FM-200. The GX-20 fixed fire extinguishing system

See a movie showing the release of GX-20 fixed extinguishing device.

FM-200 - the answer to your needs

For many years the Halon 1301 had been regarded as the most effective fire extinguishing agent for application in enclosed spaces. It had proved supreme in protecting valuable equipment, but first of all it enabled to put down fires where people were suspected to be remaining. The application of the Halon 1301, however, had had an adverse effect on environment, contributing to the deterioration of the ozone layer. Almost all the countries had ceased manufacturing the Halon 1301 by the end of 1993. Many organisations commenced research on new extinguishing agents, preferably with an effectiveness comparable to or better than that of the Halon 1301. The research resulted in the introduction of a series of new such agents of a new generation , with the FM-200 in the forefront which has already been used in thousand of plants world-wide.
Nowadays the fixed fire systems are often times a usual piece of rooms, where valuable furnishings are provided. Governmental institutions, banks, industrial plants and privately owned businesses more and more often ask themselves the question which of the affordable fire extinguishing agents is to be used, to ensure a maximum safety to their employees, equipment and invaluable data stored at IT centres. Should you seek after a pure, user and/or environmental friendly fire extinguishing agent, just select the FM-200.

Fire extinguishing effect and how it is exploited

The fire extinguishing effect attained by means of the FM-200 is of an active nature to the effect that immediate vicinity of fire is cooled down at the molecular level. The FM-200 belongs to the same group whose agents are utilised in the refrigeration sector. In extracting heat it impedes combustion, and an additional chemical action augments its extinguishing effect.
The application of the FM-200 is particularly recommended where quickly spreading fires may occur. Of a significance is that fire damages are the more extensive, the longer a fire lasts. Within seconds both a high temperature and smoke may seriously deteriorate electronic circuits and/or equipment, and some toxic products of combustion may attain hazardous concentrations. To prevent this happening the GX-20 system has been developed which does the best of the FM-200. The system is conceptualised so that a desired fire quenching effect is attained which enables to extinguish fire within 6...10 seconds.
Containing fire during the very first critical seconds rescues personnel, equipment and invaluable data being present in an affected area.
The FM-200 not only protects from immediate losses due to fire, but also it does not contribute to the former, as it is the case with water-, foam- and even CO2-based systems. The FM-200 is a pure gaseous means which contains no oily, nor caustic compounds that may have an adverse effect upon equipment to be protected. After its use no solid reminder is left behind, and its vapours may be readily removed by means of ventilating affected spaces, which enables to restore regular activities once the fire response has been over.
A high evaporation point of the FM-200 combined with a properly designed system does not render a shock to electronic devices, as this may be the case with other agents (e.g. CO2). The FM-200 is stored as liquid, whereas it is supplied to areas to be protected in a gaseous state. It does not conduct electricity, nor does it cause corrosion which makes it particularly suitable to live parts. It is perfectly suitable for protecting electronic and/or computer hardware, data carriers, communications equipment and devices used in diagnostics and telemetry.

FM-200 and environmental considerations

Considering the need to protect the ozone layer within the stratosphere, every maker of fire fighting agents which are designed for a long-term use, has to offer such with the Ozone Deterioration Potential equal to nill. As the FM-200 does not contain chlorine, nor bromide, it automatically fulfils the requirement.
A biological decomposition of „halon-subsitutes” in the environment is also of a great importance.
Long-lasting compounds bring a risk of their impact upon the greenhouse effect. The lifetime of the FM-200 in the atmosphere is believed to be merely 31...42 years and as such it is the most favourable result of those relating to the other agents of this group.
A number of diverse fire tests carried out by the FM, UL., LPC has confirmed anticipated effectiveness FM-200 that allows to approve it as a fire extinguishing means. More than 70 passed toxicity tests, which have so far been conducted on it, make it the most examined agent among the Halon 1301 substitutes whose user friendliness is positively proven.
One of the most rigorous institutes that deal with the environmental protection, i.e. the EPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) concludes in the Federal Register of May 12th, 1993, that the FM-200 may safely be used in manned rooms at concentrations to 9.0 per cent without time limitations, or to 10.5 per cent with certain exposure limits. It denotes, that at design concentrations a safe evacuation of people is possible even if the FM-200 were present.
The FM-200 influence upon the human organism have been thoroughly examined and no adverse effect at applicable design concentrations of 7...9 per cent (vol.) has been found out. The exposure to the FM-200 at these concentrations does not entail any hazard whatsoever.

GX-20 FM-200 based fixed fire extinguishing system (FFES)

The GX-20 FFES of the HYGOOD, a British company, is one of the most modern fire systems based on the FM-200. Here the agent is stored in steel cylinders, which are both designed and manufactured, and tested to the requirements of the BS5750. Each such cylinder is equipped with a quick-opening valve which, via a distribution piping and nozzles, releases the gas into area to be protected within 6...10 seconds.
The system GX-20 is affordable in a single and multiple area design. In the case of the single area systems, a specifically required amount of the gas serves for the protection of one area only. In the multiple area systems, several rooms (areas) may be protected with the aid of such an amount of the FM-200, that suffices to offer protection to one (the largest) area. The GX-20 cylinder sets may be stowed in one (Cylinder Station) or more rooms to be protected. Compared to the other systems, the GX-20 FFES demands less space for storing the fire extinguishing agent. In the context of the effectiveness to space ratio, the necessary space is up to ten times less as in the case of e.g. water-, CO2- or neutral gas based systems.
Once connected to a detection and fire central unit, the GX-20 FFES supports automatic fire detection, control and monitoring. By combining it with START/STOP push-buttons, the system may be hand-operated locally, or the counting down procedure prior to the gas release may be ceased.

Testimonials

During recent years, the GX-20 fixed fire extinguishing system has won confidence of many customers. Among them many domestic and foreign banks, industrial, governmental and private buildings are found. More than 70 GX-20 FFES installations in Poland within some recent years proves its quality and customers’ confidence in it.

Certifications and approvals

The FM-200 has been approved by such organisations as: