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Design of fire fighting systems with carbon dioxide Calculation of necessary quantities
NFPA 12 is perhaps the most widely accepted standard f or the design, installation, operation and maintenance of f ire f ighting systems using carbon dioxide as the extinguishing medium. T his standard deals with two (2) types of systems: - high pressure systems: In these systems, carbon dioxide is stored in pressure containers (cylinders) at ambient temperatures. High pressure systems are mostly used nowadays. - low pressure systems: In these systems, carbon dioxide is stored in pressure containers at a controlled low temperature of 0 degF (or -18 degC). Low pressure systems are used in special applications, especially when we want to maximize the density of f ire f ighting medium per storage space, like f or example f or f ire-f ighting purposes of gas turbines enclosures. Due to its toxicity, carbon dioxide is not to be used in normally occupied spaces like of f ices, libraries, computer rooms etc. However, it is widely used f or f ight f ighting purposes in unoccupied and/or remote switchgear rooms, battery rooms, data rooms, cable tunnels. Basic things to consider during design of a carbon dioxide fire fighting system Af ter we determine which areas will be f ire protected with carbon dioxide, we must estimate the most probable type of f ire that will develop upon f ire initiation. Based on NFPA 12, two (2) major types of f ire exist: - surf ace f ires - deep-seated f ires Surf ace f ires are relatively easy to extinguish. T hey are mostly f ires which are caused by f lammable solids, gas or liquids. On the other hand, deep-seated f ire are more dif f icult rivals. Deep-seated f ires are mostly smoldering f ires, like f or example a cable f ire. Bigger quantities of carbon dioxide are necessary f or their extinguishment compared to surf ace f ires, since exposed material will also have to be cooled to a temperature that will not allow its re-ignition. Once we have decided the type of f ire, we can proceed to calculate the necessary quantities of carbon dioxide. For this purpose, we must calculate the net volume of the protected space. T his calculation does not normally take into consideration f alse ceilings and/or f alse f loors. Carbon dioxide requirements for surface fires Once the net volume is known, we proceed to determine the design concentration of carbon dioxide that is required f or the type of f lammable material involved. In no case shall a concentration less than 34% be used. Design concentrations are typically calculated by adding a saf ety f actor of 20% to the minimum concentration f actors shown at Table 5.3.2.2 of NFPA 12, i.e. design concentration = 1,2 * minimum concentration For a design concentration of 34%, NFPA 12 stipulated f looding f actors will have to be applied as a minimum:

Picture 1 Carbon dioxide volume f actors f or surf ace f ires We take note that the smaller a space, the bigger the necessary quantity of carbon dioxide. For materials requiring a design concentration bigger than 34%, the quantities calculated until now will have to be multiplied with the volume f actor given in Figure 5.3.4 of NFPA 12 Minimum calculated quantities will have to be increased in order to take into consideration any of the f ollowing reasons: - openings that cannot be closed - ventilation systems that cannot be shut down during carbon dioxide discharge - a small percentage of carbon dioxide is vaporised during discharge without contributing to the putting out of the f ire Although no specif ic rules exist, it is usual that minimum calculated quantities are multiplied by a f actor of 1.1 in order to take into consideration all these parameters. Carbon dioxide requirements for deep-seated fires Here, the calculation is more straight-f orward. Knowing the protected space net volume, we use the volume f actors of Table 5.4.2.1 of NFPA 12

Tab le 5.4.2.1 o f NFPA 12 (2005 e d itio n)

Picture 2 Design carbon dioxide concentration f or deep-seated f ires Additional saf ety f actors, similar to surf ace f ires are also used here in order to take into consideration uncloseable openings, ventilation systems that cannot be shut down etc. Selection of number of cylinders Individual cylinders shall be used having a nominal weight capacity of 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 35, 50, 75, 100, or 120 lb (2.3, 4.5, 6.8, 9.1, 11.4, 15.9, 22.7, 34.1, 45.4, or 54.4 kg respectively). Depending on the calculated quantities of carbon dioxide that is necessary f or each space, we proceed to order the f inal amount of carbon dioxide cylinders f or all protected spaces, taking into consideration the f ollowing: - For redundancy reasons, overall selected amount of carbon dioxide cylinders is divided in two (2) banks of cylinders: the main bank of cylinders and the reserve or auxiliary bank of cylinders. - Calculation of the overall amount of cylinders is not done by adding the number of necessary cylinders per space, since it is very unlikely that a f ire develops simultaneously in all spaces. If f or example, space A needs seven (7) cylinders, space B needs ten (10) cylinders and space C needs f if teen (15) cylinders, then we shall order thirty (30) cylinders, 15 f or each bank so as to cover the worst case scenario: f ire outbreak at space C.