GEMTEX FE-13 Fire Suppression Systems

Specification for Total Flooding Gaseous Fire Suppression System

1. General

1.1 Description

1. This section for the specification covers the design, supply, delivery, install, testing, commissioning, maintenance and warranty of a fire protection system with the TOTAL FLOODING type, utilizing a gaseous clean agent to extinguish fire. Any material not specifically mentioned in this specification or not shown in the drawings but are required for proper performance and operation shall be included and installed.
2. The gaseous fire suppression system shall be Pre- Engineered, Modular Type coupled with short discharge pipe length not exceeding 30 feet with its diameter at 1¼” or 1” in compliance to design requirement, consists of cylinder safety housing, discharge nozzles, heat and/or smoke detectors, and a control panel which monitors the space, activates both visual and audio alarms before releasing the agent.
3. The agent is discharged after a time delay upon detection of fire to warn any occupant to evacuate the room. Thus, it can be installed for rooms which are normally occupied or unoccupied.
4. The Contractor shall engage the system supplier in the design, supply, install, testing and commissioning of the whole gaseous fire suppression system.
5. The system and its components shall be from one manufacturer, tested by accredited Lab and endorsed by SIRIM QAS SDN. BHD.
6. The system and components shall be supplied by an established manufacturer of minimum ISO 9001:2000 certified and experience in the gaseous fire suppression system.

2. Design Requirements

2.1 Clean Agent

1. The suppression clean agent shall be of halocarbons extinguishant HFC23 with chemical formula CHF3 or chemical name Trifluoromethane. Original certification on the originality of the gas shall be provided by the original manufacturer, DuPont USA.
2. The agent shall be USEPA recognised in the 'Significant New Alternatives Policy'(SNAP) for normally occupied area.
3. The agent shall be listed in NFPA 2001 as clean agent with :
   · Zero Ozone Depletion Potential ( ODP )
   · High Safety Factor ( NOAEL 50% / LOAEL above 50% )
   · Non Oxygen Depletion as means of extinguishing the fire.
   · No Phase out Period Pending.
4. The agent shall commercially be available and approved by Jabatan Alam Sekitar (DOE) and Jabatan Bomba dan Penyelamat (Fire and Rescue Department).

2.2 Design Standards

1. The installation shall be designed and installed for extinguishing of fire in accordance with NFPA 2001.
2. The quantity of extinguishing agent shall be sufficient to ensure rapid extinction of any fire in the protected areas and with adequate spare capacity.
3. The agent shall be discharged within a nominal 10 seconds discharge time upon activation of the container valve.
4. All devices shall be designed for the service encountered and shall not be readily rendered inoperative or susceptible to accidental operation. They shall be located, installed or suitably protected against mechanical, chemical or other damage, which may render them inoperative.
5. All devices for shutting down supplementary equipment shall be considered integral parts of the system and shall function with system operation.
6. Maximum Height coverage of Nozzles shall be 25 feet. (7.6 meters) maximum.
7. Each single container system has its own pipe and nozzle. If hazard require more than one container, all systems protecting the same hazard area are actuated simultaneously.
8. System installation should be located as close to the protected hazard area as possible.
9. No gas discharge piping installation above the ceiling is permitted.
10. Cylinder housing unit shall be provided to enclose all cylinders individually if cylinders are located inside the protected hazard area.

2.3 Enclosure

1. The enclosure shall be of adequate integrity to retain the design concentration (for FE –13, 18 % for class A fire hazard) for a minimum of 20 minutes holding time.
2. The area of unclosable openings shall be kept to a minimum.
3. To prevent loss of agent through openings to adjacent hazards or work areas, opening shall be permanently sealed or equipped with automatic closures.
4. The false ceiling space, room and floor void (raised floor exceeding 1 ft.) shall be protected with the gaseous fire suppression system.

3. System Operation

1. The system shall be left in automatic mode at all times if the design concentration is below the NOAEL (None Observed Adverse Effect Level) concentration.
2. Each system shall be able to perform independently via the interlocking with the automatic detection system as well as manual actuation under emergency situation.
3. The automatic detection system shall comprise cross-zone detection to activate before activation of the gaseous fire suppression system. The Contractor shall provide all control panel and necessary relay for alarm connection to MAP.
4. Upon activation of the gaseous fire suppression system, it shall cut off the operation of the computer air-conditioning units which are installed by others. The Contractor shall provide and connect all the necessary controls, relay, cable, conduit, etc to effect this interlocking operation.

3.2 Activation Stage 1 (1st Alarm)

1. When the first detector of a particular zone is activated, the 'Alarm' LED on the Control Panel shall be blinking and the following functions shall be executed:-
   · The alarm bell shall sound intermittent.
   · Ventilation shut down / opening closure shall operate to prevent all potential leakage if applicable.
   · 'Evacuate Area Immediately' sign shall be flashing.

