• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.1-11
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• 2007

This study aims to investigate, review, and summarize the definition, development, and applications of "percent agent in pipe", "percent of agent in pipe" which is used as a key factor in testing and evaluating the performance of gaseous fire extinguishing agents, including Halon 1301 and $CO_2$. This study also analyzes and compares the local and international standards on testing and evaluating the performance of gaseous fire extinguishing systems, as well as the results of system performance tests conducted as a part of performance evaluation and approval programs for gaseous fire extinguishing systems, especially, Korean Gaseous Fire Extinguishing System Performance Approval Program called KFI Approval. Percent agent in pipe was defined first in NFPA 12A, Standard on Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing Systems, dating back to the 1970's. After the phaseout of Halon 1301 systems in 1994 in the developed countries, the percent agent in pipe has been widely used in Halon 1301 alternative clean agent fire extinguishing systems, both halocarbon clean agent systems and inert gas clean agent systems, as an essential criterion to assure the system design accuracy, determine the limitations and performance of a system, and to predict the system performance results accurately, especially, in association with their system flow calculations. Underwriters Laboratories has their own standards such as UL 2127 and 2166 applying percent agent in pipe in testing and evaluating the performance of clean agent fire extinguishing systems. As a part of a system performance test and approval program called KFI Approval System, Korea also has started to apply the percent agent in pipe as a key factor to test, evaluate, and approve the performance of gaseous fire extinguishing systems, including both high and low pressure $CO_2$ systems, from the early 2000's. This study outlines and summarizes the relevant UL and KFI standards and also describes the actual test resultant data, including the maximum percents of agent in pipe for gaseous fire extinguishing systems. As evidenced in lots of tests conducted as a part of the system performance test and approval programs like KFI Approval System, it has been proven that the percent agent in pipe may work as a key factor in testing, evaluating, and determining the limitations and performance of gaseous fire extinguishing systems, especially compared with the hydraulic flow calculations of computer design programs of gaseous fire extinguishing systems, and will remain as such in the future. As one thing to note, however, there are some difficulties in using the unified percent agent in pipe to determine the maximum lengths of pipe networks for gaseous fire extinguishing systems, because the varying definitions used by some of the flow calculations (not in accordance with NFPA 12A definition) make it impossible to do any direct comparison of pipe lengths based on percent agent in pipe.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.19 no.2 s.58
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• pp.29-36
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• 2005

We carried out discharge and fire extinguishing tests of new inert gas clean agent, which consists of $92\%$ nitrogen and $8\%$ carbon dioxide, as an alternative of Halon that is banned by Montreal Protocol to protect the ozone layer of the earth. Discharge and fire extinguishing tests were performed in $27m^3$ and $190m^3$ rooms with piping which allows gaseous agent to transport from storage to test rooms. We confirmed that it took less than regulation time, 60 seconds for the discharge of over $95\%$ initial charged amounts. Discharge test variables were piping length and orifice size. Fire extinguishing tests verified that this new inert gas clean agent is suitable for both n-Heptane fire and deep seated fire of wood crib.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.19-27
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• 2019

Fire extinguishing composite materials based on low-viscosity epoxy resin (EP) and containing 50 wt% of encapsulated fire extinguishing agent (EFA) have been studied. The positive effect of the EP on the kinetics and temperature of the EFA decapsulation was established. The EP increases the decapsulation temperature of the EFA from 130 ℃ to 155 ℃ and changes the kinetics of the decapsulation. The epoxy matrix increases the thermal stability of the EFA more than 3.9 times compared to that of the pure EFA. The protective effect of the EP on the storage stability of the EFA was validated. The mass loss of EP-containing EFA at 60 ℃ and 80% humidity over 96 h is 0.4%. The mass loss of pure EFA under the same conditions is 15%. A similar effect was observed under ultraviolet radiation: the EP-containing EFA loses 0.8% at pure EFA mass of 6%. The testing of alternative polymer matrixes has been considered.

• Proceedings of the Korea Institute of Fire Science and Engineering Conference
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• 1997.11a
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• pp.564-572
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• 1997

Following the ratification of Vienna Convention for Ozone Layer Protection and Montreal Protocol, Indonesia will implement the phasing-out of to halon at end 1996. Questions are increasing especially from the users where halon has used for many years as the most effective fire extinguishing agent, concerning halon substitutes, alternative systems as well as the handling and utilization of the existing halon. Halon can still be used for critical and essential uses, however, such usage has been gradually eliminated, due to the emergence of halon-like replacement. A concept of halon banking system is proposed to considered, taking into account several aspects such as enforced regulation, institutional involvement technology as well as financing. This paper gives a general overview regarding phase-out implementation, alternative extinguishing systems and concept on halon banking system with special reference to Indonesian case.

• The Korean Journal of Air & Space Law and Policy
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.205-226
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• 2018

For sustainable development of air transport, the establishment and application of international standards of environmental protection area is significant. The development and use of alternative fire extinguishing agent to Halon, which is used for the fire extinguishing systems of engine nacelles/APU and cargo compartments, has been requested in order to protect the ozone layer. The ICAO has been active in preparing international standards and recommended practices (SARPs); however, certification of alternative fire extinguishing agents has been postponed due to technical readiness problem.. Consequently, the implementation of SARPs has also been postponed by two years from the end of 2016. to the end of 2018. As such consequences have caused confusion among Member States regarding its implementation, it is necessary to discuss and pay more attention to this issue. ICAO Council and Air Navigation Commission should consider between setting the implementation time frame earlier or giving enough time for mature readiness and preparedness. Also in order to minimize the unnecessary discharge of Halon owned by Member States, it is necessary to consider efficient management methodologies; for example, requesting fire extinguisher manufacturers to recharge in professional ways. For the successful implementation of the SARPs, ICAO developed an implementation task list as including notification of differences, establishment of a national implementation plan, drafting of the modification to the national regulations and means of compliance, adoption of the national regulations and means of compliance. Member States can develop their own rule making process in reference with the ICAO implementation task list. This issue was presented and discussed during the 54th Conference of Directors General of civil aviation, Asia and Pacific Regions which was held in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2017 with significant attention among participated Contacting States. In this regards, ICAO Council and Air Navigation Commission should consult with Legal Bureau lawyers regarding SARPs preparing process to eliminate difficulties and confusions for proper implementation within effective date.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.7-12
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• 2004

For CFCs and Halons regulated by Montreal Protocol and their alternatives of HFC-23, HFC-125 HFC-227ea, HFC-236fa and the mixtures of inert gases of $Ar, N_2 and CO_2$, the thermodynamic properties of saturated pressure, density, enthalpy and viscosity were compared. In this study, the data from literature were expressed as a function of temperature. Thermodynamic properties of HFC compounds were similar to those of Halon-1301. Inert gas was mainly used as a mixture, but the physical properties of the inert gas does not have the favorable advantages over those of Halon-1301.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.12-19
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• 2004

The commercially available IG-541 extinguished agent composed of inert gases was developed for environmental protection. The extinguished agents were considered in terms of physical properties, efficient characteristic, environment, stability, and economical efficiency. The pure and mixture components of physical properties of $N_2$, Ar and $CO_2$ were chosen and compared. The physical properties of density, viscosity and surface tension of inert gases were plotted with the molar ratios of $N_2$/$CO_2$ and Ar/$CO_2$ in terms of a temperature. The extinguished agent in the composition of $N_2$, Ar and $CO_2$, 50/40/10 (mol %) showed relatively high density, low viscosity and moderate surface tension, therefore it was suitable for the alternative extinguished agents.