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Answering your questions about 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid
At 3M, we’re always asking questions about the world around us — seeking better ways to solve new problems and make life better for all. Let us help answer some of your questions about 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid.
Performance FAQs
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What is 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid?
Novec 1230 fluid is a sustainable clean agent fire extinguisher that helps protect continuity of operations and high value assets. It is a waterless fire suppressant designed to replace high global warming potential (GWP) hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) like FM-200®.
Novec 1230 fluid is a clean agent included in the NFPA 2001 standard. It is non-conductive and leaves no residue, putting out fires while preserving both assets and operations. Novec 1230 fluid has been sold into clean agent fire suppression for 15 years and into over 100 countries. Its proven quality and reliability have provided specifiers and end-users with a smart solution for their clean agent needs.
Download the 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid brochure (PDF, 1.4 MB), the technical data sheet (PDF, 510 KB), or visit the Fire Suppression - Novec 1230 webpage to learn more.
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What operations and valued assets is 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid used to protect?
Novec 1230 fluid is designed to help protect continuity of operations because, unlike water, it does not damage electronic equipment and the critical data stored on it – to keep your business up and running. It also protects valuable assets including everything from paper archives and historical documents to priceless works of art and antiquities. To learn more about specific industry applications, download one of our brochures.
3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid for Telecomm & Data Centers (PDF, 1.4 MB)
3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Oil & Gas (PDF, 923 KB)
3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Flightline Applications (PDF, 168 kB)
3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Marine Application (PDF, 1.1 MB)
3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid Museums & Archives (PDF, 765 KB)
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Can I purchase a Novec 1230 fluid fire suppression system from 3M?
No. 3M manufactures Novec 1230 fire suppression system but the actual sales and installations of the systems are through our OEM partners and their global distribution networks. Novec 1230 fluid is a recognized component of a listed or approved system, e.g. UL and Factory Mutual.
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How do I purchase a fire suppression system using 3M Novec 1230 fluid?
3M produces Novec 1230 fluid and sells it to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). Our OEM partners have third party approvals (such as UL and/or FM) for the fire suppression system, including both hardware and software. Systems can be customized to match the needs of the area being protected. Contact a system manufacturer.
Click here for our full list of approved system manufacturers.
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How do I specify Novec 1230 fluid for my fire suppression system?
When designing a new system, it’s important that you specify an agent that’s clean, sustainable and reliable. In fire suppression, there are no “equals”. To ensure clean, specifications should exclude dry chemicals and water mist. To ensure sustainability, specifications should exclude HFCs, including FM-200® and ECARO-25®. To ensure quality, reliability and safety, specify 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid and not generic descriptions of this agent.
Download this template (DOC, 85 KB) for help in specifying 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid in a total flooding fire protection system.
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Where is 3M Novec 1230 fluid typically installed?
Systems are installed to protect critical operations and high value assets such as data centers, computer rooms, control rooms, museums, archives or any other location where the use of water to control a fire would damage the asset being protected and critical operations.
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How is 3M Novec 1230 fluid applied to a fire?
Upon activation from an automatic fire detection system, Novec 1230 fluid is released into the room and puts out the fire.
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Is there a requirement to have a dedicated ventilation system to remove Novec 1230 fluid after a discharge?
An active mechanical process that is designed to remove Novec 1230 fluid/gas from the protected space is not required by the industry standard, NFPA 2001. That said, the designer of a system using Novec 1230 fluid may consider use of such a ventilation system on a case-by-case basis if conditions warrant, similar to what has been done in the past with halon.
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Is 3M Novec 1230 fluid a liquid or a gas?
Actually, it is both. Novec 1230 fluid is produced and stored as a liquid. However, upon discharge from a properly designed spray nozzle, it floods the protected space as a gas. This fire suppressant evapourates 50 times faster than water, so the energy of the discharge is more than sufficient to convert it to a gas. The gas extinguishes the fire and prevents re-ignition of the potential fire incident. (Note: the term “fluid” can be used to describe either a liquid or a gas.)
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What is the shelf life of 3M Novec 1230 fire suppression system?
Novec 1230 fire suppression system has at least a 30 year shelf life in an installed system when purchased from one of our authorised manufacturers. This means the effectiveness of the fluid in a listed and approved system will not diminish during that time span.
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Does the noise from a system discharging Novec 1230 fluid cause damage to hard disc drives?
Damage to hard disc drives has not been observed as a result of a discharge of a system using Novec 1230 fluid.
For inert gas systems, noise at specific decibel levels and frequencies has been tied to HDD damage. Volume, tone and duration of the noise are all important factors. The duration of discharge for inert gas systems is up to 12 times longer than halocarbon systems, such as those that use Novec 1230 fluid. Efforts are now underway to design inert gas systems to minimize noise at the nozzle.
