NEW MEXICO ENGINEERING RESEARCH INSTITUTE

HALON OPTIONS TECHNICAL WORKING CONFERENCE

David A. Pelton
Ansul Fire Protection

May 4,1994

INERGENm SYSTEM DESIGN AND APPLICATION

lntroduction
In order to help understand the design process, a typical example hazard is
covered in this section. There may be different design approaches that can be
taken for any given hazard. The example is only intended to show what has to
be done to complete the design and hydraulic calculations.
Following is an outline of the example hazard. Each item is listed in the
numerical order in which it should be performed.

31

HAZARD ANALYSIS
HAZARD TYPE

Describe Type of Hazard Being Protected

HAZARD INTEGRITY SURVEY

Unenclosable Openings, HVAC Considerations

HAZARD ATMOSPHERE

Occupied, Non-Occupied, Explosion Proof

TYPE OF FIRE

Class A,

B, C or D

VENTILATION CONSIDERATIONS

Ventilation Systems - Shutdown, Dampered

ELECTRICAL CONSIDERATION

Power Sources Shutdown

TEMPERATURE RANGES

Determine Minimum and Maximum Temperatures

Agent Cylinders
DetectionControl System
VOLUME REDUCTIONS

Moveable, Non-Moveable

OTHER FACTORS

Handicapped Personnel

Cylinder and Accessory Location

Discharge Test
Authority Having Jurisdiction

Response Time of Fire Service

Reserve System

ANSUL,

SECTION XI
UL EX4510

Example No. 1

12-1-93

Page 11-2

Control Room

Control rooms are found in all types of industry, housing

transformers, motors. switch gear and other types of electronic devices necessary for energizing the various types
of equipment.

ITEM NO. 2 -Design Calculation Sheet. Fill out the cab

culation sheet with the information required to determine

Protection of control rooms can be accomplished by treating it as a totai flood hazard in accordance with require-

ITEM NO. 3 - Preliminary Drawing. Complete a drawing

or sketch as accurate as possible to determine pipe
lengths and number of fittings. Locate and number all
node points and nozzles.

total quantity of agent and percent of INERGEN agent c o n

centration.

ments of NFPA 2001, "Standard for Clean Agent Fire

Extinguishing Systems."

ITEM NO. 4- Flow Calculation Input Form. With the information on pipe lengths, fittings, node pomts, and nozzles, fill in the input form.

The design of the INERGEN system should be in accordance with NFPA 2001, which states, "the design concentration must be achieved within 1 minute. It is important
that an effective agent concentration not only be achieved,
but shall be maintained for a sufficient period of time to
allow effective emergency action by trained personnel."

ITEM NO. 5 -Computer Print Out. The computer print.

out will compute discharge time. pipe sizes. union orifice
size, and nozzle orifice sizes.

Personnel safety is the first concern. The INERGEN system should incorporate a discharge alarm andlor predischarge alarm to warn personnel of a discharge. A time
delay device is not needed due to the life supporting
characteristics of INERGEN agent.

ITEM NO. 6 -Bill of Material. This should be generated

to show the complete list of all required hardware.

ITEM NO. 7 -Application Drawing. This typtcal application drawing is an example of the type of drawing which
is generated from Ansul Application Engineering Department. This drawing is normally used to secure approval
from the local authority.

Electrical power and ventilation must be shut down prior

to system actuation. Common AJC duct may require
dampering to prevent INERGEN agent loss.
Smoke detection is recommended.
The authority having jurisdiction may have additional requirements.

HAZARD
A control room having dimensions of 30 It. x 20 fi. x 10
It. high.
No unclosable openings.
Ventilation to be shut down at system actuation.

ITEM NO. 1 -Sketch of Hazard. Do an accurate sketch

of the hazard area and measure all solid, permanent
objects.

33

SECTION XI

ANSULo

UL EX-4510

Example No. 1
L

SKETCH OF HAZARD

12-1-93

Page 11-3

Control Room
Item No. 1

SECTION XI
UL EX4510

Example No. 1

DESIGN CALCULATION SHEET

INERGEN DESIGN CALCULATION WORKSHEET

DATE 1 2 / 9 / 9 3
OUOTUJOE NUMBER: Example 1
CUSTOMER: Ansul Fire Protection

VOLUME CALCULATIONS:
Area Name:
Length (ft.):
Width (ft.):
Height (ft.):l
Area (sq. ft.):
Volume (cu. ft.):

