CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

Industrial fire suppression systems

Kidde engineers developed carbon dioxide fire extinguishing over 80 years

ago and Kidde have been responsible for every major improvement that has
been made in this branch of fire protection. Kidde Fire Protection benefits
from the accumulated experience of thousands of installations in power
plants, industrial plants, oil refineries, electronic processes, on ships and in a
wide variety of hazardous areas.

CO2 is versatile first few seconds of a fire that can

The CO2 is stored as liquid, under make the difference between a
pressure. When a system is activated, nuisance and a disaster.
the liquid CO2 flows through discharge
pipework to specially designed CO2 is clean
nozzles. The agent’s low boiling point CO2 is a colourless, odourless, dry, inert
means that the liquid vaporises rapidly gas and is one of the most familiar of
during the discharge, providing a all gases. After extinguishing a fire it
penetrative three-dimensional action. vapourises fully leaving no residue.
The rapid expansion of the gaseous There is no mess, nothing to clear up,
agent allows fires to be targeted even no water damage. It is non-corrosive
in the most inaccessible areas of the and will not contaminate foodstuffs. It
risk. is non-conductive and so can be used
on energised electrical equipment. It
Fire is extinguished by reducing the can be safely used to protect delicate
oxygen level in the risk area to the electronic equipment, antiquities or
point where combustion cannot be archive materials.
sustained. Cooling is a secondary
action of the agent; this feature is CO2 is low cost
used in local applications where the Carbon dioxide is a standard
liquid phase of the discharge is commercial product with many other
applied directly to the fire and risk uses and it is readily available
materials. throughout the world. Because of its
universal use it can be obtained
CO2 is fast and efficient inexpensively and this is an important
The Kidde Fire Protection High consideration when frequent
Pressure CO2 system uses large bore recharging of storage containers is
cylinder valves, enabling high mass necessary as in local application
flow rates to be achieved. The fast systems, where fires may be more
action of the control system and valve frequent.
enables the system to react within the
2 CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

Control head Solenoid for Klem valve Klem valve

with pilot control head with metron with solenoid
cylinder actuator actuation

Discharge Manual pull Pressure Pressure Trip Cylinder contents monitoring option
nozzles box Switch

Benefits System design CO2 is stored in solid drawn steel

• High flow ‘Klem’ cylinder valve Details of both total flooding and cylinders manufactured to European
• Manual or Automatic operation local application systems are contained Standards. The storage pressure varies
• Pilot cylinder or Direct Acting in the Kidde Fire Protection CO2 with ambient temperature and is 58.6
Solenoid operating system Design Manual. bar at 21°C.
• Continuous weight monitoring
option Flexible design Any number of cylinders can be
• Design compliance with BS5306-4 The wide range of components manifolded together and
• Fully compatible with Kidde Fire manufactured by Kidde Fire Protection simultaneously released to provide the
Protection control panels enables systems to be engineered to total design requirement of CO2.
suit individual customer requirements.
Typical applications Systems can be either automatically or Approvals
• Flammable liquid storage areas manually operated and arranged to Major approvals for the Kidde Fire
• Printing presses, flow solder protect single or multi-zone hazards Protection CO2 system include:
machines and with any number of reserve • FM Global
• Quench tanks/exhaust fume ducts discharges. Automatic control can be • Lloyd’s Register
• Paint spray booths achieved mechanically, pneumatically • American Bureau of Shipping
• Fryers/ovens or electrically or by any combination • Det Norske Veritas
• EDP/computer rooms and floor of these to suit site conditions. • UK Maritime and Coastguard
voids* Agency (MCA)
• Commercial kitchens Facilities are available for providing a • Germanischer Lloyd
• Transformers pre-alarm and delayed discharge as
• Generators well as various methods of preventing
automatic release while protected
* CO2 is not the agent of choice for rooms are occupied by personnel.
manned areas. Please contact Kidde Fire
Protection Applications Department for Audible and visual indications of
more information. system control can be provided
together with facilities to
automatically shut fuel valves, fire
doors, dampers and shutters by either
mechanical or electrical devices.
3 CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