3.3 Activation Stage 2 (2nd Alarm)

1. When an adjacent detector is activated, the 2nd 'Alarm' LED shall be blinking. The following function shall be executed:
   · The alarm bell shall sound continuous.
   · The countdown LED timer shall commerce shutdown.
   · Once the timer reaches '0', a signal shall be sent to the gas container electric actuator to release the gas.
   · 'Gas Discharged' sign shall be flashing.

3.4 Manual Operation

1. When the Manual Release Station is activated, the complete operation sequence of Activation stage 1 & stage 2 are executed simultaneously.
2. Discharge of the clean agent may be prevented by activating the “gas isolate” switch at the control panel. However, alarm status shall remained.
3. Should the “gas isolate” switch activated before the LED timer reaches '0', timer shall re-start countdown immediately upon reset of “gas isolate” switch.

4. Components

4.1 Control Panel

1. The system shall operate from an output voltage of 240volts AC, 50 Hz supplied to the power charger module within the control panel. The voltage is transformed and rectified within the panel to 24 volt D.C.
2. A 24-volt D.C. standby battery of the maintenance free type shall be provided in case of main voltage failure. This battery will automatically and instantaneously be switched into use as soon as the mains supply fails. Such a failure shall be indicated both visually and audibly at the panel. The battery shall be trickle charged during normal operating conditions.
3. The panel shall be able to monitor all functions, process all alarm and releasing signals to activate the fire suppression system. The panel shall be factory manufactured wall mounted with lockable hinged doors constructed from galvanised, spray painted steel sheet.
4. A manual discharge disable function shall be provided as a safeguard against unwanted discharge of the gas during system servicing.
5. An adjustable timer shall form part of the control panel function for delay of gas discharge action upon both of the cross-zone detector zones activation.
6. Visual indications shall be provided at the control panel as follows:-
   · Power status
   · Systems status
   · Alarm status
   · Discharge status
   · Trouble status
   · Abort status cylinder gas pressure status
7. The gas release control panel shall receive alarm signal from the analog addressible smoke detector via interface unit using 'cross zoning' configuration. LED display countdown timer, adjustable from 0 to 90 seconds must be provided for each protected area to indicate the remaining time before actual gas discharge.

4.2 Storage Container

1. The clean agent shall be stored in liquefied form contented in high-pressure seamless steel cylinders with DOT 3AA standard.
2. No nitrogen super pressurization is permitted.
3. Each container must be equipped with a discharge valve to discharge liquefied agent at required rate.
4. Over pressurisation of the container shall be prevented by a safety disc incorporated with the container valve.
5. All cylinders shall be adequately mounted and supported in a manner to facilitate individual servicing or content weighing.

4.3 Valve Operating Actuator

1. Valve operating actuator shall be available in electric (solenoid type), manual (local and remote) and pneumatic method of operation, and configure as appropriate for the normal use of the protected risk.

4.4 Discharge Nozzle

1. Discharge nozzles shall be selected for the use intended and for their discharge characteristics.
2. Each nozzle shall consist of orifices and should be of corrosion resistant metal.

4.5 Automatic Detectors and Alarm Bells

1. The automatic detectors are usually of the combination Ionization smoke and optical smoke type.
2. The detectors shall be resistant to corrosion and any plastic components should not melt or be adversely effected at a temperature less than 13oC above the maximum allowable operating temperature for the type of detector.
3. The alarm bells should produce an alarm at least 90 dB noise level above the surrounding.
4. The bells shall be installed in any location for any alarm purpose.

4.6 Piping and Fitting

1. All piping less than 11/2”, schedule 40 seamless pipe shall be used. Above 11/2 “ – 3” shall be Schedule 80.
2. All pipe fittings must be in accordance with the latest requirements listed in NFPA 2001. Cast iron fittings, class 150 fittings, and non – metallic fittings shall not be used.
3. Discharge nozzles shall be manufactured in corrosion resistant material and shall be positioned in a manner to effect a uniform concentration at the shortest time after discharge.
4. For Pre – engineered FE 13 systems, no pipe work running above the ceiling are allowed.

5. Testing and commissioning

1. Work done shall be satisfactorily in compliance with the local Fire and Rescue Authority’s requirement.
2. The complete installation shall be in full operational condition before testing is to be carried out.
3. All defects and deficiencies in performance, reliability, safety, efficiency shall be rectified and tested to the entire satisfaction of the local Fire and Rescue Authority before acceptance.
4. Before hand over of the system to the Owner, all O&M manuals must be submitted.

6. Maintenance and Warranty

1. The system shall be warranted for parts and labour for not less than a period of one year (12 months) from the date of installation.
2. The Contractor shall specify the maintenance to be performed during the warranty period to maintain warranty condition.