2022-3_Pages_51-57

https://doi.org/10.37657/vniipo.pb.2022.65.82.005

METHODS FOR DETERMINING THE MINIMUM EXTINGUISHING CONCENTRATIONS OF GAS EXTINGUISHING AGENTS IN INTERSTATE STANDARD OF GAS FIRE EXTINGUISHING AGENTS

Vladimir G. Kulakov¹, Alexander Е. Meshalkin¹, Denis V. Poltavets¹, Svetlana Yu. Khatuntseva¹

¹All-Russian Research Institute for Fire Protection (VNIIPO), the Ministry of the Russian Federation for Civil Defence, Emergencies and Elimination of Consequences of Natural Disasters (EMERCOM of Russia). Balashikha, Moscow region, Russia

Abstract. The methods for determining the minimum extinguishing concentration (MEC) of gas extinguishing agents (GEA) in the Interstate Standard “Gas extinguishing agents. General technical requirements. Test methods”. The methods for determining the MEC are developed on the basis of the State standard GOST R 53280.3–2009 “Automatic fire extinguishing installations. Fire extinguishing agents. Part 3. Gas extinguishing agents. Test methods” taking into account the requirements of foreign standards ISO 14520 and NFPA 2001.

There are given clarifications on the application of test methods for various groups of GEA in different aggregate states (gas, liquid). The “cup burner” method is used for GEA under normal conditions in a gaseous state – the extinguishing time should be not more than (10 ± 2) s. For the “determination of the volumetric minimum extinguishing concentration” method for GEA in a liquid state under normal conditions using burners with screens that perform the role of closed (shaded) zones and prevent the impact of GEA jets flowing out from the nozzle – the extinguishing time is not more than 60 s. The combustible liquid n-heptane is used as a model fuel which complies with international standards.

The formulae for calculating the MEC obtained experimentally by various methods are given. According to the international norms of ISO 14520 the volume of fire chamber is accepted at least 100 m³. That volume of fire chamber is due to the fact that in smaller volume the volumetric method of extinguishing is not fully implemented but local extinguishing of separate seats of fire occurs under the influence of jets of extinguishing agent. The use of MEC determination methods in the interstate standard will allow unifying the test methods of GEA in the EAEU countries and harmonizing them with the requirements of international standards.

Keywords: gas extinguishing agents, GEA, GEA test methods, “cup burner” method, “fire chamber” method, minimum extinguishing concentration, interstate standard

For citation: Kulakov V.G., Meshalkin A.Е., Poltavets D.V., Khatuntseva S.Yu. Methods for determining the minimum extinguishing concentrations of gas extinguishing agents in interstate standard of gas fire extinguishing agents. Pozharnaya Bezopasnost‘ – Fire Safety, 2022, no. 3 (108), pp. 51–57. (In Russ.). https://doi.org/ 10.37657/vniipo.pb.2022.65.82.005.

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Information about the authors

 V.G. Kulakov – Leading Researcher, Candidate of Technical Sciences, vniipo22@vniipo.ru;

A.E. Meshalkin – Senior Researcher, meshalkin.mchs@gmail.com;

D.V. Poltavets – Senior Researcher, vniipo22@vniipo.ru;

S.Yu. Khatuntseva – Senior Researcher, lu2986@yandex.ru.

The article was submitted 04.04.2022; approved after reviewing 25.04.2022; accepted for publication 01.08.2022.