w) = 𝑉𝑆 (100−𝐶

𝐶
)

Agent Quantity (w) = 0.1362

85
(
8.4
100−8.4
)

Agent Quantity (w) = (624.08)x (0.09170)

W = 57.23 kg

This Quantity is at sea Level

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 Agent

Quantity @ 1500 mtr.

W = 57 /0.83 [𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑇𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒]

W = 68 kg.

W = 68 kg

This Quantity is at 1500 mtr. This is the Altitude of this

Hazard

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Step -5 : Check reached concentration @ Min. & Max
Tempratures.

𝑤𝑥𝑠
( )
𝐶 = 100 𝑤𝑥𝑠𝑉
( 𝑉 )+1

Where;
Q = Agent quantity supplied from the system [kg]
V = hazard volume [m³]
s = specific vapor volume [m³/kg] = k1+k2*T
T = Min./Max. hazard temperature [°C]
S = k1+k2xT
S = k1+k2x20
S = 0.1268+ 0.0005133 x 20
S = 0.1362 for min. Temp.

S = k1+k2xT
S = k1+k2x30
S = 0.1268+ 0.0005133 x 30
S = 0.1423 for Max. Temp.

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 68𝑥0.1326
( )
𝐶 = 100 85
68𝑥0.1326
( )+1
85

(0.08424)
𝐶 = 100
(0.08424) + 1

𝐶 = 7.7% @ 20 C Min. Temp.

54𝑥0.1423
( )
𝐶 = 100 85
54𝑥0.1423
( )+1
85

(0.09040)
𝐶 = 100
(0.09040) + 1

𝐶 = 8.29% @ 30 C Max. Temp

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 Lets check if this concentraction is Safe for occupied
space

Concentration @ 30°C is less than NOAEL (9%) – okay for

occupied space.

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Step-06 : Determination of number & Size of Container
Using DOT Container chart

Note :Unless a hydraulic flow calculation is done, approximate 80% of the max. filling
should be used to determine a container size (Recommanded practices from
Manufacturers)

1 x 52 litre containing 41 kg of FM 200 is selected

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Step-07,08 : Establish maximum Discharge time & Determine
nozzle size and quantity to deliver required concentration at
required discharge time to ensure mixing

180 Deg Pattern 360 Deg. Pattern

No. of Ports 7 8
Available Size 15/20/22/32/40/50 mm
Max area of Coverage 95.3 Sq. Mtr 95.3 Sq. Mtr
Max Discharge Radius 10.05 Mtr 8.7 Mtr.
Max. Coverage Height 4.87 Mtr. 4.87 Mtr.
Min. Void height (Sub-floors & 300 mm 300 mm
false ceilings)
Max. Distance from wall(Measured 300mm
from centre of the nozzle to the
wall.)
Min Distance from Wall(Measured 50mm
from centre of the nozzle to the
wall.)
Max. Distance below the ceiling 300mm 300mm
Max. Distance between Nozzle and 9.1 Mtr 9.1 Mtr.
Container outlet (if nozzles are
located only above the container )
Max. Distance between Nozzle and 9.1 Mtr 9.1 Mtr.
Container outlet (if nozzles are
located only below the container )

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 180 Degree 360 Degree

Discharge Nozzles

Discharge Ports

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 Check the Nozzle Coverage vs Max. Allowed coverage :
Right Angle Triangle-1

4.53 Mtr.
2.25 Mtr.
4.5 Mtr.

4 Mtr.

5.9 Mtr.

4 Mtr.
8 Meter

Right Angle Triangle-2

Actual Coverage Radius is within Max. allowed Coverage

Radius
4.53 Mtr for 360° - Okay
5.9 Mtr for 180° - Okay

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Check Height of Hazard Area vs Max. Allowed coverage
height :

4.25 Mtr. < 4.87 Mtr.- Okay

1 Nozzle 180° or 1 nozzle 360° is possible

Determine Size of Pipe & Number of Nozzles :

Number of Nozzles = 𝐶𝑜𝑣𝑒𝑟𝑎𝑔𝑒𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑜𝑓𝐸𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑁𝑜𝑧𝑧𝑜𝑙𝑒

𝑉𝑜𝑙𝑢𝑚𝑒𝑜𝑓𝐻𝑎𝑧𝑎𝑟𝑑

Number of Nozzles(360° or 180°) = 95.3

85

Number of Nozzles(360° or 180°) = 0.89 Say 1 Nos

Discharge Time = 10 Sec.

Agent Quantity = 48 Kg

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 Select higher size than
required Discharge rate using
table
Discharge rate = 4.8 kg/ Sec.

