Guideline

FirePro
Leakage Compensation

Issue February 2017

 FirePro Leakage Compensation
Guidelines

As per ISO 15779:2011 there is no available method to calculate the hold time of
condensed aerosol in an enclosure (other than an actual release which is not practical).
The standard mentions that the manufacturer of a condensed aerosol system can
provide technical guidance based on empirical tests in order to define the maximum
leakage area to volume (of the enclosure) ratio and validate that the minimum hold time is
ensured. The protocol of these tests is described in Annex D.7 of ISO15779:2011.

After conducting a series of tests according to this protocol with KIWA, FirePro
has obtained a Declaration of Conformity based on the test requirements of
ISO15779:2011. The declaration mentions that 0.17% is the maximum leakage area to
volume ratio for ensuring the 10-minutes minimum hold time (as required by ISO, NFPA
& CEN standards). Three consecutive tests (as required by ISO15779:2011) were
successfully completed using the normal extinguishing application density.

Table 1: Extract from KIWA Declaration of Conformity based on the test requirements of ISO15779.

The above table illustrates that an enclosure of 105.4 𝑚3 with a total leakage area of
0.18 𝑚2 , will not need any additional aerosol density to compensate the agent loss in
order to effectively extinguish the fire. Based on this test and on a series of other in-
house tests with different configurations (volumes, leakage areas) we came up with
following Guidelines:

Pos. Leakage Area Additional Time to release Use of dampers

𝟐 density the additional and/or fire curtains
(𝒎 ) to Enclosure
Volume (𝒎𝟑 ) (g/𝒎𝟑 ) density to close the
Ratio openings
1 <0.17% 0% N.A. Not necessary
2 0.171% - 0.474% 30% 4 min after first Not necessary
release
3 0.475% - 1% 50% 2 min after first Not necessary
release
4 >1% N.A. N.A Yes (*)
Table 2: System Design Decisions based on Leakage Area to Volume Ratio

(*) If the use of Fire Curtains and/or Fire Dampers is not feasible, please contact the
manufacturer for a customised system design.

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 1. Calculation tool

The above are incorporated in an excel-based calculation tool which forms part of
this set of guidelines. Below is an example:

EXAMPLE –System Design based on UL application density

➢ Volume of the enclosure to be protected: 180 𝑚3

➢ Leakage Area = 1.5 𝑚2

Figure 1: Snapshot of Calculations

Steps:

1. Calculation of the Maximum Tolerable Leakage Area

➢ Maximum Tolerable Leakage Area = 180 m3 * 1% = 1.8 𝑚2

2. Relation of the Maximum Tolerable Leakage Area to the actual leakage area of
the enclosure
➢ The leakage area of the room (1.5 𝑚2 ) is lower.

3. Calculation of the Leakage Area to Volume Ratio

➢ Leakage Area to Volume Ratio = (1.5 / 180) * 100 = 0.833%

4. System Design
➢ 0.833% lies between 0.475% and 1%, therefore 50% additional density shall
be used with a second release 2 minutes after the first one.

5. Calculation of the Total Design Application Density

𝑔 𝑔
➢ 𝑚(𝑔) = [𝑉(𝑚3 ) ∗ 𝑑𝑎 ( ⁄𝑚3 )] + [𝑉(𝑚3 ) ∗ 𝑑𝑎 ( ⁄𝑚3 ) ∗ 0.5]
𝑔 𝑔
➢ 𝑚(𝑔) = [180(𝑚3 ) ∗ 84 ( ⁄𝑚3 ) ∗ 1.3] + [180(𝑚3 ) ∗ 84 ( ⁄𝑚3 ) ∗ 1.3 ∗ 0.5]
➢ 𝑚(𝑔) = 19656𝑔 + 9828𝑔 = 29484𝑔

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 2. Defining the leakage area - Door fan test

The leakage area of a specific enclosure can either be measured physically or

defined by conducting a “Door Fan Test” as described in Annex E of ISO 14520-1:2006
(please refer to clause 7.7 of ISO15779).

For pressurized fire-extinguishing agents (including dispersed aerosol) the door fan
test is a mandatory requirement as it will define the quantity of the agent that will
escape through the leakage area. However, for condensed aerosols and FirePro which
are not pressurized agents a Door fan test is not mandatory.

