Pros and Cons of Novec 1230 For Fire Extinguishers

As a revolutionary alternative to traditional extinguishing agents, Novec 1230 systems have become a preferred option for businesses and homes around the globe when it comes to fire suppression installation. 

However, there has been some debate within the community about whether or not you should use 3M Novec 1230 as your main fire extinguishing agent, which we’re looking to uncover here.

In today’s article, we’re going to delve into the pros of using this mechanism and the Novec 1230 disadvantages too, as giving you knowledge about this cutting-edge fire suppression technology will help you make informed decisions about effectively safeguarding lives and property.

What Type of Agent is Novec 1230?

In relation to what type of agent Novec 1230 is, it is a clean agent known as a fluorinated ketone. If you use it within your extinguishing system, it rapidly extinguishes fires by removing heat and interrupting the combustion process, making it a highly effective option for protecting your sensitive equipment and valuable assets.

Clean agent systems are known for their environmentally friendly properties and suppression techniques, causing no damage to our environment or the ozone layer. 

Not only does this give you a diverse and clean option within your domestic or residential property instead of using one that may cause harm to you and your staff, but they’re extremely effective for class A, B, and C fires too.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Novec 1230 For Fire Suppression Systems

If you look closer at the difference between 3M Novec 1230 fluid and traditional forms of extinguishing, such as fire blankets or standard fire extinguishers, it is clear that you would choose an automatic fire suppression system that can allow you and your staff or family to evacuate while minimising the damage to your building without any human intervention. 

Whereas, if you used a traditional fire extinguisher or fire blanket, you would need trained and qualified humans to get rid of the fire, so there is no comparison in this regard. 

However, in terms of comparing liquid forms for fire suppression systems, understanding the pros and cons of Novec 1230 for fire extinguishers will help you gauge whether this should be the suppressant fluid you end up choosing in your location. Let’s take a look at both in detail:

Novec 1230 Advantages

Firstly, we’ll delve into the Novec 1230 advantages, as there is a reason behind the increase in installation among properties around the globe with this suppression fluid. Here are some of the main standout benefits of why you would want to invest in this fire extinguishing agent:

• Quick Suppression: If your building is primed for Novec 1230 fluid, this fluid can vaporise and evenly distribute its effectiveness within 10 seconds of being triggered by the detector or fire alarm
• No Damage to Your Equipment: With it being a clean agent, non-conductive and non-corrosive, it is safe for all sensitive electronics and valuable equipment within your property
• Environmentally friendly: As we briefly mentioned, Novec 1230 has a low global warming potential, ozone depletion potential and atmospheric lifetime, causing minimal harm to the environment compared to other agents due to containing no carbon dioxide or any other harmful gases
• Safe for Everyone in the Building During Evacuation: Installing Novec 1230 is safe for human exposure at its designed oxygen concentration, providing an additional level of protection for building occupants
• Residue-Free After the Event of a Fire: Due to the nature of this clean fire suppression fluid, it leaves no residue or water behind, eliminating the need for extensive cleanup and preventing secondary damage (meaning your business can be back up and running quickly).

Novec 1230 Disadvantages

Although clean agent fire suppression agents are some of the most popular on the market today due to their ability to quickly suppress fires and their environmental benefits, every fire protection system has its disadvantages. Here are some of the downfalls that you may need to be wary of if you’re considering installing this in your application:

• Limited accessibility: Oftentimes, this suppressant can be difficult to find on the market due to the high demand in different regions
• Expensive to install: Unfortunately, Novec 1230 can be expensive due to it being a premium, high-quality solution (there are some more cost-effective options out there)
• Potential Misuse: Novec 1230 doesn’t thrive in every single application; thus, you must ensure that your property and Novec 1230 align
• Complex Installation: In some cases, Novec 1230 fire suppression systems can be intricate and may require additional costs
• Excessive Storage Space: With Novec 1230 needing to apply more fluid during the event of a fire in comparison to other systems, it can often require a lot more cylinders (which may be difficult for companies with little extra storage space).

Should You Invest in a Novec 1230 Fire Extinguisher?

Judging from the previous pros and cons that we have listed, investing in a Novec 1230 extinguisher would come down to the pros outweighing the cons. However, we believe that a Novec 1230 extinguisher will be an excellent option for businesses looking to provide optimal safety at all times while trying to minimise the environmental effects on our planet.

What these high-technology systems will ensure is that all occupants will remain safe, your equipment won’t be damaged in the aftermath of a fire breakout, and an efficient job will be carried out before the fire begins to spread around your building. 

Overall, we believe that if an expert gives you the green light to say that this will fit your requirements and you have the budget to install this fire suppression system, this could be a life-saving investment in the event of potential fire hazards.

Final Thoughts

Using a fire suppression system, stored in cylinders, within your business or home nowadays will give you optimal protection, and now that you understand the advantages and disadvantages of Novec 1230, we hope that you can make an informed decision on what you require within your application.

However, if you’re still unsure about measurements, whether your building is suited for Novec 1230 fire suppression systems, and all the rest of it, MEP Fire are your nationwide experts for everything related to fire suppression. 

Therefore, if you’re curious about moving forward with installing a fire protection system to protect you, your staff, friends, or family, get in touch with us today, and we’d love to see how we could help bring protection to your application as soon as possible.