Fully Automatic System with Manual
Inter-vention
Manual intervention of an automatic system may be
included for the following condition;
Where personnel are required to work within the
protected area.
In protected areas where personnel are present
and the concentration is greater than NOAEL, it is
recommended that the automatic feature of the system
is isolated during occupation�� This may be achieved
either by an electrically contacted lock assembly or
by a clearly marked key switch at a suitable location
outside the risk area��
Conditions During a Fire
The user’s fire and safety instructions to personnel should
include advice on the conditions prevailing during the
discharge of an FM-200
®
system�� This advice is intended
to prepare the personnel for the situations likely to arise
and therefore minimise the risks of panic�� Three major
conditions prevail during FM-200
®
discharge of which
personnel should be made aware:
FM-200® Concentration
FM-200
®
total flooding systems greater than 9% design
concentration should only be used with manual actuation
in normally occupied areas�� A normally occupied area is
defined as an area intended for occupancy��
Any area protected by FM-200
®
should be evacuated
prior to start of system discharge�� Where egress of
normally occupied areas cannot be accomplished within
one minute, FM-200
®
total flooding systems shall be
designed not to exceed 9��0% concentration��
Refer to NFPA 2001, Paragraph 1��5��1��2��1 for
additional information��
•
FM-200® Decomposition
FM-200
®
decomposes when exposed to temperatures
exceeding 482 °C (900 °F); such as flames, hot metal
surfaces, etc�� The rate of this decomposition is dependent
upon the size of the area where extreme temperatures are
found, and also upon the length of FM-200
®
exposure
time��
To reduce decomposition, FM-200
®
systems are
designed to discharge and extinguish the fire quickly��
The maximum duration of discharge for these systems
at 21 °C (70 °F) is 10 seconds, so the minimum amount
of decomposition occurs�� Hydrogen Fluoride is the most
toxic decomposition product�� This material generates a
sharp acrid odour, which is easily detected and acts as a
warning and a good safeguard to personnel��
FM-200® Discharge Conditions
FM-200
®
has low boiling point, consequently the discharge
is very cold at the point where it leaves the nozzle�� Care
should be taken to avoid working within 1 metre (3��28 ft)
of FM-200
®
discharge nozzles��
The velocity of discharge of FM-200
®
from a discharge
nozzle is very high, care should be taken to insure that
objects which may become dangerous projectiles are
secured or removed from the hazard area��
71
© 2010 Macron Safety Systems (UK) Limited
SECTION 7 - SYSTEM OPERATION
EQUIPMENT:
FM-200® (UL/FM)
PUBLICATION:
14A-07H
ISSUE No.
02
DATE:
2010-03
