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Water mist as a halon alternative: its status and development

From National Research Council Canada

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Affiliation
  1. National Research Council of Canada. NRC Institute for Research in Construction
FormatText, Article
Conference1997 Society of Fire Protection Engineers Seminar, May 19, 1997, Los Angeles, California, United States
SubjectWater mist
Abstract
The production of Halon1301, one of the most effective chemical fire suppressants ever developed, was banned at the beginning of 1994 by the Montreal Protocol, because of its effects on the earth's ozone layer. Research to develop effective and environmentally-friendly alternatives for halon is being carried out. Water-based systems are environmentally friendly, non-toxic, have low cost and are effective in suppressing certain fires. As a result, the use of water mist, as a potential halon replacement, has recieved considerable attention. Over the last few years, there have been a number of investigations to evaluate the capabilities of water mist systems as a halon alternative for various aoppplications. This paper provides a review of the development of water mist fire suppression systems. Fundamental research and full-scale fire suppression tests in shipboard machinery spaces conducted by the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and other research facilities are analyzed to determine the capabilities of the present water mist technology for this application. Also, the progress made in the application of water mist technology to protect electrical and electronic equipment is discussed. Some measures required to improve the effectiveness of water mist fire suppression systems, such as computer modelling, are also identified.
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  • Proceedings, 1997 Society of Fire Protection Engineers Seminar: 19 May 1997, Los Angeles, California, U.S.A. (1997): 1–6.
LanguageEnglish
Peer reviewedYes
NRC numberNRCC 40676
NRC-IRC-7596
NPARC number20331012
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Record identifier3c133b7b-f377-498f-a8a0-c025f22c2b8e
Record created2012-07-18
Record modified2024-04-23
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