ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION GUIDE

OVERARCHING DOCUMENT
This document has been produced by the RISCAuthority Active Suppression & Detection working
group to provide information and outline guidance on the application of watermist.

Contents rest of the building. They are the first automatic line of defence residential sprinkler systems. Design, installation, and
in an ‘onion-layer’ approach to fire protection – effective local maintenance
Introduction���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������1 control can negate the need for a compartment or building • N.F.P.A 13 – Standard for the installation of sprinkler
Protected asset consideration�����������������������������������������������������������1 protection system to operate, which can dramatically reduce systems
consequential damage. All agent technologies can be applied • F.M. Global – Data Sheet 2-0 – Installation Guidelines for
Building protection systems ���������������������������������������������������������������1 as local application systems but there is a need to ensure that Automatic Sprinklers
Compartment protection systems�����������������������������������������������������1 there is a good understanding of whether they are ‘suppression’ • Watermist systems
or ‘extinguishing’ systems as this will greatly impact the fire • BS 8489-1:2016 Fixed fire protection systems – industrial
Item/equipment protection (Local Application)�����������������������������1 protection strategy (see next section). and commercial watermist systems. Code of practice for
Suppression versus extinguishment������������������������������������������������2 Local Application Systems (including supporting control systems) design and installation
generally must extinguish the fire and nullify all potential • BS 8458:2015 Fixed fire protection systems – residential
Suppression system������������������������������������������������������������������������������2 and domestic watermist systems – code of practice for
reignition sources within the timeframe of agent discharge.
Extinguishing system����������������������������������������������������������������������������2 design and installation
• BS EN 14972-1:2020 Fixed firefighting systems. Water mist
Gaseous extinguishing systems��������������������������������������������������������3 Suppression versus extinguishment systems. Design, installation, inspection, and maintenance
Gaseous extinguishing systems – toxicity considerations����������3
Protected asset consideration Firefighting systems for buildings, compartments, or equipment
A major design consideration for any Active Fire Protection
typically fall into one of two categories – Fire Suppression Extinguishing system
Gaseous extinguishing systems – environmental Systems and Fire Extinguishing Systems – and it is important These systems act by bringing the combustion process of a fire
System (AFPS) is to establish the full scope of what needs
considerations/F-gas Regulations����������������������������������������������������3 to understand the distinction between these. Traditionally, to an end and removing any possibility of re-ignition. Typically,
protecting. The three principle categories are:
water-based systems have been used for suppressing fires, fire extinguishing systems contain a certain fixed amount of
Gaseous extinguishing systems – enclosure Integrity����������������� 4 • building and gaseous-based systems for extinguishing fires. However,
• compartment firefighting media that is delivered over a relatively short period.
Gaseous extinguishing systems – types of gases and their some technologies, such as watermist may be used to suppress Consequently, if the system fails to fully extinguish a fire prior to
• item or equipment (Local Application). fires for ‘life safety’ or extinguish fires for ‘property protection’.
modes of operation����������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 exhausting its supply of extinguishant then the fire may rekindle
Critically, in different countries, and even within some
Water based active fire protection systems – toxicity Building protection systems standards, the terms ‘Suppression System’ is sometimes used
and continue to burn unopposed. For this reason, these system
considerations ������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� 4 Building protection AFPSs have rulesets that describe the types will need to be carefully considered, designed, and installed
interchangeably with ‘Extinguishing System’ which is technically to ensure that the purpose of the system and the fire strategy
protection requirements for all areas of a building, including incorrect, causes great confusion, and at worst could lead
Interlocks and alarm notifications��������������������������������������������������� 4 can be realised. Extinguishment Systems require a high degree
the habitable spaces, storage locations, car parks, bathrooms, the system owner to believe it will achieve more than it can
Associated Active Fire Protection Guides (AFPG)����������������������� 4 voids, service ducts, etc. Deviation from any aspect of the of control of the compartment in which they are operating.
in supporting the overall fire safety/resilience strategy. This
rules can result in the system not being certificated. With confused terminology is also unhelpful in post-fire litigation. Examples of extinguishing systems:
Introduction requirements to ensure the passive building requirements • Foam systems
This document is part of a series of Active Fire Protection support the robust operation of the system, these systems Suppression system • BS EN 13565-2:2009 Fixed firefighting systems – Foam
Guides (AFPGs) produced by the RISCAuthority Suppression represent the pinnacle of resilient AFPS design for property systems Part 2: Design, construction, and maintenance
These systems act by reducing the size or intensity of a fire and
& Detection Working Group to provide summary information protection and overall business resilience. The only systems that • N.F.P.A 11 – Standard for Low, Medium, and
limiting its potential for further growth or spread. Whilst it is not
on the main types of fire suppression and extinguishing classify as Building Protection Systems are Sprinkler Systems to High-Expansion Foam
a requirement of such systems to fully extinguish a fire, this may
technologies currently available. the LPC Rules, N.F.P.A and F.M. Global. • N.F.P.A 16 – Standard for the Installation of Foam-Water
be achieved, but should never be depended on. These systems
will be designed to operate for a specified minimum period of Sprinkler and Foam-Water Spray Systems
Choosing the most appropriate technology for any given Compartment protection systems time only – normally the duration of agent supply (i.e. water tank • F.M. Global – Data Sheet 4-3 – Medium and High Expansion
situation requires the specifier to understand many important
Compartment protection AFPSs have rulesets that describe the size), or evacuation time for life-safety systems. The overall Foam Systems
factors, such as the risk that needs protecting, the requirement
requirement for the space they seek to protect only. Systems fire safety plan will require other actions, such as fire service • F.M. Global – Data Sheet 4-12 – Foam Extinguishing Systems
of the system to either suppress or extinguish a fire, and the
for compartment protection can include gaseous, watermist, intervention, to complete the job of fully extinguishing the fire • Gaseous systems
advantages/disadvantages and limitations of each technology
domestic sprinkler, local sprinkler, water drencher, aerosol, prior to the suppression system’s agent supply being exhausted. • Inergen/ IG541 (Inert Gas)
type.
and hypoxic systems. Comparison of protection proposals for A fire plan that has dependencies on suppression systems but • Argonite/ IG55 (Inert Gas)
Incorrect choices, and even poor implementation of the building protection by sprinkler systems and watermist systems fails to specifically address the additional actions necessary to • Nitrogen/ IG100 (Inert Gas)
correct technology, can lead to poor outcomes, significant fire must be reviewed with extreme caution. Native to the sprinkler bring about full extinguishment is dangerously deficient. • FM20/ HFC-227ea (Hydrofluorocarbon)
losses, and potentially even death from exposure to the agent design will be an assurance of the coherent protection of all • Novec 1230/ FK-5-1-12 (PerFluorinated Ketones)
itself, its breakdown products in fire, or from the unreconciled spaces, including i.e. hidden voids etc. as described above Examples of suppression systems: • Pentafluoroethane / HFC-125
fire event. This document and the associated guides are not – the same will not be true for the watermist solution unless • Sprinkler systems Water Mist is a form of active fire
protection that, like all
Water Mist is
protection that,
a form of active
like all
fire • Carbon Dioxide (High/ Low pressure)
• LPC Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations 2015 • Oxygen reduction systems
extinguishing