Only recently Retrotec (a manufacturer of Door Fan Test Equipment) has added
condensed aerosols to their calculation tool. Retrotec`s FasTestic Integrity software can
be used in cases were it’s not possible to measure physically the total area of the
openings or in cases where the Authority Having Jurisdiction requires so. Below is a
screenshot from the Retrotec Fantestic Integrity Software which can be downloaded
from Retrotec official website.

Figure 2: Screen shoot taken from Retrotec Fantestic Integrity Software

3. Background Information

Particles Settlement

Hold time is the period of time starting from the release of a total flooding fire
extinguishing agent during which the agent remains in suspension, even distribution
and effective concentration so that re-ignition of the fuel(s) is/are prevented. The
required hold time for condensed aerosols as per international standards (ISO 15779,
NFPA 2010 and CEN TR 15276) is ten minutes.

FirePro condensed aerosol consists of a combination of gases and micro-sized

particles in suspension. A FirePro unit will release on average 63% of the weight of the
solid aerosol forming compound with the solid particles being approximately 50% of it.
Therefore, for every 110 grams of solid aerosol-forming compound, approximately 34
grams of solid particles – inorganic potassium salts – will be released.

The settlement rate of these solid particles has been measured in a confined
enclosure (with no leakages) using laser optical density meters. The result was 2 – 3%
per minute. The critical particulate density at which re-ignition of Class B fuels can
occur was identified to be around 5g/m3. Hence with the worst-case settlement rate
of 3% per minute, the aerosol will provide re-ignition protection for more than 25

3
minutes after the aerosol release. This is the maximum “hold time”, consequently the
ten-minute hold time requirement is more than satisfied.

Figure 3: Settlement rate of solid particles in FirePro aerosol.

4. Indicative technical solutions for managing the secondary release

1. System based on Kentec Sigma XT, A-XT and Elite panels

2. System based on Kentec - Sigma XT+ ECU coincidence panel or interfaced with
an Addressable Fire Alarm Panel.

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FIREPRO Fire-Fighting System Design with Openings
2 X 1 mm, Fire Rated, Twisted, Shielded Cable
(1) Extinguishing Panel (7) System Isolation Switch
Zone 1 5 (2) 1st Stage Sounder (8) Sequential Activators
(3) 2nd Stage Sounder (9) Aerosol Generators
(4) Extinguishing Stop Indication (10) Power Off Devices
6 (5) Zone 1, Smoke Detectors (11) Manual Release Button
Zone 2 (6) Zone 2, Heat Detectors (12) Time Delay Relay ON

A.G. 1 A.G. 2 A.G. 10

2 3 4
Zone 3 Multifunction Timer
DPDT

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator 2nd Release
4 X 1 mm, Fire Rated, Twisted, Shielded Cable
7 8
S.A. 1 S.A. 2 S.A. 3 S.A. 20
Manual
Extinguishant Disable
FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ®
Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator

Fault Fault Fault Fault

11
9

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator Generator
1

Stage 1 Alarm: Ventilation System and Air-Conditions are power off

10 Stage 2 Alarm: Emergency power off electronic systems
Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol
E.P.O. System (Emergency Power-Off System), activated Generator Generator Generator Generator
prior the release of the fire extinguishing agent.
1st Release
FirePro System Design – Secondary activation based on Kentec Sigma XT, AXT, Elite panel

5
FIREPRO Fire-Fighting System Design with Openings
Maximum number
of aerosol units in
+ 12V/7Ah
- + 12V/7Ah
- the loop is 10

Battery Battery Multifunction

Timer DPDT
NC1 eA eA eA eA eA
COM1

1.5 KE 15CA 1.5 KE 15CA 1.5 KE 15CA 1.5 KE 15CA 1.5 KE 15CA
NO1
NC2 1N5400
COM2

NO2 6.8K
EOLR
A B
2nd Release

To Sequential Activator
(Aerosol Generators)
Release Pressure
Activation Switch
Remote Manual
Remote Auto/

