Clean agent fire suppression within UL listed CP's and panelboards

[housemoney]

Does anyone have any experience or opinion on the usage of a gaseous chemical for fire suppression within UL listed control panels?

Wondering if anything in NEC would not allow this? How would it stack up to dry chem fire suppression within the full electrical room?

We have a large industrial Ag client that is very paranoid about fires originating within 480/277V enclosures: Listed environmental control panels being sourced from Europe (where I believe the concept originated from), lighting and power panelboards etc, and has been persistently asking.

Power cabinets – Blazecut

blazecut.com

 

[LarryFine]

It's my understanding that Halon is the most inert extinguisher type.

 

[petersonra]

Is it a common problem for these panels to catch on fire? If this is a problem the answer is to deal with why the fires are starting, not some kind of extinguisher.

 

[housemoney]

Is it a common problem for these panels to catch on fire? If this is a problem the answer is to deal with why the fires are starting, not some kind of extinguisher.

Not a past problem, large private equity capital involved in the planned expansion has them exploring risk mitigation in great detail.

 

[hbiss]

client that is very paranoid about fires originating within 480/277V enclosures: Listed environmental control panels being sourced from Europe

Not saying fires don't occur in US designed and made equipment, I've always been skeptical of European equipment. Way too "light duty" for me. That panel is a joke.

-Hal

 

[winnie]

It's my understanding that Halon is the most inert extinguisher type.

Sort of.

The Bromine or Iodine in the agent reacts with the flame and helps put it out. But when you have this reaction you get some really nasty products.

The unreacted Halon is pretty benign stuff. Think of the difference between Teflon and burned Teflon.

Halon is stable enough to make it to the stratosphere and contribute to Ozone depletion. Iodine containing alternatives are being considered specifically because they are less stable. Iodine is worse for Ozone than Chlorine but the reduced stability means that far less makes it to the stratosphere. (At least that is what the folk who want to sell it claim.)

Jon