Kidde GX-20 with FM-200 Fire Extinguishing System

The protection of high value assets from fire and the effects of fire-fighting is what the GX20/FM-200 clean agent fire suppression system has been designed for, allowing normal operations to be restarted quickly with no collateral damage and clean-up costs.

Offering a range of state-of-the-art fire extinguishing systems, Kidde Fire Protection is at the fore front of new technologies in fire safety. GX-20 systems utilise FM-200. The FM-200 is the most viable alternative to Halon 1301 and has been manufactured by Great Lakes Chemical Corporation, on the basis of extensive trials. FM-200 has a low space/weight characteristic and is also fast and effective. The Kidde FM-200 is also environmentally-acceptable and safe for human exposure.

The most effective fire extinguishants regarded for many years were Halon, for a wide variety of applications. However, the virulent destruction of the ozone layer caused by their production, has meant that their production has been stopped. On top of this, Halon systems within the UK must have been decommissioned by the end of 2003 due to European legislation. Tens of thousands of FM-200 systems have been installed worldwide, with the system having been adopted by the majority of the world's fire protection companies.

Benefits

• 25 bar system
• Engineered and pre-engineered systems available
• Range of system release options
• Low installation and maintenance costs
• Computer design maximises effectiveness of system
• FM Global and LPCB approved components with ULI listed systems available on request
• Marine systems available

What is FM-200?

Only containing carbon, hydrogen and fluorine, FM-200 is a colourless, odourless gas, lacking the ozone-depleting presence of bromine atoms. FM-200 is highly penetrative in the hazard zone. Largely acting by physical means on fires, FM-200 lowers the temperature of the flame and fuel to a point at which combustion reactions cannot be sustained. An advantage of FM-200 is that there is no significant post discharge clean-up, obscuration on discharge and damage to sensitive equipment.

The environment

FM-200 has a short atmospheric lifetime and zero ozone-depletion potential. The US EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) plus many other approval bodies accept the Kidde FM-200. FM-200 mitigates the effects of an uncontrolled fire and at the end of the lifetime of the system, the gas can be readily recovered and recycled.

System design

A versatile range of cylinders, valves and related component make up the GX-20 system. There have been selected for use with FM-200 and have been subject to stringent testing procedures.

The Kidde Fire Protection GX-20 range is known as the world's finest in fire safety, with flexibility, quality and reliability the main key standards. The equipment carries third party listing through FM Global and the Loss Prevention Certification Board, plus Lloyds Register of Shipping and DNV for marine applications. Systems are UL2166 compliant.