Kidde Engineered

Fire Suppression System A UTC Fire & Security Company

Designed for use with 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Effective: March 2007
Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Data Sheet K-45-1900

FEATURES
• People Safe at Concentration Levels Required to • Electrically Non-Conductive
Extinguish Fire • Space Saving; Quantity of Agent Needed to Extin-
• Zero Ozone Depletion Potential guish Fires Typically Required Minimal Cylinders,
• Atmospheric Lifetime of Five Days thus Minimal Space Required
• Colorless, with Low Odor and No Particulate or Oily
Residue Allowing for Minimal Business Disruption
After a Discharge

EXTINGUISHING AGENT fluid as acceptable for use as a total flooding agent in

3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is a fluorinated occupied spaces with specific limitations. Refer to the
ketone (FK-5-1-12) Dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one) SNAP program rules or NFPA 2001 for more information.
compound of carbon, fluorine and oxygen Novec 1230 fluid has been judged acceptable by the U.S.
(CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2). It is colorless, electrically non- EPA for use in occupied spaces when used in accor-
dance with the guidance of NFPA 2001. In accordance
conductive and has a low odor. It suppresses fire prima-
with NFPA 2001, Novec 1230 fluid designed for use with
rily by physical mechanisms due to its relatively high heat
agent vapor concentrations up to ten volume percent in
capacitywith minimal effect on the available oxygen. This
air are permitted. See NFPA 2001, Sect. 1-6, Safety.
allows people to see and breathe, permitting them to
leave the fire area safely. Although Novec 1230 fluid has negligible toxicity in con-
centrations needed to suppress most fires, certain safety
Novec 1230 fluid is acceptable for use in occupied
considerations must be observed when applying and
spaces when used in accordance with the United States
handling the agent. For example, Novec 1230 fluid is a
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Significant New
liquid at room temperature and has been superpressur-
Alternatives Policy (SNAP) program rules.
ized with dry nitrogen. Upon release to atmospheric pres-
Although Novec 1230 fluid is considered non-toxic to sure (e.g., from nozzles) the liquid flash evaporates at a
humans in concentrations necessary to extinguish most low temperature. Thus, nozzles must be located to avoid
fires, certain safety considerations should be observed direct impingement on personnel.
when applying and handling the agent. The discharge of
DECOMPOSITION
Novec 1230 fluid may create a hazard to people from the
decomposition products which result when the agent is When Novec 1230 fluid is exposed to high temperatures,
exposed to fire or other hot surfaces. Exposure to the such as what may be expected in a flame front, hazard-
agent is generally of less concern than is exposure to the ous products of thermal decomposition (halogen acids)
decomposition products. Unnecessary exposure to the are produced. If the Novec 1230 fluid is discharged in 10
agent or the decomposition products should be avoided. seconds or less, flames will be extinguished rapidly and
the amount of by-products produced will be minimal.
TOXICITY
CLEANLINESS
Unnecessary exposure to clean agents is to be avoided
in accordance with the requirements of NFPA-2001. As Novec 1230 fluid is clean and leaves no residue, thereby
such, upon operation of a system pre-discharge alarm, eliminating costly after-fire clean-up and keeping expen-
all personnel should immediately exit the protected sive downtime to a minimum. Most materials such as
space. In no case shall personnel remain in a room in steel, stainless steel, aluminum, brass and other metals
which there is a fire. In the very unlikely instance where a as well as plastics, rubber and electronic components are
clean agent system should discharge unexpectedly into unaffected by exposure to Novec 1230 fluid.
an occupied room, all personnel should proceed in a APPROVALS
calm and orderly manner to an exit and leave the room.
Novec 1230 fluid complies with the NFPA Standard 2001,
Novec 1230 fluid has been evaluated for cardiac sensiti- Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems,
zation in accordance with test protocols approved by the EPA SNAP Program, (Significant New Alternate Policy),
United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL) FM Approvals (FM).
EPA). The EPA’s SNAP Program classifies Novec 1230
USE
Kidde Engineered Fire Suppression Systems Designed
for use with 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid are
designed to extinguish fires in specific hazards or equip- Table 3: Novec 1230 Fluid Design
ment located where an electrically non-conductive agent Concentrations
is required, where agent cleanup creates a problem,
Fuel Design Concentration, % v/v
where extinguishing capability with low weight is a factor
and where the hazard is normally occupied by personnel. 1-Butane 6.37
Novec 1230 fluid is an acceptable alternative to Halon
and is approved by the EPA and NFPA for use in fire sup- 1-Propanol 7.02
pression systems. 2,2,4-trimethylpentane 6.11

2-butoxyethanol 6.76
Table 1: Novec 1230 Fluid Physical Properties Acetone 5.59

Chemical Formula CF3CF2C(O)CF(CF3)2 Acetonitrile 4.20

Molecular Weight 316.04 Commercial Heptane 5.72

Freezing Point -162.4°F (-108°C) Commercial Hexanes 5.59

Boiling Point at 1 Atm. 120.6°F (49.2°C) Cyclohexane 5.85

Critical Temperature 335.6°F (168.7°C) Cyclopentanone 5.98

Critical Density 39.91 lb./ft.3 (639.1 kg/m3) Denatured Alcohol 6.89

(92.2% EtOH, 4.6% IPA,
Critical Pressure 270.44 PSIA (1865 kPA) and 3.1% MeOH)

Critical Volume 0.0251 ft.3/lbm (494.5 cc/mole) Diesel Fuel 4.42

Ozone Depletion Potential 0 Diethl Ether 6.37

Global Warming Potential 1 Ethanol 7.15

Ethyl Acetate 6.11

Gasoline-87 oct. 5.85

Table 2: Novec 1230 Fluid Toxicity Properties unleaded

Hexene 5.98
Novec 1230 Fluid Toxicity Properties
Isooctane 6.11
NOAEL 10.0%
(No Observable Adverse Effect Level) Isopropanol Alcohol 6.37
LOAEL 10.0% > Methane 7.28
(Lowest Observable Adverse Effect Level)
Methanol 8.45

Methyl Ethyl Ketone 5.85

Methyl Isobutyl Ketone 5.72

Methyl Tert Butyl Ether 5.95

n-Heptane 5.85

n-Pentane 6.11

Octane 5.72

Propane 7.54

Pyrrolidine 6.11

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 Table 3: Novec 1230 Fluid Design
Concentrations (Continued)

Fuel Design Concentration, % v/v

Technical Heptane 5.59

Tetrahydrofuran 6.50

Toluene 4.55

Transformer Oil 5.85

• Minimum Design Concentration for Class A and de-

energized Class C Fires = 4.2%
• Design concentrations for Class B Fire are shown in
the above table and include a 30% safety factor from
the minimum extinguishing concentration.

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Kidde is a registered trademark of Kidde-Fenwal, Inc.
3M and Novec are trademarks of 3M.
All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.

This literature is provided for informational purposes only. KIDDE-FENWAL, INC. assumes
no responsibility for the product’s suitability for a particular application. The product must be
properly applied to work correctly.
If you need more information on this product, or if you have a particular problem or question, A UTC Fire & Security Company
contact KIDDE-FENWAL, INC., Ashland, MA 01721. Telephone: (508) 881-2000. 400 Main Street
Ashland, MA 01721
Ph: 508.881.2000
K-45-1900 Rev AB © 2007 Kidde-Fenwal Inc. Printed in USA Fax: 508.881.8920
www.kiddefiresystems.com