Novec 1230 (3M™ Novec™ 1230) fluid is an environmentally friendly Halon replacement for use as a gaseous fire suppression agent. Novec 1230 is manufactured by 3M. It is generally used in situations where water from a fire sprinkler would damage expensive equipment or where water-based fire protection is impractical, such as museums, banks, clean rooms and hospitals . 3M™ Novec™ 1230 fluid does not deplete ozone (ODP 0) and has an atmospheric lifetime of 5 days and a GWP of 1.

The product is ideal for use in total flooding applications, localized flooding systems, directional spray type applications and may be used in portable extinguishers for specialized applications. But in addition to the conventional methods of super-pressurization using nitrogen, Novec 1230 fluid also lends itself for use in pump applications because it is a liquid.

Novec 1230 fluid is based on a proprietary chemistry from 3M called C6-fluoroketone; it is also known as dodecafluoro 2-methylpentane-3-one; its ASHRAE nomenclature is FK 5-1-12 — the way it is designated in NFPA 2001 and ISO 14520 clean agent standards.

 

Extinguishing via its cooling effect, Novec 1230 fluid works as a gas, yet it is a liquid at room temperature. Because it is not stored or shipped from the factory in pressurized cylinders, Novec 1230 fluid is easy to handle and charge. Novec 1230 fluid systems allow for more efficient use of space, requiring about the same number of cylinders as conventional halocarbon agents.

Novec 1230 fluid can effectively be applied in streaming, flooding, inerting and explosion suppression applications in the following areas