Combustion promotion and extinction of premixed counterflow methane/air flames by C6F12O fire suppressant

Machinery spaces in the majority of Royal Navy (RN) vessels use carbon dioxide (CO2) as the primary fire suppressant. While CO2 is very effective for firefighting, particularly in machinery space application, it is harmful to life in the concentrations required for effective fire suppression; exposure to concentrations greater than 15% can cause death within sixty seconds. The use of CO2 and similar fire suppressant systems in machinery spaces presents a risk due to the potential exposure of personnel. This may occur in a fire scenario where personnel are unable to escape the affected compartment, if there is a leak in the system, or due to accidental discharge. These risks are typically mitigated through physical means and procedural controls. However, in the hierarchy of safety controls the primary means should always be the elimination of the hazard. Babcock Energy and Marine undertook a study for the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence (MoD) into alternative methods of firefighting on Royal Navy minor warship machinery spaces with the safety of personnel considered a key requirement. The study identified five alternatives to CO2 available on the market. One particular aerosol fire suppression system was found to be superior to the others for application in small craft. This system is not toxic, non-ozone depleting and leaves almost no residue after application to the affected space, enabling re-entry (provided that the space has been ventilated to remove the products of combustion). The study concluded that traditional methods of fire suppression should be reconsidered across all small craft due to the health and safety issues associated with CO2 and the availability of improved alternatives. This paper considers the use of traditional firefighting systems on naval vessels in light of 21st century health and safety regulations. An assessment of current fire extinguishing agents is presented followed by a case study to determine the most appropriate solution for a minor warship concept with a particular aerosol system being justified as the preferred option. The paper also considers if the same conclusions would be reached for major warships or if the difference in scale results in an alternative solution.

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DFT and ab initio calculations on the reaction between fluorine atoms and the fire suppressant, 2-H heptafluoropropane

Chemical Physics Letters ◽

10.1016/j.cplett.2005.10.013 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 417 (1-3) ◽

pp. 256-260

Author(s):

E.P.F. Lee ◽

J.M. Dyke ◽

W.-K. Chow ◽

F.-T. Chau ◽

D.K.W. Mok

Keyword(s):

Ab Initio Calculations ◽

Ab Initio ◽

Fire Suppressant

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The Physicochemical Properties of SFE Fire Suppressant Atmospheres in Toxicity vs Fire Extinguishment Tests: Implications for Aerosol Deposition and Toxicity

10.21236/ada411056 ◽

1997 ◽

Author(s):

E. C. Kimmel ◽

E. A. Smith ◽

J. E. Reboulet ◽

K. R. Still ◽

R. L. Carpenter

Keyword(s):

Physicochemical Properties ◽

Aerosol Deposition ◽

Fire Extinguishment ◽

Fire Suppressant

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Effects of fire retardant chemical and fire suppressant foam on shrub steppe vegetation in northern Nevada

International Journal of Wildland Fire ◽

10.1071/wf00013 ◽

1999 ◽

Vol 9 (2) ◽

pp. 115 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Diane L. Larson ◽

Wesley E. Newton ◽

Patrick J. Anderson ◽

Steven J. Stein

Keyword(s):

Species Richness ◽

Great Basin ◽

Fire Retardant ◽

Stem Density ◽

Steppe Vegetation ◽

Northern Nevada ◽

Shrub Steppe ◽

Fire Suppressant ◽

Number Of Stems ◽

Galling Insects

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of fire retardantchemical (Phos-Chek G75-F*) and fire suppressant foam (Silv-Ex) application,alone and in combination with fire, on Great Basin shrub steppe vegetation. Wemeasured growth, resprouting, flowering, and incidence of galling insects onChrysothamnus viscidiflorus andArtemisia tridentata. These characteristics were notaffected by any chemical treatment. We measured community characteristics,including species richness, evenness, and diversity, and number of stems ofwoody and herbaceous plants in riparian and upland plots. Of these characteristics, only species richness and number ofstems/m2 clearly responded to the chemicaltreatments, and the response was modified by fire. In general, speciesrichness declined, especially after Phos-Chek application. However, by the endof the growing season, species richness did not differ between treated andcontrol plots. Acanonical variate analysis suggested that burning had agreater influence on community composition than did the chemical treatments.In general, riparian areas showed more significant responses to the treatmentsthan did upland areas, and June applications produced greater changes inspecies richness and stem density than did July applications.*Use of Trade Names does not imply endorsement by the U.S.Government.

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