Total Flooding Systems Total flood CO2 systems are ideal for Legend
1 CO2 cylinder
Total flooding systems extinguish fires unmanned applications such as
2 Cylinder valve and actuator
by rapidly discharging CO2 into an transformer rooms, remote switch 3 Solenoid
enclosed volume to create an rooms, generators and archives. All 4 Nitrogen pilot cylinder and control head
5 Manual push button
atmosphere that is incapable of systems should be installed with safety
6 Pressure relief device
supporting combustion. systems in place to prevent the 7 Isolating valve
inadvertent release of agent into 8 Discharge pressure switch
9 Pilot bleed
The agent mixes homogeneously in occupied spaces. Kidde Fire Protection
10 Pressure trip
the risk area to generate a CO2 offers time delays, isolating valves 11 Extinguishing Control Panel
concentration by volume of at least including distribution valves and 12 Status indicator unit
13 Status indicator with release control
34%. This concentration of CO2 control head lockout pins to facilitate
14 1st stage alarm sounder
presents a serious hazard to personnel the safe use of CO2. 15 2nd stage alarm sounder
and under no circumstances should 16 Discharge nozzle
17 Fire door
CO2 be released into areas that may be
18 Smoke detector
manned at the time of discharge. 19 Air exhaust duct
20 Self-closing weight operated damper
10 19
Automatic CO2 Extinguishing System
20

18 16 2 6 3 5

17

13

15

Key

CO2 Pipework
14 11 12 17 10 8 7 9 1 4

Electrical Transmission Path

Pilot Circuit
4 CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

Local Application Local application systems are designed Legend

1 CO2 cylinder
This method of system design is used to provide extremely fast discharges to
2 Cylinder valve and actuator
to protect hazards that are open or ‘knock down’ the fire in a matter of 3 Pneumatic actuator
have only partial enclosure, situated seconds. These systems are very 4 Nitrogen pilot cylinder and control head
5 Discharge pressure switch
within a larger area that would be effective and are often installed with
6 Pressure relief device
unsafe or uneconomic to protect using connected reserve banks so that the 7 Isolating valve
a total flood system. Discharge nozzles systems can be reinstated during the 8 Pressure trip
9 Break glass pull box
are placed so as to provide direct same shift as a fire event, while the
10 Discharge nozzle, multi-jet horn
agent flow at the points and areas empty cylinders are recharged. 11 Pneumatic, rate of rise detector
prone to fire. The direct contact of the 12 Flanged, multi-jet nozzle
13 Self-closing weight operated damper
rapidly expanding CO2 provides
efficient cooling and the gas
dramatically reduces the oxygen
concentration in the hazard zone.

Mechanical Automatic, Local Application CO2 Extinguishing System

8 12

13

6 7 5

HOOD

4
10

2
OVEN

1
Key

Pull Cable

Detection Capillary
QUENCH TANK 11 PIT
CO2 Pipework

Pilot Circuit
5 CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

System Information testing. If the test shows that the This protection methodology is well
Total Flooding Systems leakage would reduce the hold time suited to painting, dipping and drying
below that specified for the fire type, type applications.
Surface Fires additional CO2 must be provided.
Fires involving flammable liquids,
gases or solid materials not subject to The release of CO2 into a tightly sealed
Table 1
smouldering are known as surface enclosure could result in damage
Determination of basic CO2 quantity
fires. caused by pressure variations during
discharge. Normally the natural Volume (m3) Factor (kg m-3)
The design concentration of CO2 leakage of an enclosure is adequate to >4 1.15
provided must be maintained for 10 prevent damage but in some cases >4 >14 1.07
minutes. pressure relief venting may be >14 >45 1.01
required. >45 >126 0.90
Basic quantities of CO2 for various >126 >1400 0.80
space volumes may be calculated from System Information >1400 0.74
Table 1. Local Application Systems