ABEA
Control Room
30.00

20.00
~

~~

10.00

600.00
6000.00

volume Reductions:
Structural Reductions (cu. ft.):
Reduced Volume:
(Volume - Structural Reductions)
Movable Object Reductions (cu.
]-[:).tf
25% of Reduced Volume)

(IfMore Than

Total Reduced Volume (cu. n.):[

(Volume - reductions)

6000.00

ROOM MINIMUM AMBIENT TEMP.:

DESIGN CONCENTRATION:
FLOODING FACTOR:
(From Table)
INITIAL INERGEN OUANTITY CALC.:
INERGEN Quantity (CU.
2876.26
(Total Reduced Volume x Flooding factor) or (Formula from Design Manual)

ft.):l

ALTITUDE CORRECTION:
Height Above or Below Sea Level:
Factor:
(From Design Manual Table)
ACTUAL INERGEN OUANTITY (cu. tt.):l
2559.87
ilnilfal Inergen Ouanlity x Altitude Correction Factor)

35

12-1-93

Page

11-4

Control Room
Item No. 2

SECTION XI

ANSUL.

U L EX-4510

Example No. 1

12-1-93 Page 11-4.1

- Control Room
Item No. 2

DESIGN CALCULATION SHEET12

ACTUAL INERGEN QUANTITY (CU. fi.):l
(From Page 1)

2559.87

CYLINDER REQUIREMENTS:
(INERGEN qty. + cylinder capacity

TOTAL CYLINDER CAPACITY:

CYLINDER SIZE SELECTED:

INERGEN AGENT SUPPLIED:
(Cylinder qty. x Cylinder capacitj)

ACTUAL INERGEN FLOODING FACTOR:(

0.532
[(INERGEN Agent Supplied + Alt. Correction Factor) + Total Reduced Volume]
CONCENTRATIONRANGECHECK
(Design Conc. Must be Between 37.5% 42.8% For Occupied Spaces)

80
Room Max. Ambient Temp.:[
Design Concentration at Max. Temp:(
4 1.8%
I
( Locate Actual INERGEN Conc. at Max. Temp. on Table, or Use CalC. in Design Manual]
DISCHARGE TIME:
Normal Ambient Temperature:
Design Concentralion a1 Ambient Temp.:
( Locate Actual INERGEN Conc. a t Amb.
90% of Agent Discharge Time (Sec.):
(Time f r o m Table in Design Manual)

90% of Agent Discharge Time (Min):l

in Design Manual)

1.02

(Discharge Time (Sec.)/fiO)

ESTIMATED FLOW RATES:
Estimated System Flow Rate:[
2512
[(INERGEN Agent Supplied x .9) + Discharge Time (Min.)]

Estimated Orifice Union Pipe Size:(

(Refer to Pipe Sizing Chart)

Nozzle Quantity:(
1
(length + 32 (Rounded to Next Highest Whole Number)
x width + 32 (Rounded to Next Highest Whole Number)]
Estimated Nozzle Flow Rate:(
(System Flow Rate + Nozzle Quantity)
Estimated Nozzle Pipe Size:l
(Refer to Pipe Sizing Chart)

36

2512.36

SECTION XI
UL EX-4510

Example No. 1

PRELIMINARY DRAWING

12-1-93

Page 11-5

Control Room
Item No. 3

SECTION XI

ANSUL,

UL EX-4510 12-1-93 Page 11-6

Example No. 1

- Control Room
Item No. 4

-~
FLOW CALCULATION INPUT FORM

.
,.

. . ..
....,...

. .

38

SECTION XI
UL EX-4510

Example No. 1

COMPUTER PRINT OUT

12-1-93

Page 11-7

Control Room
Item No. 5

- ORIFICE CALCULATION INPUT

Prepared by:
ANSUL FIRE PROTECTION
Location: DALE EDLEECK.
ANSUL INERGEN FLOW CALCULATION vl.O
U.L. LISTED EX4510 12/1/93
D a t e : 12-08-1993
DATA INPUT FILE N A M E IS 6:EXAMPLEl.DOC
DATA INPUT FILE
SEC

SEC

1
2
3
4
5

2
3
4

8
9
10
101

8
9
10

:.,

5
6

LENGTH

0.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
1.0
0.5
1.0
0.5
900.0
48.0

ELEV
0
0

0
0
0
0

1
1
950
3

PIPE
CODE

90s

0
0
1
1
1
1
0
0
0

0
1
0
0
0

.500-40T
1.00-60T
1.00-80T
1.00-80T
1.00-80T
1.00-80T
1.25-601
1.25-80T

0
1
0

1.25-40T

-. ,
..:

39

THRU
TEE

SIDE
TEE

0
0
0
0
0
0
1

1
0
0

CPLG

UNION
0
0
0
0
0
0

0
0
0
0

INERGEN
QTY
EQL

501.0
501.0
502.0
503.0
504.0
505.0
508.0
508.0
0.0
2840.0

38
0
0
0

0
0
0
0
0
0

SECTION XI
UL EX-4510 12-1.93

Example No. 1

Page 11-7.1

- Control Room
Item No. 5

COMPUTER PRINT OUT

ORIFICE CALCULATION PRESSURE LOSS OUTPUT

Prepared by: ANSUL FIRE PROTECTION

Location: DALE EDLBECK.
ANSUL INERGEN FLOW CALCULATION V1.O
U.L. LISTED E X 4 5 1 0 1 2 / 1 / 9 3
Date: 12-08-1993

DATA I N P U T FILE NAME I S B:EXAMPLEl.DOC

JOB NUMBER 1
CUSTOMER NAME ANSUL FIRE PROTECTION
ADDRESS
: 1 STANTON STREET
MARINETTE. WI 54143
REMARKS: CONTROL R O O M
AGENT S T O R A G E CONDITIONS

8
355 CU F T CYLINDERS OF I N E R G E N
T O T A L AGENT IN STORAGE I S
2840 C U F T
S T O R A G E PRESSURE I S NOMINAL 2200 P S I at 7 0 DEG F

P R E S S U R E DROP CALCULATION
SEC

::.... ,
..,;
. ,..

.:.

SEC

NOMINAL
P I P E SIZE

LEN
[FT)

EQL
(FT)
38.0
3.4
2.6

2.6

0
0

1
2
3

2
3
4

1/2
1
1

40 T
80 T
80 T

4
5
6

5
6
7

1
1
1

80 T
80 T

1
1
1

7
8

8
9

10

1 114
80 T
1
10.6
1 114
80 T
1
6.9
ORIFICE 0.582 INCHES

10

101

1 1/4

80 T

40 T

1
1

48

EL
( F T ) TEE

FLOWRATE
(CFM)

1033

1003

1003
1005

1005
1004

464
464
927

1004

MFLD
MFLD
MFLD

10B2
997
990

1391
1854
2318

1
1

MFLD
MFLD

990

97s
912
563

3709

979
972
563

584

3709

61.8

TERM
PSIA

MFLD
MFLD
MFLD

2.6
2.1

START
PSIA

1002
997

HIGHEST CALCULATED PRESSURE D O W N S T R E A M OF ORIFICE I S 1089 PSIA

I N I T I A L PIPELINE TEMPERATURE IS 7 0 D E G R E E S F .

40

__

3709
3709

ANSUL,

SECTION XI
UL EX-4510

Example No. 1

12-1-93

Page 11-8

Control Room
Item No. 6

BILL OF MATERIALS

BILL OF MATERIALS
Quote No.: Example 1
Customer Name: Ansul Fire Protection
Customer Address: 1 Stanton Street
Marinette. WI 54143

Dale: I t / t 9 / 9 3
Page: 1 of 1
Produa Line: WMGEN

PhoneNo.: 715-735-7411
FaxNo.: 7 1 5 -7 3 2 -3 4 7 9
Contact Name:

Project: Design Manual

Control Room
Examole

PART

4
4

4
2

N3.

DESCRIPTION

4 1 6447
842424
8731 i t
870846
4 1 6680-35
840309
846250
841 942
841 943
41 6265
41 6266
417365-58
841 549
879640
873255
873091
879413

350 CU. FT MASTER CYLINDER W/ CV90 VALVE

DISCW\RGEHOSE
ELECTRIC SOLENOID VALVE ACTUATOR
LEVER RELEASE, WI HANDLE 8 PIN
1 1 / 4 NPT ORIFICE UNION
HEADERVEMPLUG
PNEUMATIC SWITCH DPST
NAMEPLATE - "MAIN"
NAMEPLATE. "RESERVE
WARNING PLATE - INSIDE W/ ALARM
WARNING PLATE - OUTSIDE W/ ALARM
11/4"NPTlNERGENNOZZLE
1.1/4" CHECK VALVE - THREADED
BACK FRAME ASSEMBLY (4 CYLINDER)
25- CARRIAGE BOLT a NUT (DEL ROW 350)
CYLINDER CLAMP (2CYLINDER)
CONNECTOR(7ORMORECYL. INAROW)

TOTAL WEIGHT: 3654 Ibs.

TOTALVOLUME: 85 CU. it.

41

42