ALTERNATIVE AGENT UPDATE Louise C Speitel Fire Safety

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

OUTLINE _________________________ • Task Group Report on Halon Options • Agents Under SNAP Internal Review • New Agents • NFPA 2001 Standard: Proposed Update for 2003 • CF 3 I Discharge Testing at – 40º C in Cold Aircraft Engine Nacelle Simulator

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/report 1. stm

AGENTS UNDER SNAP INTERNAL REVIEW _________________________ • NOVEC 1230 - C 6 Perfluoroketone- (3 M) C 2 F 5 C(O)CF(CF 3)2 - Streaming (nonresidential) & Flooding • H Galden Hydrofluoropolyethers- (Ausimont) Mixture of polymeric and oligomeric hydrofluoropolyethers- streaming -(nonresidential) • HFC-227 -BC: FM 200 with Na. HCO 3 - (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

NEW AGENTS _________________________ Bromotrifluoropropene (BTP): CH 2 CBr. CF 3 • Contains bromine, chemically acting • Similar efficiency to Halon 1211 and Halon 1301 by mass • Toxicity similar to Halon 1211: NOAEL=0. 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

ENVIRONMENTAL DATA AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES _________________________ Name Halon 1301 Halon 1211 BTP Novec 1230 Chemical Formula CF 3 Br CF 2 Br. Cl CH 2 CBr. CF 3 C 2 F 5 C(O)CF(CF 3)2 ODP 10/12 3/4 0. 0037 0 Atmospheric Lifetime (Years) 65 11 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

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 LOAELSafe. Human concentration-time response curves with a built-in safety factor (2 standard deviations) • The current standard allows the system designer to use LOAELSafe. Human 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 LOAELSafe. Human concentrations of agent (with exceptions). LOAEL can be exceeded. • More conservative and scientifically based than current standard

NFPA 2001 NORMALLY UNOCCUPIED SPACES _________________________ • The current standard allows the system designer to use LOAELSafe. Human 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.

NFPA 2001 (2003) STANDARD: TOXICITY _____________________________ Permitted in Occupied Areas for n-Heptane = Cup Burner Conc. X 1. 3

CF 3 I 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 CF 3 I was not very effective: Peak concentrations as much as 4 x lower • This research was conducted under DOD’s Next Generation Fire Suppression Technology Program • Program Manager: Dr. Richard Gann (NIST) • http: //www. bfrl. nist. gov/866/HOTWC/title. htm