The basic quantity of CO2 is factored Volume Method Table 2

according to the risk material. Some The volume method of system design Determination of higher
typical values are shown in Table 2. is used where the fire hazard consists concentrations for specific hazards
of three dimensional irregular objects
Capitalise factor
Deep-Seated Fires that cannot easily be reduced to
Acetylene 2.5
A fire involving a solid material that is equivalent surface area.
Benzene 1.1
subject to smouldering is called a
Butadiene 1.3
deep-seated fire. The total discharge rate of the system
Ethyl Ether 1.5
is based on the volume of an assumed
Ethylene 1.6
Rooms containing these materials enclosure surrounding the hazard. The
Hexane 1.1
should have no openings that cannot basic design rate is 16 kg/min/m3 but
Hydrogen 3.2
be automatically closed, other than this can be reduced according to the
Kerosene 1.0
small openings or pressure vents near degree of existing enclosure on site.
Petrol 1.0
the top of the enclosure.
Note: MCF of 1.0 is equal to a concentration
Area Method
of 34%
Additional quantities of CO2 are The quantity of CO2 required is based
needed and held within the space for upon the total discharge rate from a
not less than 20 minutes. carefully sited nozzle arrangement, a Table 3
sufficient number of nozzles being Concentrations for deep-seated
Recommended design concentrations used to adequately cover the entire hazards (BS5306-4)
for various hazards are shown in area on the basis of the unit area
Table 3. protected by each nozzle. Hazard Flooding Factor
Dry electrical wiring

Integrity and Venting Requirement For this method of design, where a and insulation 1.35kg m-3

Total flood suppression systems rely on horizontal or vertical flat surface is Computer equipment 1.50kg m-3

the enclosure retaining the required protected, nozzles are to be Data processing and

gas concentration for a period of time positioned in accordance with the tape storage 2.25kg m-3

known as the hold time. The ability of guidance of the Kidde Fire Protection Record stores/archives 2.00kg m-3

the hazard enclosure to retain the gas CO2 Design Manual. The position and Dust collectors 2.70kg m-3

for the required hold is usually distance from the hazard has a critical
determined by door fan integrity effect on the quantity of CO2 required.
6 CARBON DIOXIDE CO2

Ordering information for typical pilot cylinder actuated CO2 system (up to 10 off 45kg cylinders)

Description Part No. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl Cyl
45 kg CO2 Cylinder (full) K24069/FM 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
or E7194-001-01
2 Cylinder 1” Manifold K21207 1
3 Cylinder 1” Manifold K21209 1
4 Cylinder 1” Manifold K21211 1
5 Cylinder 1” Manifold K21213 1
Combination of 1” or 1 1/4”
manifolds as required • • • • •
Single Row M/Fold Bt. 1” K24267D 2 2 2 3 • • • • •
Flexible Loop K97112 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Pressure/Lever Actuator K62341 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
2 Cylinder Backrack K17238 2 4 2 4 2 4
3 Cylinder Backrack K17235 2 2 4 2 4 6 4
2 Cylinder Frontstrap K13744 2 2 2 4 2 4
3 Cylinder Frontstrap K13745 2 2 2 2 4 6 4
Single Row Rack Bolt inc nuts K62752 2 4 4 6 8 8 10 12 12
Hose/Pipe Adapter K62755 1
System Control Head K62303 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Solenoid (std) 24V DC K62422B 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pilot Cylinder K62462 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Wall Mount K62487 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pilot Vent (Bleed) K24051 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pilot Loop (Long) K93434 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
Pilot Loop (Short) K93433 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9
Single Cylinder Strap K62943 2

Other equipment to suit

MANIFOLD BRACKET PILOT CO2 LOOP - SHORT PILOT CO2 LOOP - LONG K93434 specific systems
K24267D K93433 • Discharge nozzles
CONTROL HEAD K62303, 24V, DC
TO PROTECTED AREA • Warning labels

SOLENOID K62422 B (metal or self-adhesive)

