[PADG:2072] Re: Gas fire suppression

["Walter Cybulski" <CYBULSKW@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

James:
 
There is useful guidance in the following:
 
1. Alternatives to Halon for Special Fire Hazard Protection
<A 
href="">http://www.harc.org/harcnews.html
 
2.  Fact Sheet #14, <A 
href=""><FONT 
color=#000000>Alternatives to Halon & Other Halocarbon Fire Extinguishing 
Agents (Environment Canada, Environmental Protection Branch - Ontario 
Region: February 2000).
<A 
href="">http://www.on.ec.gc.ca/epb/fpd/fsheets/4014-e.html
 
3. Nick Artim's "Cultural Heritage Fire Suppression Systems: Alternatives 
to Halon 1301" in WAAC Newsletter vol. 15 no. 2 May 1993 pp. 34-36:
<A 
href="">http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/waac/wn/wn15/wn15-2/wn15-209.html
 
4. Nick Artim's "An Introduction to Fire Detection, Alarm, and Automatic 
Fire Sprinklers." Northeast Document Conservation Center Technical Leaflet: 
Emergency Management, section 3, leaflet 2. <A 
href="">http://www.nedcc.org/plam3/tleaf32.htm
5. The following note from Mark Hopkins' "Planning Your Fire Suppression 
System" in the Abbey Newsletter (vol. 26, no. 1, June 2002) is worth keeping in 
mind:
"Gas flooding systems are activated by temperature and smoke 
detection sensors. The gas is released under tremendous pressure. Statistics 
Canada is reported to have damaged certain records (shredded them) that were 
stored adjacent to the discharge nozzle. In computer rooms gas pressure is 
reported to have sent heavy floor tiles flying. These systems require that the 
room be extremely well sealed (doors, windows, ducts, piping, etc.) to achieve 
and hold the required concentration of suppressant. If the detection system 
fails there is no gas release. Should there be an equipment failure and the tank 
is discharged, there is no back-up. This is a major problem if the fire restarts 
itself. The length of time to get a tank recharged is a period of complete 
vulnerability."
For full article, go to:
<A 
href="">http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/byorg/abbey/an/an26/an26-1/an26-102.html
 
In general, I would suggest that you contact Nick Artim, or ask your 
consultant to discuss the issue with him:
Nicholas Artim184 Maple StreetNeedham, Massachusetts 
02192617/444-9349 
email: firesafe@xxxxxxxxx
 
I hope this helps.
 
Walter Cybulski
Preservation & Collection Mgmt. Section
National Library of Medicine
 
>>> james.anthony@xxxxxxxxx 07/10/03 07:58AM 
>>>*Apologies for cross posting*One of our new buildings 
will be having a gas fire suppression system installed in its special 
collections store. I've been asked to recommend a system to the consultant 
but I'm having problems getting information on the pros and cons of the 
various systems.Does anybody have any details of the impacts of each 
one, particularly cost, space needed and after effects. I've read on 
ConsDistList that FM2 may leave an acidic deposit but have no information 
about the other systems. All information gratefully received. I have to let 
the consultant know by early next 
week.ThanksJames-----------------------James 
AnthonyProject Librarian: PreservationLibrary ServicesUniversity 
College LondonGower StreetLondonWC1E 6BTTel: 020 7679 
3584/5197Fax: 020 7679 5157email: 
james.anthony@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx