FM200 fire suppression system

General introduction to FM200 system

What is FM200?

FM200 or HFC-227ea (heptafluoropropane) is a clean fire extinguishing gas, widely used in modern fire protection systems. FM200 gas has many outstanding advantages compared to traditional fire extinguishing agents such as CO2 or N2 gas.

Main features of FM200:

• FM200 gas works by absorbing heat and preventing the chemical reaction of the combustion process, helping to extinguish the fire without removing oxygen from the environment.
• The ability to spray gas and extinguish the fire within just 10 seconds, significantly reducing damage.
• This gas is non-conductive and does not leave any residue after discharge, is safe for sensitive electronic devices and is not dangerous to humans at standard levels.

Trends in using clean gas in modern fire fighting

In the context of developing technology and increasing awareness of safety and environment, traditional fire fighting systems such as CO2 or dry powder are gradually being replaced by clean gas fire fighting systems (clean agent). This is an inevitable trend in the modern fire fighting industry globally and in Vietnam.

Clean gas such as FM200, Novec 1230, IG-541, IG-100 (inert gas)... does not cause suffocation, does not occupy much oxygen in the air at the design concentration. Therefore, it can be used in spaces with people while still ensuring safety when activating the system.

Unlike dry powder or CO2 which can easily cause thermal shock and corrosion, clean gas does not leave residue, does not damage electrical and electronic equipment. This is why they are preferred for use in:

• Server rooms, data centers
• Control rooms, UPS
• Data storage, documents, museums...

Modern clean gas lines such as FM200, Novec 1230 all meet the standard of not destroying the ozone layer (ODP = 0), comply with the Montreal Protocol and NFPA 2001.

Structure of the FM200 fire extinguishing system

FM200 gas cylinder

FM200 gas cylinder is an indispensable component in the automatic fire extinguishing system, especially for areas with high safety requirements such as: data centers, server rooms, computer rooms, laboratories,... FM200 fire extinguishers have become the first choice of many businesses with the ability to extinguish fires quickly, effectively and safely.

Structure and operating principle:

• The cylinder body is designed to withstand high pressure to keep the gas in a compressed liquid form, helping to save space and increase spray efficiency. The material is usually stainless steel or high-strength alloy, ensuring durability and safety during storage.
• FM200 gas: a clean, colorless, odorless gas that can absorb heat and reduce oxygen concentration.
• Safety valve helps prevent the pressure in the tank from being too high.
• Pressure gauge helps monitor the pressure level in the tank.
• The connection to the pipeline system helps to conduct gas from the tank to the nozzles located in the protected area. The pipeline and nozzles are designed to ensure that the gas spreads evenly, extinguishing the fire quickly.
• Exhaust pipe has the effect of conducting gas to the nozzles.

Piping system

The pipeline system helps to carry gas from the tank to the nozzles, ensuring that the fire extinguishing gas is transmitted to the correct location and quickly extinguishes the fire.

Pipes are often made of materials that can withstand high pressure, corrosion and high temperatures such as:

• Stainless steel: is the most popular material, has high durability, good corrosion resistance.
• Copper: has good heat conduction, often used in special locations. 

Structure and function:

• The main pipe connects directly from the tank to the auxiliary pipe branches, which are the largest diameter pipes.
• Auxiliary pipes: are smaller branches, branching from the main pipe, carrying FM200 gas to areas that need protection.
• The nozzle is the final device of the pipe system, with the task of dispersing gas into small jets, covering the fire area evenly.

Nozzles

The nozzle is an important part of the FM200 system, which is responsible for distributing FM200 gas from the pipeline system to the environment, helping to extinguish fires quickly and effectively.

An FM200 nozzle usually has a fairly simple structure, including:

• Nozzle body: usually made of heat-resistant, high-pressure resistant material.
• Nozzle holes: Tiny holes are specially designed to disperse FM200 gas evenly.
• Flange: Used to connect to the pipeline.

Controller

The controller in the FM200 fire extinguishing system is the central device, acting as the "brain" to manage and activate the system when a fire is detected. The controller is responsible for receiving signals from sensors and fire alarm systems, then sending commands to activate the FM200 gas cylinder to discharge gas through the pipeline system and sprinkler heads, helping to ensure the system operates promptly, accurately and effectively to control the fire quickly.

The structure of a controller usually includes:

• Motherboard: is the control center, processes information and makes decisions.
• The power source helps provide energy to the controller and other devices in the system.
• The communication port is used to connect to sensors, fire detectors, gas release valves and other peripherals.
• The screen displays information about the operating status of the system, problems and warnings.
• Keyboard to set up, adjust and check the system.

Fire alarm devices

Some common fire alarm devices today include:

• Smoke detectors help detect smoke from burning materials, helping to identify fires at an early stage, before the fire breaks out.
• Heat detectors help detect abnormal increases in temperature, especially effective in environments without much smoke but prone to generating large amounts of heat when a fire occurs.
• Emergency switches allow users to activate the manual fire extinguishing system in case of early fire detection.
• Fire alarm bells help to emit sound signals (bells) and light (lights) to warn people in the area when there is a fire.
• Fire alarm cabinets are responsible for connecting and controlling the operation of fire alarm devices, helping the system operate synchronously and activate fire extinguishing when detecting fire signals from alarm devices.

Operating principle of FM200 syzstem

Fire detection process

Sensors: smoke detectors, heat detectors, will continuously monitor the surrounding environment. When detecting abnormal signs such as smoke, high temperature, or toxic gas concentration exceeding the allowable threshold, these devices will send an alarm signal to the controller.

When the sensors detect fire, the signal will be transmitted to the central controller via a wired or wireless system.

System activation process

These signals will be sent to the central controller for analysis and evaluation. To avoid false alarms, the controller can request two or more simultaneous fire alarm signals or confirmation from multiple devices (smoke detectors and heat detectors), commonly known as dual signal confirmation. When all confirmation conditions are met, the controller will activate the warning phase.

The controller activates alarm devices, including fire alarms, and an audio announcement system to warn and instruct people to evacuate the hazardous area.

The system will wait for a short delay (depending on the system configuration) before releasing the gas. This time allows staff or residents time to safely evacuate the area.

FM200 gas discharge and fire suppression

After the evacuation period is over, the controller will send a signal to the gas discharge valve of the FM200 tank. The valve will open and allow FM200 gas to enter the piping system, ready to be released through the nozzles to extinguish the fire. FM200 gas will be evenly distributed through the nozzles, creating a gas layer covering the entire fire area.

FM200 absorbs heat from the fire quickly, reducing the oxygen concentration in the fire area, causing the fire to no longer have enough oxygen to maintain the fire. But FM200 does not completely suffocate, so it does not seriously affect human health if the gas concentration is low.

FM200 contains chemical compounds that can interrupt the chemical reaction chain of the fire. The gas molecules directly affect the fire, slowing down the burning process and quickly extinguishing the fire. After confirming that the fire has been extinguished, the area needs to be ventilated to remove the remaining FM200 gas.

Outstanding advantages of the FM200 system compared to other gases

Advantages

• FM200 gas has the ability to extinguish fires quickly and effectively, especially for class A, B, C fires.
• This gas is non-toxic, non-conductive and does not leave any residue after use, ensuring safety for people in the area.
• The potential for ozone depletion is very low and the greenhouse effect is low, environmentally friendly. No residue or waste left after spraying, saving time and money for cleaning and restoring the space after fire fighting
• Does not damage electronic equipment, machinery and other objects.
• FM200 systems can be installed in many different types of spaces, from computer rooms, data storage rooms to clean rooms...

Disadvantages

• The initial investment cost is quite high compared to other fire extinguishing systems.
• FM200 systems need regular maintenance to ensure stable and effective operation.
• Environmental impact (very low level)
• Not effective for all types of metal fires.

Common applications of FM200 systems

FM200 fire extinguishing systems have many outstanding advantages, so they are widely used in many different fields. Here are some specific applications:

• Data center: the system helps protect electronic devices, servers, network systems from damage due to fire and explosion with the ability to quickly extinguish fires without affecting high-tech equipment.
• Control room: protect central control devices, control panels, other electronic devices from damage.
• Protect products, equipment in clean rooms from contamination by fire extinguishing agents.
• Protect important documents, libraries and museums such as artifacts, precious documents and other valuable objects.
• Protect medical equipment, sensitive electronic equipment from damage to ensure the safety of patients and medical staff.
• Ensure safety for chemical plants, warehouses containing flammable chemicals.
• Protect high floors of buildings, places that are difficult to access by conventional fire fighting means.