PILOT CO2 VENT AND N2 CYLINDER K62462 • Pressure switch
K24051
CONTROL HEAD
• Break glass pull box
WALL MOUNT K62487 • Pneumatic time delay unit
1” MANIFOLD
K21209 • Pressure relief devices
c/w CHECK VALVES
• Pressure Operated
FLEXIBLE LOOP K97112
3 CYLINDER (OR ALTERNATIVE COPPER Direction valve
BACK RACK LOOP K21578) • Isolating valve
K17235
• Control and detection
RACKBOLT K62752
equipment
INCLUDING NUTS
AND WASHER • Alarm devices
• Mechanical
3 CYLINDER 45kg CO2 CYLINDERS
FRONT STRAP K24069/FM OR E7194-001-01 detection/actuation
K13745
(As required)
7 E L E C T R I C A L LY A C T U AT E D C O 2 S Y S T E M

Direct-acting CO2 solenoid In the unactivated state, the

Designed for use with standard pneumatic actuator is subject only to
Kidde Fire Protection 45kg CO2 atmospheric pressure and the Klem
cylinders, the direct-acting solenoid valve remains closed. On receipt of an
allows CO2 systems to be actuated electrical signal from an extinguishant
electrically without the need for a release control panel, the solenoid coil
separate pilot nitrogen supply. is activated, releasing high pressure
CO2 from the cylinder. The CO2 passes
The solenoid actuation system uses a through a short flexible hose to the
modified version of the existing pressure/manual actuator, which then
cylinder valve, replacing the nitrogen operates the Klem valve, allowing CO2
pilot cylinder with a solenoid directly to exit via the discharge port. Further
coupled to the CO2 cylinder valve. The CO2 cylinders may be discharged by
system also retains the facility for local interconnecting the pressure/manual
manual release or via a mechanical actuators using flexible pilot hoses
pull cable. (K93433).

Operation Metron actuator with manual lever

The pressure/manual actuator (D8521-002), ideal for single cylinder
(K62341) is fitted to the cylinder electrical operation, is also available.
(Klem) valve, with the solenoid
assembly (D8522-003) attached to the
poppet orifice connection by means of
a swivel nut and O-ring seal. The
solenoid assembly has a flexible hose
connection to the pressure/manual
actuator.
8 E L E C T R I C A L LY A C T U AT E D C O 2 S Y S T E M

Specification Part No. Description Quantity

Voltage range 18V DC to 28V DC E7772-004 45kg CO2 cylinder c/w direct- 1
Current at 28V DC 526 mA acting solenoid valve and full
Minimum firing pulse 60mS assembly, comprises:
Electrical connection DIN plug type DIN 43650 D7226-007 45kg CO2 cylinder assembly c/w 1
Maximum working pressure 152.5 bar (g) Klem valve
Current at 18V DC 338 mA D8522-003 Klem valve solenoid assembly 1
Nominal coil resistance 53.2 Ohm K93433 Bundy tube, flexible loop 1
Maximum firing pulse Unlimited K62341 Actuator, pressure/manual 1
Operating temperature range -20°C to +55°C D7564-001 Bleed assembly 1
Environmental protection BS EN 60529 1991 IP65

BLEED ASSEMBLY D7564-001

(or pilot loop connection to next cylinder)

PRESSURE/MANUAL
ACTUATOR FLEXIBLE LOOP
K62341 K93433

MANUAL LEVER
(SHOWN IN FIRED POSITION) SOLENOID ASSEMBLY
D8522-003

SAFETY PIN MODIFIED

KLEM VALVE
(included in cylinder
assembly)

RETENTION PIN CO2 CYLINDER

AND MODIFIED KLEM
VALVE ASSEMBLY

Kidde Fire Protection operates a continuous programme of product development.

The right is therefore reserved to modify any specification without prior notice.

BS EN ISO9001
FM00215
Kidde Fire Protection
© Kidde Fire Protection
Thame Park Road, Thame, Oxfordshire OX9 3RT
6230/2 03/06 Tel: +44 (0)1844 265003. Fax: +44 (0)1844 265156. E-mail: info@[Link] Web: [Link]
Thank you for reading this data sheet.

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