Clean agent fire suppression systems are designed to protect valuable assets from fire in situations where water would cause damage. Because these systems don’t rely on water, they are perfect for protecting data centers, server rooms, and a wide range of other assets that may be damaged by liquids.

There are several options for clean agent fire suppression. There is no one-size-fits-all solution. This means certain systems may be more or less suitable for specific circumstances. To discern which system is right for you, you will first need to understand the most common systems and their ideal use cases.

FM-200

FM-200 is a clean agent fire suppressant for Class A fires: standard fires, Class B fires: liquid and gas fires, and Class C fires: electrical fires. Please note that this does not include grease fires, however. The FM-200 clean agent is a non-toxic, colorless gas that leaves behind no residue. When it comes to extinguishing fire, FM-200’s main objective is to remove heat in order to suppress the fire.

What Is FM-200 Used For?

Since FM-200 leaves no residue and is not toxic to humans, it is a popular solution for a wide variety of industries, including but not limited to:
  • Banks
  • Data Centers
  • Libraries / Book Stores
  • Museums
  • Telecommunications Centers

However, due to new government regulations, FM-200 is becoming less viable as a clean agent suppression system.

FM-200 Phase-down

With the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) looking to reduce the production of greenhouse gases leading to global warming, FM-200 is being phased down (although not entirely phased out). As of 2022, the production of FM-200 has already started to decrease, and this will continue until a baseline of 15% is reached in 2036.

For this reason, property owners looking for a safe but reliable clean agent fire suppression system are encouraged to look elsewhere. Luckily, there are plenty of alternatives designed to fit your individual fire protection needs.

Inergen

Inergen has emerged as a safe, far more environmentally friendly alternative to FM-200. Inergen is a mixture of three naturally occurring gasses: nitrogen, argon, and carbon dioxide.

What Is Inergen Used For?

As opposed to removing heat like the FM-200, Inergen focuses on lowering the level of oxygen in an enclosure to suppress fire. Fire generally requires 15% oxygen to burn, but Inergen lowers that number to 12.5% to suppress the fire while still remaining breathable for humans. The unique mixture of gasses not only allows for breathability but actually enhances the body’s ability to assimilate oxygen.

Like FM-200, Inergen is designed to fight Class A, B, and C fires. Also, like FM-200, Inergen leaves no residue behind, making it a popular clean agent fire suppression option for a wide variety of facilities, including but not limited to:
Bank Vaults
Computer Rooms
Data Centers
Server Rooms
Storage Facilities
Telecommunications Centers

Especially surrounding valuable electronics, clean agent fire suppression systems are a solid option. And given the environmental upgrades over FM-200, Inergen has emerged as a popular replacement.

What Is The Difference Between Inergen And FM-200?

Again, the process by which the two clean agents suppress fire is different. FM-200 removes heat from the fire equation while Inergen lowers the level of oxygen. Both suppress fire using gas without leaving residue behind, but Inergen is far more environmentally friendly than FM-200. With government regulations phasing down FM-200, Inergen stands as a greener substitute.

3M Novec 1230

3M Novec 1230 is yet another gas-based clean agent fire suppressant that leaves no residue behind. Like FM-200, it works by removing heat from the fire equation. However, 3M Novec 1230, like Inergen, is a far more environmentally friendly option than FM-200.

What Is 3M Novec 1230 Used For?

Novec 1230 is yet another clean agent fire suppressant that is capable of fighting Class A, B, and C fires. It leaves no residue behind and, as a result, is popular in a wide variety of facilities, including but not limited to:
Aviation
Data Centers
Hospitals
Manufacturing
Oil and Gas

Novec 1230 is another popular option around valuable electronics. However, it is seen as a far more environmentally friendly alternative to FM-200.

What Is The Difference Between Novec 1230, FM-200, And Intergen?

Novec 1230 is similar to FM-200 in that it works to remove heat in order to extinguish fires. However, like Intergen, it is a greener alternative to FM-200. On the other hand, like FM-200, Novec 1230 is being phased out. This time, it’s 3M that is discontinuing the product rather than the phase-out coming as a result of government regulations.

Why Is 3M Discontinuing Novec 1230?

In December 2022, 3M made the surprise announcement that they were discontinuing the use of several chemicals by 2025. One of the products affected by this is Novec 1230, which will no longer continue to be supported after 2025. 3M maintains that there are environmental concerns associated with the use of Novec 1230, and there are no plans to ban the product at this time.

CO2 Fire Suppression

Like Inergen, CO2 acts as a fire suppressant by displacing oxygen. CO2 fire suppression is effective at fighting Class A, B, and C fires. Since CO2 suppression doesn’t leave behind residue, it is a popular choice for protecting valuable industrial equipment and electronics that would otherwise be harmed by water. However, CO2’s toxicity to humans makes it a poor choice for areas where there are typically personnel present.

What Is Low-Pressure CO2 Used For?

Low-pressure CO2 fire suppression systems are intended to fight Class A, B, and C fires in larger areas. Due to their low pressure, these systems take longer to discharge gas but have the added benefit of preventing re-ignition.

What Is High-Pressure CO2 Used For?

High-pressure CO2 fire suppression systems are also intended to fight A, B, and C fires. However, they use several smaller tanks to fight fires in more contained areas. Due to their high pressure, these systems discharge gas rather quickly and exhaust CO2 in a single use.

What Is The Difference Between Low-Pressure And High-Pressure CO2?

Perhaps the most obvious difference between low-pressure and high-pressure CO2 fire suppression systems is the size of the tanks. Low-pressure CO2 is contained in one large tank, while high-pressure CO2 is placed in several compact tanks. Low-pressure CO2 discharges gas much more slowly but has the added benefit of preventing re-ignition.

Additionally, low-pressure CO2 tanks can be used more than once without having to be refilled. High-pressure CO2 tanks, on the other hand, discharge all gas at once, serving as an effective means of suppressing fires rather quickly.

Another notable difference is that low-pressure tanks are better for suppressing fires in larger areas, while high-pressure tanks are better equipped to deal with smaller fires in more contained spaces.

What Is The Difference Between CO2, FM-200, Inergen, And Novec 1230

The biggest difference between CO2 fire suppression and other clean agents is that CO2 is harmful to humans. For this reason, CO2 fire suppression systems aren’t generally used in areas where there are few or no people. For environments where there are typically personnel present, you will typically find other inert gas suppression methods as opposed to CO2 fire suppression systems.

Bottom Line

FM-200 and Novec 1230 are effective means of suppressing Class A, B, and C fires. However, the fact that these clean agent fire suppressants are being phased down and even out, respectively, means these solutions won’t be as viable moving forward.
Inergen is a reliable means of suppressing fires in locations where personnel are more regularly present, while CO2 suppression is better suited to areas with few or no people. Depending on the size and scope of the potential fire, high-pressure and low-pressure CO2 are both options, each with its own set of pros and cons.