CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
(OP)
Our client is requiring each "switchgear cubicle and MCC cabinet" to have automatic CO2 fire suppression. That means a detector and a discharge nozzle in each "cubicle".
Has anyone ever seen 15 kV or 600V switchgear or MCC's with CO2 protection? Not an electrical room with a Halon or CO2 flood system, but CO2 piped to each switchgear section.
My initial reaction is that all of the CO2 piping and detector wiring will cause more problems than the CO2 cures. (I have repaired switchgear faults caused by fire detection equipment.)
I believe this is from an insurance company's misinterpretation of NFPA 850 7.8.1.3
Has anyone ever seen 15 kV or 600V switchgear or MCC's with CO2 protection? Not an electrical room with a Halon or CO2 flood system, but CO2 piped to each switchgear section.
My initial reaction is that all of the CO2 piping and detector wiring will cause more problems than the CO2 cures. (I have repaired switchgear faults caused by fire detection equipment.)
I believe this is from an insurance company's misinterpretation of NFPA 850 7.8.1.3






RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
Never heard of suppression within switchgear. Sounds like a bad idea to me. I'm not sure you could even make the enclosures sufficiently airtight for gaseous suppression to be effective.
NFPA850
5-8.1.3
A preaction sprinkler system for the computer or telecommunications rooms should be considered during the fire risk evaluation. In addition, total flooding gaseous fire extinguishing systems should be considered for areas beneath raised floors that contain cables or for areas or enclosures containing equipment that is of high value or is critical to power generation. Individual equipment and cabinet protection could be considered in lieu of total flooding systems.
5-8.4 Switchgear and Relay Rooms.
Switchgear rooms and relay rooms should be provided with smoke detection systems.
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
The enclosure door decapitating the unwitting service man due to 800Cuft of high pressure gas being instantly dumped into a 4 cubic foot box...
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
I have not seen a CO2 system inside electrical equipment. I would think they would want an FM200(?) system (or whatever the successor to Halon is)
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
The one thing to keep in mind with CO2 is that it is quite lethal when concentrated enough to be effective at fire suppression.
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
Release of FM-200 into a switchgear room should be sufficient to quench any 'normal' types of fire incidents. I would certainly recommend discussing this with the switchgear manufacturer's first. And possibly get the client to participate in these discussions if it is his wish to introduce this feature. I would also make sure you recieve clear written direction if he insists on proceeding with this.
Best of Luck,
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
I appreciate the help.
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
Again, best of luck with your project.
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
Most switchgear designed for the ANSI marketplace is not seal tight. Fire detector and discharge nozzle in each cubicle may not be effective and doubtful that survives the high temperature and violent sudden expansion of gases as shown in the picture below.
http://cuky2000.250free.com/SWGR_SC_Test_1.gif
If you have to include additional protection, consider an approved arc detector sensors In lieu of fire sensor and nozzle inside the switchgear cubicle. For details see the enclose links. htt
http://www
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
I reduce the size of the file to less than 250 kB. This is the price to pay when using free storage sites.
I am hopping you like the colorful sparks in the swgr.
Best regards/Cuky2000
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?
The major drawback for Carbon Dioxide is the dangerous in areas occupied by personnel, if applied in concentrations of 34% or greater.
RE: CO2 Fire Supression Inside Switchgear & MCC?