intended to give definitive advice on system selection but specifically and additionally designed to do so.
fire extinguishing technologies, can be technologies, can
a form of active be
Water Mist is effective in the protection of effective in the
protection of
like all
protection that, be certain, but not all risks. certain, but not
all risks.
technologies, can
extinguishing
protection of The questions herein are intended The questions
effective in the herein are intended
all risks. to elicit information that could be to elicit informatio
certain, but not n that could be
useful in providing evidence of the useful in providing


should be considered as a primer, presenting key ‘need-to-know incorporating BS EN 12845 (Commercial & Industrial) • F.M. Global – Data Sheet 4-13 – Oxygen Reduction Systems
herein are intended “equivalence” of such systems to “equivalence”
evidence of the
The questions
n that could be alternative fixed firefighting
of such systems
to
to elicit informatio alternative fixed
in providing evidence of the systems and their associated systems and their
firefighting
useful to associated
of such systems published and recognised
“equivalence” published and
recognised
firefighting standards.
alternative fixed standards.

Item/equipment protection (Local Application)

systems and their
associated


information’ for each of the main firefighting technologies, • BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 Firefighting systems – • Aerosol systems
It is recommended that one of these It is recommen
recognised
published and forms be completed for each risk to ded that one of
these
forms be completed
standards. be protected by water mist for each risk to
be protected by
these water mist
ded that one of system(s). This form is to be used to


It is recommen system(s). This
for each risk to capture and record some of the form is to be used
to
forms be completed data required to support a
capture and record
some of the
protected by water mist data required
be to

Automatic sprinkler systems - Design, installation, and

to support a
form is to be used
reasonable claim of “equivalence”

and act as a starting point in collating the relevant information • FirePro (LPCB approved)
system(s). This and to provide evidence of sound
reasonable claim
some of the of “equivalence”
capture and record engineering practice. In Fire and to provide
evidence
to support a engineering practice. of sound

Often termed ‘Local Application Systems’, these technologies

data required Engineering Documents
of “equivalence” In
Engineering Document Fire
reasonable claim of sound ‘equivalency’ must be
evidence s
and to provide demonstrated BOTH in terms of ‘equivalency’ must
In Fire be
engineering practice. firefighting capability AND demonstrated

maintenance (Commercial & Industrial)

