Replacement Recommendation for NOVEC 1230?

2/26/2025

Where are we with the newest clean agents?

I'm running into an interesting scenario where the discussion of the phasing out by 3M of the NOVEC 1230 agent is coming up. I mentioned the competitors to NOVEC 1230 that we're aware of - FK-5-1-12 but they are interested in the next-gen stuff because they don't want to have to redo anything in the near future.

Does anyone have any experience with the Fluoro-K or any other newer, lesser used in the past but now have to look into agents?

I'm aware of Victaulic's Vortex and CO₂ options, but I'm asking about chemical agents. I look forward to hearing your thoughts and experience.

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12 Comments

Glenn Berger

2/26/2025 08:09:46 am

The folks that were behind 3M's Novec 1230 (NFPA 2001 generic name FK-5-1-12) are now working as Standard Fluids (https://standardfluids.com/). They are marketing SF-1230 as basically the same agent.

Christopher Nelson

2/26/2025 08:21:46 am

Still with the forever chemicals? They are promoting they arent affected by the AIM act for HFC phasedown but I wonder how true that is.

Josh Gilliam

2/26/2025 09:47:59 am

This is THE question for me. As a person who gives a crap in general, I am staying away from PFAs on my recommendatinos and specs.

2/26/2025 08:21:38 am

Fluoro-K is essentially identical to Novec 1230. There are some small differences such as the concentration %, but is the same chemical. However, since it is the same chemical as Novec 1230, there might be some issues with PFAS law suits in the future.

I like oxy-reduct, and inert gases likes Nitrogen and Argon for ideas that use less complicated chemicals, but of course those have different design challenges as well. Nothing really beats water.

Joe

2/26/2025 08:47:54 am

Please check out the webpage below for more information.

https://www.fssa.net/pfas-resource-center#science

Joseph McElvaney

2/26/2025 08:32:47 am

Please remember that there is still a very large amount of recycled amount of FM 200 and Novec 1230 including Halon gas available. All these gases are still allowed to be used.

You should also be asking for certification of all gases (new and recycled gases) showing that its meets NFPA standards for quality requirements.

Josh Gilliam

2/26/2025 10:00:14 am

As an update to my post, on the particular project that trigger me posing this question to the forum, I went with IG-541 on that. Gas suppression only 1.2% heavier than air seemed like a good alternative for this scenario of protecting a very, very complex and costly $17M computer. The easiness in getting room integrity right was also attractive. The one negative on this so far is the number of cylinders required for a relatively small volume space. The 300 bar that's being changed up is a 72" x 14" cylinders. It has 12 of them and there's just not a ton of room for them.

Anyone have any previous experience with Argonite or IG-541 either one?

Joe

2/26/2025 10:20:03 am

One of the biggest issues is refill a 300-bar system. Where do you have to ship them to be refilled.

Josh Gilliam

2/26/2025 10:41:59 am

I've heard that the extremely high pressure on these is a little bit of an issue for refill, unfortunately. I can't remember where the JCI guy was saying they would be coming from now to save my life. I'm in the Southeast and it seems like there were only 2 places he named but I could be wrong. Turns out I've been wrong about 1 or 2 things in my lifetime.

Mark Harris

2/26/2025 12:50:32 pm

The AIM act financially stopped the FM200 HFC market in the United States. 3M did their last shipments of Novec 1230 in 2024 so United States has transitioned to generic FK-5-1-12 as the Novec 1230 replacement. There can be different manufacturers design requirements based on who manufactured the generic FK but in NFPA 2001 and FM Global data sheet 4-9 it just says FK-5-1-12 with no clarifications.

Have seen some end user sites say no PFAS products allowed but if they remove everything that may already have PFAS they would probably have to close the doors.

Ansul inergen has been around since the early 90's as a clean agent inert verses halocarbon alternative. In NFPA IG-541 for the inergen blended gas (52% nitrogen, 40% argon and 8% CO2). The CO2 increases respiration rate in the lower oxygen environment after a discharge. To the best of my knowledge inergen is the only agent that has been safety tested on humans.

Originally was 150 Bar (2,175 PSI) and later 200 Bar and then 300 Bar. Higher Bar means more agent in similar footprint so less cylinders and floor space. But still needs more floor space than any halocarbon agent (FM200, Ecaro, Novec, FK, halon). But the flow calcs are much more forgiving than halocarbon and while the 95% agent discharge time in calcs is longer the fire testing results are not significantly different. Cylinders can be much farther from the hazard (maybe mechanical room) verses halocarbon needing to be in or near the hazard for halocarbon systems.

Inert gases are natural products and do not generate hazardous HF acids at high temperatures.

Inert system discharges depending on room and location of nozzles to High Density Drive Server racks can damage the HDD drives. I can't speak to other manufacturers but Ansul does have an acoustic nozzle option for server room applications.

I have given many advantages for an inergen system but the economic reality is they are more expensive (more steel and containers to install) than an FK-5-1-12 system and as the conversation started need more floor space. The twelve cylinders in the referenced project may be one or two halocarbon cylinders.

Final comment keep in mind Flouro K is a Kidde brand name not the agent. The agent is FK-5-1-12. And for Ansul the Sapphire brand name applies to older Novec 1230 systems as well as the new FK systems.

Mark Harris

2/26/2025 01:01:58 pm

Forgot to address the comments about recharge. Josh has valid concern and inert manufacturers are working through it for third party authorized re-fillers and exchange programs. Most welding gas houses do not have capability or desire to deal with blended gases, 300 bar and the QC process from manufacturers and NFPA 2001.

Muhammad Jamal link

2/27/2025 03:28:52 am

NFPA2001 IG / inert gases system are the natural and best forever, rest all man-made chemicals which came in the market 1940 afterwards are harmful and useless to recommend to client or install same as Halon, FM200, Novec, FK etc all are man-made, client stakeholders are fed-up, and they don't want to have to redo anything in the near future. As being technical we shall recommend Inert gases under NFPA2001 at least they are related to natural. Further either first filling listed stations and refilling stations manufacturer has to established and they shall seriously work in these tasks.

Replacement Recommendation for NOVEC 1230?

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