Prestigious FM200 System Suppliers

Janus Fire Systems

Janus Fire Systems is one of the world's leading brands in automatic fire extinguishing solutions using clean gas, especially prominent with the FM200 system (HFC-227ea). Headquartered in the United States, Janus not only produces high-quality equipment but is also a pioneer in developing modern, environmentally friendly fire extinguishing technologies.

Strengths of Janus Fire Systems:

• Comply with strict international standards: Products are UL Listed, FM Approved, in accordance with NFPA 2001 and ISO standards.
• Extremely fast fire extinguishing efficiency: Janus FM200 system can extinguish fires in just a few seconds, protecting the safety of property and people.
• No damage to equipment: FM200 clean gas does not leave residue, does not affect electronic equipment, ideal for server rooms, control rooms, document archives, etc.
• Flexible system, easy to integrate: Designed to suit many project scales - from data centers, factories, office buildings to large-scale industrial projects.

In Vietnam, KPS is proud to be the official distributor of Janus Fire Systems, providing a full range of services:

• System consulting - design
• Providing genuine equipment
• Construction - installation according to technical standards
• Periodic maintenance - inspection according to NFPA/TCVN standards

S-TEC VINA

S-TEC VINA is a joint venture brand between Vietnam and Korea, specializing in manufacturing and supplying automatic fire extinguishing systems using clean gas, notably the FM200 product line (HFC-227ea) with code SMS-227. With a factory located in Vietnam, S-TEC VINA is not only proactive in technology but also ensures fast service, reasonable cost and meets international standards.

Outstanding advantages of the S-TEC VINA FM200 system:

• Made in Vietnam, Korean technology: Helps optimize costs and implementation time, convenient for maintenance - replacement.
• Full certification: The system meets TCVN 3890, ISO 9001 standards and references NFPA 2001 standards.
• Safe clean gas: FM200 is non-conductive, does not destroy the ozone layer, safe for electronic equipment and people.
• Synchronized design - fast construction: From gas cylinders, control cabinets, discharge valves to nozzles - all are manufactured and tested synchronously, easy to integrate in new or renovated projects.

In Vietnam, KPS is the official authorized distributor of S-TEC VINA, providing full services:

• Consulting on gas fire extinguishing solution design
• Supplying and installing synchronized equipment
• Inspecting - charging - periodic maintenance of FM200

Why should you choose KPS as a consultant and supplier of FM200 fire extinguishing systems?

KPS is one of the leading pioneers and prestigious units in the field of fire prevention and fighting (PCCC) in Vietnam. With more than 15 years of experience, KPS is not only an official distributor of international brands such as Janus Fire Systems, S-TEC VINA but also a consulting - design - construction unit for FM200 systems that meet international standards.

Why customers choose KPS:

• Professional and knowledgeable about FM200 systems: KPS has a team of highly specialized fire prevention engineers with rich practical experience in hundreds of large and small projects nationwide.
• Genuine distribution - Competitive price: FM200 equipment is imported or manufactured by Janus, S-TEC VINA... ensuring quality and reasonable price.
• Optimal solution consulting - Suitable for each project: From small machine rooms to large data centers, KPS always offers optimal solutions in terms of cost, fire fighting efficiency and technical standards.
• The implementation and inspection process always complies with international and Vietnamese standards, helping customers feel secure when accepting and applying for fire prevention and fighting licenses.
• Prestigious after-sales service - warranty: Periodic maintenance, FM200 charging, gas leak testing, control cabinet maintenance... are performed methodically by KPS, with 24/7 technical support.

In addition, KPS not only specializes in FM200 fire fighting systems, but also provides a comprehensive product ecosystem and solutions in the field of fire prevention and fighting and low-voltage electricity, helping customers build a safe - synchronous - cost-optimized system.

Do you need advice, design or construction of a genuine FM200 fire suppression system - up to standard - cost-optimized?

Contact KPS now for free consultation and receive the most suitable solution