BOTH in terms

needed to make a good choice of system.

s of
Engineering Document reliability. firefighting capability
be AND
‘equivalency’ must

When seeking to protect a specific risk from fire, the decision

reliability.
of
BOTH in terms Do not use this form for building

are designed to respond quickly during any fire event to limit

demonstra ted
AND compartment protection systems, Do not use this
firefighting capability either of the ‘Deluge’ open-head
form for local
application systems,
reliability. type, or ‘thermally-actuated’ or building
compartment
protection
form for local

• BS 9251:2021 Fire sprinkler systems for domestic and

Do not use this
closed-head type (separate forms the ‘deluge’ open-head systems of
or building are available for these systems, IQ type
application systems, (separate forms

of whether to use a suppression or extinguishing system and the

of are available for
protection systems 1 & IQ 3, respectively).
compartment these systems,

the scope area of damage to a specific piece of equipment,

IQ 2 and IQ 1,
-actuated’ close-head respectively).
the ‘thermally
forms are available
type (separate
IQ 2 and IQ 3, Form: IQ 2
for these systems,

residential occupancies. Code of practice

respectively). Version 4.0 April 2020

IQ 2 choice of a specific technology type will depend on numerous

Form: IQ 3

to prevent spread to other equipment, compartments, or the

Version 4.0 April
2020
Form: IQ 1

IQ 3
• BS
IQ 1EN 16925:2018 Fixed firefighting systems. Automatic
2020
Version 4.0 April