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What are the advantages of using 3M Novec 1230 fluid compared to inert gas?
Owners of inert gas systems have become keenly aware of the hidden costs of installing, housing, maintaining and recharging inert gas systems.
On a volume basis, inert gas systems must deliver more agent into a room to displace as much as 40% of the air in a protected space — compared to approximately 5% with a system using 3M Novec 1230 fluid. This translates into many more cylinders of inert gas required to protect a given space. In addition, the cylinders store gas at much higher pressures.
Both the greater number of cylinders and the high pressures at which these systems operate represent additional expenses, or “extra” installation costs that may not be readily apparent in the initial bid. For example, the added construction costs associated with over-pressurization may not be included in the cost of system installation, but are necessary expenses associated with installation. In addition, the larger amount of space required for the higher quantity of inert gas cylinders translates to higher real estate or space costs.
The high pressure at which inert gas systems operate also requires more frequent and rigorous maintenance to ensure that it can withstand the high discharge pressures. At regular intervals, maintenance teams validate system pressure and the integrity of the hoses, pressure vents, and cylinders.
Learn more about how 3M Novec 1230 fluid compares to inert gas
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Can I air ship Novec 1230 fluid in bulk?
Yes. Unlike other clean agents, Novec 1230 fire suppression system is stored as a liquid in unpressurized containers and can be shipped in bulk quantities by air.
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How does 3M Novec 1230 fluid extinguish a fire?
Novec 1230 fluid stops the combustion process by absorbing heat. As part of an advanced fire suppression system, it quickly extinguishes the fire. Unlike CO2 and inert gases, Novec 1230 fluid does not extinguish a fire by displacing the oxygen in an enclosure.
Safety FAQs
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Is Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid safe for human occupancy?
Yes. 3M Novec 1230 fire protection fluid currently provides the largest margin of safety of any clean agent and is approved for use in occupied spaces by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In its approval of 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, the EPA noted that the fluid “provides an improvement over use of halon 1301, hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) in fire protection. …. because it reduces overall risk to public health and the environment…”
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When designing a fire suppression system using 3M Novec 1230 fluid, how are agent concentrations maintained after discharge?
Systems using Novec 1230 fluid are designed to flood a space with the gas to a design concentration. This design concentration is maintained by ensuring that the space has integrity (no leaks or minimal leaks) to maintain the required concentration for the required hold time, usually 10 minutes as a minimum. According to the 2015 edition of NFPA 2001, paragraph 5.6, “A minimum concentration of 85 percent of the adjusted minimum design concentration shall be held at the highest height of protected content within the hazard for a period of 10 minutes or for a time period sufficient to allow for response by trained personnel.” This requirement also exists in other, similar standards.
Sustainability FAQs
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Why should I choose 3M Novec 1230 fluid rather than HFC fire suppression systems?
As of October 2016, HFCs like Chemours’ FM-200® (HFC-227ea) and FE-25™ (HFC-125), as well as Fike’s ECARO-25® (HFC-125), are scheduled for global production phasedown under the Montreal Protocol. FM-200® and other hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are following the path of halon. Although these HFCs are clean agents that do not deplete the ozone layer, they are potent greenhouse gases — more than 3000 times more potent than CO2. The European Union’s HFC phasedown started in 2015 under the F-Gas regulations and the HFC phasedown in the United States and other developed countries begins in 2019 under the Montreal Protocol.
Because fire extinguishing systems are often intended to last for 30 years or more, FM-200® and other HFCs have become unsustainable clean agents. Novec 1230 fluid provides the fire protection industry with an agent that will stand the test of time based on its safety, performance and environmental properties. Novec 1230 fluid has no ozone depletion potential and a climate impact less than CO2 and it’s not targeted for phasedown or phase-out.
Learn more about how 3M™ Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid stacks up against the competition
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How can I stay up to date on environmental regulations impacting the fire suppression industry?
Visit 3M.com/NovecHotTopics to access our insights on the latest developments from around the world. Written by the makers of 3M Novec products to enhance the knowledge and insight of experts like you, this is the place to learn about the forces shaping your business and get the help you need to make informed choices about your fire protection, cleaning or other industrial applications.
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Can 3M guarantee that Novec 1230 fluid will not be subject to environmental restrictions in the future?
While no one can accurately predict what the future will bring, 3M is so confident that Novec 1230 fluid will not be affected by any environmental mandates that it offers the 3M™ Blue Sky℠ Warranty.
Read the Blue Sky Warranty flyer (PDF, 248 KB) for more information.
