Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid

Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is based on a proprietary chemistry from 3M called C6-fluoroketone; it is also known as dodecafluoro 2-methylpentane-3-one; its ASHRAE nomenclature is FK 5-1-12 — the way it is designated in NFPA 2001 and ISO 14520 clean agent standards.


Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is a high molecular weight material, compared with the first generation halocarbon clean agents. The product has a heat of vaporization of 88.1 kJ/kga and low vapor pressure. Although it is a liquid at room temperature it gasifies immediately after being discharged in a total flooding system.

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Typical Physical Properties Novec 1230 Fluid
Chemical Formula CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2
Molecular Weight 316.04
Boiling Point @ 1 atm 49.2°C (120.6°F)
Freezing Point -108.0°C (-162.4°F)
Critical Temperature 168.7°C (335.6°F)
Critical Pressure 18.65 bar (270.44 psi)
Critical Volume 494.5 cc/mole (0.0251 ft3/lbm)
Critical Density 639.1 kg/m3 (39.91 lbm/ft3)
Density, Sat. Liquid 1.60 g/ml (99.9 lbm/ft3)
Density, Gas @ 1 atm 0.0136 g/ml (0.851 lbm/ft3)
Specific Volume, Gas @ 1 atm 0.0733 m3/kg (1.175 ft3/lb)
Specific Heat, Liquid 1.103 kJ/kg°C (0.2634 BTU/lb°F)
Specific Heat, Vapor @ 1 atm 0.891 kJ/kg°C (0.2127 BTU/lb°F)
Heat of Vaporization @ boiling point 88.0 kJ/kg (37.9 BTU/lb)
Liquid Viscosity @ 0°C/25°C 0.56/0.39 centistokes
Solubility of Water in Novec 1230 Fluid <0.001 % by wt.
Vapor Pressure 0.404 bar (5.85 psig)
Relative Dielectric Strength, 1 atm (N2=1.0) 2.3

Handling

There’s a distinct advantage in handling a liquid agent-one that isn’t pressurized and doesn’t have a high vapor pressure at room temperature. Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid has a boiling point of 49°C (121° F). It can be shipped safely and effectively, without any restrictions, by air at a moment’s notice in bulk quantities. In the shop, Novec 1230 fluid is easier to use than pressurized gas. Simply transfer the fluid from the container to the system cylinder, using a simplified closed loop process to avoid contamination. Then, superpressurize the cylinder with nitrogen.
The product is ideal for use in total flooding applications, localized flooding systems, directional spray type applications and may be used in portable extinguishers for specialized applications. But in addition to the conventional methods of super-pressurization using nitrogen, Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid also lends itself for use in pump applications because it is a liquid.

Materials Compatibility

Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid has been shown to be compatible with typical materials of construction used in fire suppression systems. The material is stable and essentially inert, meaning it does not react with system components. It’s also non-corrosive in its neat form. Long-term testing has demonstrated excellent compatibility with various elastomers used in o-rings, gaskets and other types of seals. However, it is recommend to not use the product with fluoroelastomers, because they are similar in composition to Novec 1230 fluid and have an affinity for each other, making them incompatible.

Tests have also shown that Novec 1230 fluid does not react with typical metals used in fire protection systems, including stainless steel, carbon steel, aluminum, brass and copper.

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