Low Pressure
Select Switch

Extinguishant

Extinguishant
Remote Hold Manual
S.A. 1 S.A. 2 S.A. 3 S.A. 20
Extinguishant
Manual

1st Stage 2nd Stage Switch

Switch

Switch
Disable FirePro
Sequential ® FirePro
Sequential ® FirePro
Sequential ® FirePro
Sequential ®
Activator Activator Activator Activator
Fault Fault
Sounders Sounders Fault Fault

Extract Fan
Releasing
Detectors

10K 10K 10K

Power
Shut Down Power

470R

470R

470R

470R

470R
Conditioning
6K8
6K8

Stop Air

Remote
Control
Inputs To Status S S
Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol
6K8

6K8

6K8

6K8

6K8

Units Auxiliary Signaling Relays

S S Generator Generator Generator Generator

S S

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator Generator
+ E - + ROV SIL AL FLT RST + - + - + - + - + - + - + - + - NC C NO NC C NO + - + - + - + - + - + - NC C NC C NO NC C NO NC C NO
AUX 24V REMOTE DATA POWER S1 S2 ZONE1 ZONE2 ZONE3 2ND 1ST 2ST MODE MAN HOLD REL. EXTING. LOW. EXTRACT FAULT LOCAL FIRE

1st Release
CONTROL STATUS UNITS SOUNDER STAGE STAGE SELECT RELEASE PRESS PRES. RELAY FIRE RELAY
SWITCH SWITCH

FIRE PRO Sigma XT PCB

FirePro System Design – Secondary activation based on Kentec Sigma XT, AXT, Elite panel

6
Notes:
1. The Multifunction Timer should be programmed to be activated (in Xn
minutes after the first release), according to the leakage calculations.

2. The LOCAL FIRE relay of the Sigma Series panels (-XT or -AXT or -Elite)
should be programmed to operate only when the aerosol is released.

3. This can be achieved by programming the address C2A.

4. For the 2nd release loop, it is necessary that all FirePro units are connected
in series.

A bidirectional diode should to be installed In parallel to each FirePro unit.

Model: 1.5KE 15CA ( )

5. A diode should be installed in parallel to the EOL resistance (end of line

resistance) to protect the circuit and the termination unit.

Model: 1N5400 ( )

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FIREPRO Multiple Configuration Fire-Fighting System
Design with Openings
Pre-Alarm
More Events

General
Disablement
Xn Yn
Fire
Rooting ON

On Test

Sounder
Buzzer Silence Fault/Disable 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Fire Rooting
Delay Active
Fault/Disable
Exit Enter

Silence Evacuate Function

Buzzer More Fires More Events

Addressable Addressable Addressable Addressable

I/O I/O I/O I/O
FirePro® Module Module Module Module

Addressable Fire Alarm Panel Addressable Fire Alarm Panel

Fire Extinguishing modules

S.A. 1 S.A. 2 S.A. 3 S.A. 20
Manual
Extinguishant Disable
FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ®
Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator

Fault Fault Fault Fault

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator Generator

Kentec - Sigma XT+

ECU coincidence
1st Release
Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol
Generator Generator Generator Generator

S.A. 1 S.A. 2 S.A. 3 S.A. 20

Manual
Extinguishant Disable
FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ® FirePro ®

Kentec - Sigma XT+

Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator Sequential Activator

Fault Fault Fault Fault

ECU coincidence

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator Generator

Aerosol Aerosol Aerosol 2nd Release Aerosol

Generator Generator Generator Generator

FirePro System Design – Secondary activation based on Kentec Sigma XT+ ECU Coincidence unit
8
Note: To manage the 2nd release:

Step 1:
Set extinguishing output mode, to "Common".
Section 14.2 “Extinguishant output mode” of the manual.

Step 2:
According to the leakage calculations, set extinguishing output 2 to have a further delay
2 or 4 minutes accordingly.
Extinguishing output 2 delay timer will start when extinguishing output 1 is asserted.
Section 14.8 “Output 2 delay” of the manual.

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FirePro Systems
6 Koumandarias Street, PO Box 54080, CY-3720 Limassol, Cyprus - EU
Tel.: +357 25 379999 | Fax: +357 25 354432 | Email: mail@firepro.com
www.firepro.com