Now that the Construction Industry is on the bandwagon of sustainability, all kinds of words, phrases, requirements, certifications and incentives are tossed around and thrown about, pushing us not only to consider what will best solution to protect our fire hazard but what will also protect our environment.

What factors are considered when looking for an environmentally friendly fire protection agent?  

· Global Warming Potential (GWP) – how much the substance will contribute to global warming over a specific period

· Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) – how much the substance is going to degrade the ozone layer

· Atmospheric Lifetime – the time it takes for the atmosphere to go back to normal after experiencing an increase of a certain substance

According to industry estimates, fire protection industry HFC (hydro fluorocarbons) emissions represent around 0.06% of total GHG emissions. This is partly due to the fact that the Halon Alternative Research Corporation (HARC) tracks emissions of HFCs for fire systems and has documented that with significant growth of installed system over that last decade, emissions have still remained flat. This is because fire suppression system clean agents are released into the atmosphere in relatively a few ways, such as system discharge or improper disposal of a system during a construction renovation.

So the point here is to keep in mind that HFCs are still considered safe and environmentally stable with zero ozone depletion. They are not restricted for use in fire suppression applications and also qualify for LEED credits for green building certification.  Even more assuring, most HFC manufacturers are now offering 20-year sustainability warranties.

So what’s the big deal? Georges Dyer of Greenland Enterprises recently published a paper on this subject entitled HFCs in Fire Protection Systems (http://www.awarenessintoaction.com/whitepapers/HFC-protection-systems-global-warming.html).  He states that “HFCs in fire protection systems may seem like a footnote in the global struggle to avert climate disruption and disaster. But they are an unavoidable footnote – a pollutant that we can eliminate with very little personal sacrifice in our daily lives, and a relatively low cost to industry.”

Those of you willing to make a small sacrifice for the good of “green” have several options.  Typical clean agent alternatives to HFCs are FKs (Flouroketones) and Inert Gases.  Below is a summary of clean agents and how each compares with regard to the environmental factors mentioned above.

While, restrictions on using HFCs for fire suppression systems don’t currently exist in the United States and although industry codes stand to reduce emissions by promoting responsible methods for installation, maintenance and disposal of fire suppression systems, I still believe it is inevitable that we will eventually be forced to phase out HFCs with regard to new system installations, just as we were forced to do with the Halon gases.  So now the question is – how soon will it be?

Certified Fire is a leader in design, installation, monitoring, and maintenance of fire alarm and detection, fire suppression, and explosion protection systems. We represent Notifier, Fike, and Ansul; three of the best known and highest quality manufacturers in the fire protection industry. Certified Fire is registered at the state and federal level as a veteran-owned small business. You can learn more about Clean Agent Fire Suppression, Fire Alarm Systems, Dust Testing and Explosion Protection Systems at  www.certifiedfire.com.