GAS SUPPRESSION SYSTEM CALCULATIONS

The Novec 1230 system is installed in Library and Store & Pharmacy of a hospital.
It provides continued fire protection of the costly medicines and irreplaceable
photographs, books, documents. The contents of the library are protected by this fire
suppression system that does not cause damage while still being environment friendly.

Design calculations for Library area

Step 01: Determine hazard volume
Library volume = 46 (l) x 325 (b) x 10 (h) = 14950 ft

Step 02: Determine Volume of solid, permanent structures, or equipment.

2

Area of each column = 2.42ft

Volume = 2.42 x 10

= 24.2ft

No. of pillars occupying room area = 7

Total Volume = 24.2 x 7 = 169.4 say 170 ft

Step 03: Calculate reduced volume

Reduced volume = Step 1 ans. step 2 ans.
3

= 14950 - 170 = 14780 ft ~ 418.52m

Step 04: Determination of NOVEC 1230 Quantity

Q = V x CF x C Alt
Where
Q = Agent quantity required [kg]
V = Hazard volume [m]
CF = Flooding factor [kg/m]
C Alt = Altitude correction factor

Therefore,
Q = 418.52x 0.5875x 0.90
= 221.29

Hence required agent quantity = say 225Kg

To check the concentration C reached in the hazard the following formula can be
used:
=

+(

100
)

Where,
Q = agent quantity supplied from the system [kg] (at sea level)
V = hazard volume [m]
s = specific vapor volume [m/kg] = 0.0664 + 0.000274 x T (at sea level)
T = max. Hazard temperature [C]
Altitude = 542m
A quantity of 225 kg Novec 1230 has been calculated at an altitude of 542 m.
At sea level this would result in 225 kg / 0.943 = 250 kg Novec
Specific vapour volume(s) for Novec 1230:
Formula:
= 0.0664 + 0.000274
=

40 = 0.077

250 0.0773 100

= 4.41%
418.52 + ( 250 0.0773 )

(Concentration is less than NOAEL* (10%) okay for occupied space)

*No Observed Adverse Effect Level

Step 06: Determination of number and size of tanks required

Nominal
Cylinder
Size
600 lb
900 lb
1000 lb

P/N
20508
20509
20510

Fill Capacity
Minimum
Maximum
lb
Kg
lb
304
137.9
609
455
206.4
910
561
254.5
1000

Empty Weight
Kg
276.2
412.7
453.6

* 75% of max. filling

Tank fill level = actual filling (kg)/max. filling (kg)
1 x 412.7 kg tanks required - filled with 250kg Novec 1230

lb
346
471
766

Kg
157.0
213.6
346.5

Step 07: Determination of number

Number of nozzles:
Total Volume of hazard area / coverage area of each nozzle
360 Pattern: 418.52/ 292 = 1.43 say 2
o

180 Pattern: 418.52/ 146 = 2.86 say 3

Step 08: Pipe Size Estimation

Pipe Type

Pipe Diameter Internal Diameter

Min Flow
(kg/sec)

Max Flow
(kg/sec)

40T

1 mm

15.8

0.454

1.361

40T

20mm

20.93

0.907

2.495

40T

25mm

26.64

1.59

3.855

40T

32mm

35.05

2.72

5.67

40T

40mm

40.89

4.08

9.072

40T

50mm

52.5

6.35

13.61

40T

65mm

62.71

9.072

24.95

40T

80mm

77.93

13.61

40.82

40T

100mm

102.25

24.95

56.7

40T

125mm

128.2

40.82

90.72

40T

150mm

154.05

54.43

136.1

Total quantity = 250 kg Novec 1230 (in 10 s) from 2 nozzles

12.5 kg/s
Find the next higher value in "Max. Flow" column
Estimated Pipe size = 50 mm (2)

Step 09: Pressure Venting

=

Where, A

required free venting area (m)

Novec 1230 flow (kg/s)

specific volume of agent (m/kg)*

max. Allowable pressure increase (Pa) **

VHOM

specific volume of the homogeneous air / Novec

1230 mixture***
c2

resistance coefficient for the opening****

* Use 0.072 m/kg for Novec 1230.

** A value between 100 and 300 Pascals should be used if there is no other value
offered by the client or clients representative.
*** 0.42 is a good average value for 4.2% Novec 1230 concentration.
**** 0.5<c2<1; to simplify the formula, use c2=1
250 kg Novec 1230 to be discharged (within 10 seconds).
Maximum overpressure allowed = 300 Pa.
=

25

0.072

300

4.2

1 = 0.05

Therefore, 0.05 m free venting area is required.