Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system

System safety

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system (FFES), utilises the mixture of nitrogen (50%) and argon (50%). Both the nitrogen and argon are natural neutral gases, which are found in the Earth’s air at concentrations of 78% and 1%, respectively. Such a mixture has no deteriorating effect on the ozonosphere, as it is the case with (H)CFC, nor does it contribute to the greenhouse effect, as CO2. The ARGONITE is completely safe for the environment, electronic devices and men. Availability of this extinguishing agent in the Polish market causes that neither the charging process, nor a given charge itself is required to be certified (as it is with the other gas-based systems). It is of key significance in subsequent maintenance and servicing of a system (a low cost of and ease of re-charging cylinders).

Application of the Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system is useful at putting down fire, where any employment of another fire system (water spray, foam, powder) could result in substantial property damage (IT rooms, archives, museums, telephone exchange facilities). It is applied where the presence of people excludes triggering of other systems (e.g. CO2). It may be used to extinguish burning fuel oils, paints and the like. No reminder of gas makes it particularly suitable where a scene of fire is to be immediately put back to normal (data storage back-up facilities at banks)
The ARGONITE is particularly recommendable where the gas release permits equipment remaining outside of fire to operate; furthermore, it is clear and does not react with burning material(s). While extinguishing, it does not expel any harmful compounds. No fog, nor mist permits a safe and evacuation of any personnel from a scene of fire.

Extinguishing effect

The operation of the Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system relies on a principle whereby a specific space (area) is each time flooded with a volume of the ARGONITE necessary to reduce the Volumetric Oxygen Concentration (VOC) in the ambient air to a level which does not maintain burning any more.
However, such a level is high enough to permit people to respire freely. A presumed VOC reduction is from 21% to ca. 10.5...12.5% O2. It is to be noted, however, that already at ca. 15% VOC or less a majority of fires will go off, including fire of electric equipment, paper, wood. A level of 10.5...12.5% VOC is totally harmless for persons who are accidentally present in an affected room. Evidence thereof are results of tests carried by aviation labs, medical institutes as well as measurement results taken at operational tests of the ARGONITE fire systems by both the manufacturer and installation contractors, inclusive some tests conducted by the Fire Stop.

Configuration of the Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system is affordable in one-area or multiple-area design. In case of one-area designs a specific gas volume is to be used for the protection of one area only. In multiple-area designs, the gas stored suffices to protect only one (of many) area being affected by fire. As a rule, the ARGONITE fire extinguishing agent is stored in 80 litre cylinders at 150bar. To minimise storage space for such cylinders, a new high pressure (200bar) system has been developed. 150bar cylinders contain 17.4kg ARGINITE, whereas 220bar cylinders are able to be filled up with 22.8kg. The latter require 30% less storage area.

Structure

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system consists of a set of pressurised cylinders, connected via hoses to a common manifold and check valves. The cylinders may be arranged in one-, two or three-row sets. Each such cylinder is fitted with a quick-opening valve with an actuator (electric, hand-operated, pneumatic), which gas flows to a main discharge nozzle through, and further via pipelines to nozzles placed in a room to be protected.
Both the orifice of the main nozzle, the diameter of pipelines and discharge nozzle are selected specifically for each space with the aid of a design software. The multiple-area systems are additionally furnished with both a pilot and distribution manifold, which enable to feed the gas to individual protected areas.

ARGONITE - schemat

A fire detection and extinguishing central unit in the Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system permits an automatic interaction with respect to the: fire detection; control and monitoring of the fire system as regards the actual status of: electric circuits (open, closed); gas release electric circuits; system testing.
Hand operated START/STOP push-buttons fitted in the system permit a local hand activation / de-activation of a count-down procedure prior to the gas release.

Triggering modes

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system may be triggered as follows:

Fire alarm signal from (a) fire detector(s) deployed within protected space(s) is supplied to a fire detection and extinguishing central unit. Once such signals have come in from two independent fire detection circuits, the central unit operates a warning & alarm plant and a time delay of triggering the ARGONITE (prevailingly 30...60 secs) is being counted down. During this time exhaust and/or supply ventilation (if any) of the protected zone is switched off, specific fire flaps and doors are closed. The time delay is applied to permit closure of any possibly open doors and/or windows within the affected area, and evacuation. The counting down may be interrupted and the Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system may be triggered manually with the STOP push-button.
Once the time delay has elapsed, the two electric signals are fed:

Opening the valve on a cylinder releases the Argonite extinguishing agent, which flows via elastic connections to the HP-manifold and through hoses to other ARGONITE cylinder valves, operating their pneumatic and manual-pneumatic valves. As a consequence, the gas is released from the cylinders and via headers and branch lines of the system piping it is distributed between discharge nozzles in all affected areas (within 60...90 secs).

Testimonials

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing systems are approved and employed by many European countries such as Belgium Denmark, Luxembourg, Norway, Spain, Sweden, the U.K., and others. In Poland itself as much as 100+ ARGONITE systems were installed 1994 through 1999.

Approvals and certification

The Argonite fixed fire extinguishing system is certified by:

Should you need any more information about the Argonite, please contact our Fixed Fire Systems (FFS) Department.