factors relating to the protected materials and the environment

AFPG-01 September 2022

in which they are located. RISCAuthority’s series of Active Fire Gaseous extinguishing systems – toxicity certain applications, and sets out the requirements for strict For some agents, a small component of chemical inhibition may
Protection Guides provides detailed summary information such as service and maintenance of systems containing these gases, also take place. A by-product of this process is hydrogen fluoride
best practice, advantages, disadvantages, applicable standards, considerations together with leak detection requirements. Any company and other chemicals, which being highly toxic to personnel and
and safety requirements for each of the main system types. Where concerns for safety are included in the guides, the figures or technician involved in this activity will be required to be corrosive to equipment, needs careful consideration against the
presented can be reviewed against the table below relating to certified, trained, and hold a valid F-Gas certificate. protection ambition.
Gaseous extinguishing systems NOAEL and LOAEL values.
Gaseous extinguishing systems – Carbon dioxide
All gaseous extinguishing agents can pose toxicity and/or NOAEL – No Observable Adverse Effects Level – the highest
environmental risks, which should be understood when selecting concentration of a gas which should not adversely effect people enclosure integrity Carbon dioxide is considered separately to the other gases
a system. Some of these threats might be from the raw agent, that come into contact with it. because of its inherent toxicity at extinguishing concentration.
Protection of compartments with gaseous systems demand that
and some from potential breakdown products once exposed Whilst working in the same way as an inert gas, the primary
LOAEL – Lowest Observable Adverse Effects Level – the lowest the compartment is well sealed and then provided with a device
to fire. The threat from most inert-type gaseous systems risk of which is asphyxiation if concentrations should fall below
concentration of a gas that has been reported to cause adverse suitable for venting overpressures during agent discharge, but
relate to the potential for asphyxiation. Whilst extinguishing design values, carbon dioxide is fundamentally toxic to humans
health effects in people or animals. will reseat to hold the column pressure of gas for the required
concentrations can support life, consideration must be given (after a key excretion of the body via the lungs). It is a very
hold time. For inert gases, the compartment must vent around
to the potential for non-homogenous conditions, oxygen effective extinguishing agent and best used for the protection of
40% of its volume in 1 minute. Chemical agents typically must
consumption by the compartments too small to accommodate people.
vent around 10% of the compartment’s volume in 10 seconds.
fire, and exposure Agent Design NOAEL LOAEL Occupied Global Ozone Notes Inert agents produce positive pressures only, whilst chemical
of people that are Concentration (%) (%) Space Warming Depletion agents can produce both positive and negative pressures on
Water-based active fire protection systems –
medically impaired. (%) (Y/N) Potential Potential discharge as the liquid agents flash evaporate to gas. The toxicity considerations
The threat from ventilation devices should be positioned and ducted to prevent
Inergen 37-42 43 52 Y 0 0 N/A The key safety issues pertinent to water-based fire protection
chemical agents exposure of personnel and other areas to the fire/agent efflux. systems are:
can come from the Argonite 42-47 43 52 Y 0 0 1 Failure to seal the compartment, and then install the correct
raw agent toxicity, • legionella, from stored and stagnated water supplies
ventilation device, can result in destruction of the compartment
and their breakdown Nitrogen 37-42 43 52 Y 0 0 N/A • deep lung penetration of droplets during exposure
boundaries, failure to extinguish the fire, huge hydrogen fluoride
products in fire (watermist systems)
FM200 8-9 9 10.5 Y 3220 0 N/A generation (chemical agents only), unintended contamination of
that can be highly • inhalation of firefighting additives, such as foam and
adjacent areas and personal to raw agent, toxic agent derivates,
toxic and impair Novec 1230 5-6 10 >10 Y 1 0 N/A anti-corrosion agents.
and toxic fire products.
a person’s ability
to escape. Carbon
HFC-125 10-12 7.5 10 N 3500 0 2 Interlocks and alarm notifications
dioxide is inherently
Gaseous extinguishing systems – The activation of any active fire protection system should
CO2 34-50 3 10 N 0 0 3
and immediately types of gases and their modes of operation additionally:
toxic at even low Notes: The different gaseous extinguishing agents can crudely be • raise a local alarm
concentrations, and 1. Argonite has a limited exposure time of 3 minutes within the compartment. The design concentration is categorised as: • be connected to the main building’s alarm system
human exposure greater than NOAEL. • chemical inhibitors (halons) • if a ‘suppression system’ (further actions required to end the
during discharge • inert fire event) the alarm should be connected to the local fire
cannot be allowed. 2. HFC-125 is not suitable for occupied spaces. The design concentration is greater than NOAEL. and rescue service or alarm receiving centre
• chemical agents
Key safety related 3. CO2 is a toxic gas; death will be very rapid if exposure occurs at the design concentration. • carbon dioxide. • isolate all fuels in the location of the fire (oil, gas, electricity,
information is etc.)
Chemical inhibitors • stop all ventilation in the area of the fire (unless it is required
provided in each of the AFPGs, and is summarised here. It Gaseous extinguishing systems – The most famously effective (but now outlawed under the terms as part of the overall fire safety management plan)
should be noted that when gaseous extinguishing systems are
considered, RISCAuthority advice is to always consider inert
environmental considerations/F-gas of the Montreal Protocol) gaseous extinguishing agents were the • stop all conveyancing systems (such as conveyor belts)
gases over their chemical counterparts for reasons of design Regulations halons. These were chemical inhibitors that directly affected the which may act to physically spread fire.
simplicity, limitation of consequential damage, safety, and F-gases are gases that contain fluorine. There are a range chemistry of combustion. None of the modern chemical agents
long-term permissibility as environmental regulations change operate to the same degree by this mechanism. Associated Active Fire Protection Guides
of these gases which include hydrofluorocarbons (HFC),
(see later). perfluorocarbons (PFC), and sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and have (AFPG)
Inert agents AFPG-01 Active Fire Protection Technology Document
a global warming potential greater than one. Some of these gases
It is important to note that ‘inerting an atmosphere against fire Inert gaseous agents operate by displacing oxygen from the AFPG-02 Watermist
are commonly found in chemical gaseous suppression systems.
and explosion’ (preventing and protecting against a sustained compartment to a point where combustion can no longer AFPG-03 Inergen/IG541
ignition source) generally requires much higher concentrations Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases be supported. Working with the fire to reduce oxygen, when AFPG-04 Novec 1230
of gaseous agent that will not be survivable. ‘Inerting’ a space (the F-gas Regulations) is in place to protect the ozone layer and correctly designed these can provide robust protection with few AFPG-05 Argonite/IG55
against fire and explosion is a specialist design undertaking mitigate climate change. This will be achieved by phasing down safety or environmental issues. AFPG-06 Nitrogen/IG100
which is out of scope of these documents. Specific advice on the amount of HFC that can be placed on the EU market by slowly AFPG-07 FM200
design criteria is given in each section of the relevant standard reducing quotas permitted to HFC producers and importers. Chemical agents AFPG-08 Pentafluoroethane/HFC-125
for the specific agent considered. The term ‘inert gas’ must not AFPG-09 Carbon Dioxide
The UK has international obligations under the UN Montreal Chemical agents have large complex fluorine containing-
be confused with ‘inerting’. Chemical agents at an appropriate AFPG-10 Oxygen Reduction (due soon)
Protocol on Substances that deplete the ozone layer (the molecules that remove heat from the fire as they are broken
concentration can ‘inert’ the compartment’s atmosphere against AFPG-11 Aerosol Fire Protection (due soon)
Montreal Protocol). The regulation bans the use of F-Gas in down to a point where combustion can no longer be supported.
fire and explosion risks.

AFPG-01 September 2022