Estimated pipe size = 32 mm (1¼")

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Step-09 : Piping Arrangment

Piping arrangment :

5 2
4
E1N1

3
Connection Details
between container 1
outlet and pipe

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Important Parameters :

Piping System must be balanced (A balanced system has the

actual and equivalent pipe lengths from container to each nozzle within 10%
of each other and has equal design flow rates at each nozzle )

All nozzles have the same nominal

diameter and the same orifice diameter

Lengths and Nominal diameters of the feed

lines to the nozzles are identical

The mass discharge, and the pressures are

identical for all nozzles

• 80% maximum agent in pipe

• 4.87 bar (70.6 psi) minimum nozzle pressure
• Between 6 - 10 seconds discharge time.
• 10 - 30 % side tee split.
• 30 -70 % bull tee split.
• 0.5 kg/L(31.2lbs/ft3) - 1.0 kg/L(62.4lbs/ft3) fill density.
• Max. liquid arrival time imbalance of 1.0 seconds.
• Maximum liquid run out time of 2.0 seconds.
• Maximum nozzle height is 4.87m (16.0ft)

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 • Minimum of 10% agent in pipe before first tee.
• Maximum of 20 nozzles per system.
• Maximum of 10 enclosures per system.
• The ratio between the nozzle area and the pipe cross
sectional area immediately preceding the nozzle is limited to
a minimum of 0.20 (20%) and a maximum of 0.80 (80%).

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 Example Project -2
20 Mtr.

Plan view

20 Mtr.
Min. Temp = 20 C

Max. Temp. = 54 C
False Ceiling
HVAC Duct = 5% of total volume

Elevation
3 Mtr.

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 Example Project -3

Calculation for two rooms with the following dimensions:

Switch Room: 6.9 x 7 x 2.5 = 120.7m3

Computer Room: 12 x 16 x 2.83 = 543.3m3
Tmin = 20 C
Tmax = 25 C
Switch Room

Computer Room

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 Example Project -4

Calculation for a Battery room with the following dimensions &

details:
Room to be Protected by Novec 1230 ( FK-5-1-12/Propellant N2)
Computer Room Volume: = 170.70 m3
Non Permeable Volume = 0 m3
Tmin = 21 C
Tmax = 21 C

Battery Room

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 Example Project -5

Calculation for a Server room with the following dimensions &

details:
Room to be Protected by Novec 1230 ( FK-5-1-12/Propellant N2)

Area of Each column = 2.42 sq.ft.

Server room 46’X 32’

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 CO2 DESIGN QUANTITY FOR SURFACE FIRES

1. Define the Hazard

2. Determine Min. Extinguishing Concentration(MEC)
3. Determine Design Concentration(DC)
4. Determine the Net Hazard Volume
5. Determine Base Design Quantity
6. Determine additional CO2 quantity for special
condition.
6a. Material Conversion Factor (MCF)
6b. Uncloseable Openings
6c. Ventilation System
6d. Temprature Extereme
7. Determine Final Design Quantity.

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 CO2 DESIGN QUANTITY FOR DEEP SEATED FIRES(Smoldering
Combustion)

1. Define the Hazard

2. Determine Min. Extinguishing Concentration(MEC)
3. Determine Design Concentration(DC)
4. Determine the Net Hazard Volume
5. Determine Base Design Quantity
6. Determine additional CO2 quantity for special
condition.
6a. Material Conversion Factor (MCF)
6b. Uncloseable Openings
6c. Ventilation System
6d. Temprature Extereme
7. Determine Final Design Quantity.

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 Example Project-1(Total Flooding Type)

Volume of Space : 500 Cubic Meter

Type of Combustible : Ethyl Alcohol
Determine Design quantity and Rate of Discharge …?

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Step -1 : Define Hazard
Surface Flame Spread

Step -2 :Determine Min. Extinguishing Concentration(MEC)

Step -3 :Determine Design Concentration(DC)

Step -4 :Determine Net Hazard Volume (Vnet)

Vnet = 500 Cubic Mtr.

Step -5 :Determine Base Design Quantity(mBD)

Base Design Quantity (mBD) = Vnet x FF
mBD = 500 x 0.8 = 400 kg

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Step -6 :Determine additional Quantity

Material Conversion Factor = 1.4

Modified Quantity = mBD x MCF
= 400 x 1.4
mD = 560 kg

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Adjustment for leakage in system(mlo) = 0 kg
Adjustment for ventilation(mlv) = 0 kg
Adjustment for Temprature Extreme(mT) = 0 kg

Final Design Quanity (mFD) = mD+mlo+mlv+mT

= 560+0+0+0
mFD = 560 kg

Discharge Time (t) = 1 Min.

Discharge Rate (w) = 560 kg/Min.

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 Example Project-2(Total Flooding Type)

1 Mtr.

Volume of Space : 60 Cubic Meter

Type of Combustible : Petroleum spirit
Determine Design quantity and Rate of Discharge …?