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What is the 3M™ Blue Sky℠ Warranty?
The 3M™ Blue Sky℠ Warranty states, for a period of 20 years after original installation and subject to noted requirements, that 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid, installed in an approved fire suppression system, will not be restricted for use in fire protection due to its Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) or Global Warming Potential (GWP) and is not targeted for phasedown by the Montreal Protocol, nor subject to the European F-Gas Regulations targeting the phasedown of production and import of HFCs into Europe; and will not be affected by U.S. EPA SNAP regulations which would render it either unacceptable or acceptable subject to narrow use limits.
Read the 3M Blue Sky Warranty (PDF, 223 KB) complete terms and conditions.
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How much will it cost to receive this reassurance?
There is no cost for this warranty and it is in effect for 20 years after installation.To apply, an end user who purchased a newly installed system simply registers it on the 3M Novec website within 30 days of system installation.
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Why is 3M Novec 1230 fluid considered a “third” generation fire suppression clean agent?
The halon family of fire protection products was widely utilized as the first of the new clean agents. These products were popular because they would extinguish a fire without damaging the contents of the space being protected, such as the early computer server rooms. However, in 1987, halons were regulated by the Montreal Protocol because they contributed to the depletion of the ozone layer. In response to the mandates of the Montreal Protocol, manufacturers developed replacement products for halons known as HFCs including FM-200®, the second generation of clean agents. While none of these products contributed to ozone depletion, they do have other environmental concerns such as high global warming potential (GWP) and the resulting regulatory consequences addressed above.
Novec 1230 fluid is a third generation clean agent because it was developed to provide high performance and a large margin of safety without harming the environment.
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Water is sustainable too. Why would Novec 1230 fluid be used rather than water mist?
Water mist is still water. It is wet and messy, electrically conductive and can require costly clean-up. It can destroy the critical assets that keep businesses running. Because water mist is not a clean agent, it is not covered by NFPA 2001. Instead, it is covered by another standard: NFPA 750 which notes, “The standard does not provide definitive fire performance criteria, nor does it offer specific guidance on how to design a system to control, suppress, or extinguish a fire.”
FM Global’s Data Sheet 5-32 states:“When it is essential to reduce equipment damage from an incipient fire to minimum possible levels, or to facilitate the return to service, provide an FM Approved clean agent fire extinguishing system with detection to protect the data equipment within the data processing equipment room. This is to supplement the automatic sprinkler or water mist system protecting the facility or raised floor.”
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Where can I learn more about Novec 1230 fluid?
The quickest way to find accurate and informative material regarding Novec 1230 fluid is on our Fire Suppression - Novec 1230 Fluid webpage.
Find your fire suppression solution today
Fire suppression systems using Novec 1230 fluid help protect what matters to your business. Our approved system manufacturers can create total flooding, specialty and streaming systems tailored to your project’s needs, from data centers to museum archives, medical centers, power generation and more.
Explore your options, or contact us with your questions about fire suppression systems, regulations or Novec 1230 fluid and our expert team will be happy to assist you.
Important Notice
Regulatory: For regulatory information about this product, contact your 3M representative.
Technical Information: The technical information, recommendations and other statements contained in this document are based upon tests or experience that 3M believes are reliable, but the accuracy or completeness of such information is not guaranteed.
Product Use: Many factors beyond 3M’s control and uniquely within user’s control can affect the use and performance of a 3M product in a particular application. Given the variety of factors that can affect the use and performance of a 3M product, user is solely responsible for evaluating the 3M product and determining whether it is fit for a particular purpose and suitable for user’s method of application.
Warranty, Limited Remedy, and Disclaimer: Unless an additional warranty is specifically stated on the applicable 3M product packaging or product literature, 3M warrants that each 3M product meets the applicable 3M product specification at the time 3M ships the product. 3M MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR ANY IMPLIED WARRANTY OR CONDITION ARISING OUT OF A COURSE OF DEALING, CUSTOM OR USAGE OR TRADE. If the 3M product does not conform to this warranty, then the sole and exclusive remedy is, at 3M’s option, replacement of the 3M product or refund of the purchase price.
Limitation of Liability: Except where prohibited by law, 3M will not be liable for any loss or damage arising from the 3M product, whether direct, indirect, special, incidental or consequential, regardless of the legal theory asserted, including warranty, contract, negligence or strict liability.
3M and Novec are Trademarks of 3M. Blue Sky is a service mark of 3M. Used under license by 3M subsidiaries and affiliates. FM-200 is a trademark of The Chemours Company. ECARO is a registered mark of Fike Corporation. All other trademarks are properties of their respective owners.