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 Example Project-3(Total Flooding Type)

1 Mtr.

Volume of Space : 300 Cubic Meter

Type of Combustible : Ethylene Oxide
Determine Design quantity and Rate of Discharge …?

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 Example Project-4(Total Flooding Type)

10 ft

7 ft

20 ft
10 ft

Type of Combustible : Gasoline

Area of Openings : 5 Sq. Ft. Each

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 Example Project-1 – Local Application System
Diesel Fuel Pumping Skid
Rate by Volume Method(Placement of Skid)

Room Wall-2

Room Wall-1 Inside look

`
Inside look

3 Mtr.

Skid is away by 1
Mtr. From each wall

Foot Print of Equipment

Actual Room boundary 3m x 4m x 3m Room is unenclosed from
Ceiling heigh = 5 mtr. two Sides

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 Rate by Volume Method(Virtual Design boundary)

Virtual Design Volume 0.6 Mtr from Length of Pump Skid

boudary equipment

Length of Virtual boundry (L) = 1+4+0.6 = 5.6 mtr.

Distance from
Distance of equipment equipment to virtual
from wall boundary

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 Width of Virtual boundry (W) = 1+3+0.6 =4.6 Mtr.
Height of Virtual boundry (H) = 3+0.6 = 3.6 Mtr.

Size of Protected Volume (V) = L x Wx H

= 5.6 x 4.6 x 3.6
V = 92.73 Cubic Mtr.

Perimeter of Protected Space = Sum of all Sides

= 2(L Side) + 2( W Side)
= 2(( L Side) + W Side))
= 2((1+4+0.6)+ (1+3+0.6))
= 2( 10.2)
= 14.8 Mtr.

Two wall of room are not

Should never be less than
enclosed
this value.
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Total discharge rate of a basic System = 16 kg/min. Cubic mtr.

The discharge rate may be reduced by as much as 12 kg/min · m3 in proportion to

the fraction of the perimeter of the virtual volume that consists of permanent and
continuous walls that extend at least 0.6 m above the hazard, and provided that the
walls are not actually part of the protected hazard.

Therefore, Design Rate of CO2 = Protected Volume x Flow rate (from above graph)
= 97.5 cubic Mtr x 10 kg/ Cubic Mtr x Min.

Design flow rate = 970 Kg/ Min.

Duration of Liquid Discharge = 30 Sec

Therefore,

Design Quantity of CO2 = Rate of Discharge x Discharge Time x High pressure

efficiency factor(For high pressure systems increase gas quantity by 40% as only
70% of cylinder is effective)

= 927 x 0.5 x 1.4

Design Quantity of CO2 = 649 kg

The number of 45.4 kg high pressure CO2 Cylinder = 649/45.4 = 14.3 say 15

Number of Cylinder = 15

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 Example Project-2 – Local Application System
Paint Spray Booth

Dimensions
Length = 2.13 m
Width = 2.44 m ( open Front)
Height = 1.83 m

Determine the Design Quantity of CO2 and Discharge Rate…?

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 Example Project-3 – Local Application System
Printer

Four Sides are opened(no continuous solid walls)

Dimensions

L = 1.52 m
W = 1.22 m
H = 1.22

Determine the Design Quantity of CO2 and Discharge Rate…?

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 Pipe Size & Orifice Size Determination

1. Determine the Terminal Pressure for a low Pressure System Consisting of

single 2 inch. Sch. 80 pipeline with an equivalent length of 500 ft. and flow
rate of 1000 lb/min.

Solution:

Take following ratios,

𝑄 1000
𝐷 2 4.28
= 234 lb/min.in2

𝐿 500
𝐷 1.25 2.48
= 201 lb/min.in2

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Considering single nozzle termination.

And refering to table 4.7.5.2.1 of NFPA 12

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Equivalent Orifice area = 1000
1410
= 0.709 Sq. Inch( Diameter will be 0.95 inch.)

Nozzle Diameter = 0.95 Inch.

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 2. Modifying previous example, Determine the Terminal Pressure for a low
Pressure System Consisting of the pipeline branched into two smaller
pipelines the branch lines are equal and consist of 1-1∕2 in. Schedule 40 pipe
with equivalent lengths of 200 ft (61 m) and that the flow in each branch line
is to be 500 lb/min (227 kg/min).

Take following ratios,

𝑄 500
𝐷 2 2.592
= 193 lb/min.in2

𝐿 200
𝐷 1.25 1.813
= 110 lb/min.in2

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New 𝐿
𝐷 1.25
= 110+300 = 410 ft/Sq. inch.

Terminal Pressure with new equivalent length = 165 psi

Equivalent Orifice area = 500

912
= 0.5482 Sq. Inch( Diameter will be 0.83 inch.)

Nozzle Diameter = 0.83 inch.

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