June 20, 2011 PARTIES INTERESTED IN FIXED CONDENSED AEROSOL FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS

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1 June 20, 2011 TO: PARTIES INTERESTED IN FIXED CONDENSED AEROSOL FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS SUBJECT: New Acceptance Criteria for Fixed Condensed Aerosol Fireextinguishing Systems, Subject AC R1 (MO/KS). Dear Colleague: We are enclosing the new ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Fixed Condensed Aerosol Fire-extinguishing Systems (AC432), which was approved by the Evaluation Committee during the June hearings. The committee made the following revisions to the document that the ICC-ES staff presented: 1. Changed the word unoccupied to unoccupiable, as used in NFPA Changed UL 2775 to UL Subject 2775 throughout the criteria. 3. Revised Section to remove examples of unoccupiable spaces, since these are defined in NFPA Revised Section to remove the word calculations, since design is covered in Section 5.2 of the criteria and allows use of a proprietary computer-aided design program. The criteria covers proprietary aerosol fire-extinguishing systems. The systems are evaluated as alternatives to Halon fire-extinguishing systems specified in the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC) and are used in normally unoccupiable spaces as a total flooding fire suppression system for Class A (surface), Class B and Class C fires. Unoccupiable is defined in NFPA 2010 as an area or space that cannot be occupied due to dimensional or other physical constraints. Aerosol fire-extinguishing systems are evaluated for compliance with UL Subject 2775 and the NFPA 2010 Standard. Applicable IFC code sections are noted in Section 1.1, and applicable NFPA and UL standards are referenced in Section 1.3 of the criteria. The basic information (product description, instructions, identification, sampling) is noted in Section 2.0. The product analysis, test method, construction and performance requirements are noted in Section 3.0. Evaluation

2 AC R1 2 report recognition requirements are noted in Section 5.0 and include basic information as required by Section 2.0; the need for a design manual; and conditions of use, including compliance with NFPA 72 and NFPA 70. Thank you for your interest. If you have any questions, please contact Michael O Reardon, Regional Manager, at (800) , extension 5685, or by mo reardon@iccc-es.org. Yours very truly, GGN/raf Enclosure cc: Evaluation Committee Gary G. Nichols, P.E., SECB Vice President

3 (800) (562) A Subsidiary of the International Code Council ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR FIXED CONDENSED AEROSOL FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS AC432 Approved June 2011 PREFACE Evaluation reports issued by ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), are based upon performance features of the International family of codes. (Some reports may also reference older code families such as the BOCA National Codes, the Standard Codes, and the Uniform Codes.) Section of the International Building Code reads as follows: The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any materials or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed design is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code, and that the material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, at least the equivalent of that prescribed in this code in quality, strength, effectiveness, fire resistance, durability and safety. This acceptance criteria has been issued to provide interested parties with guidelines for demonstrating compliance with performance features of the codes referenced in the criteria. The criteria was developed through a transparent process involving public hearings of the ICC-ES Evaluation Committee, and/or on-line postings where public comment was solicited. New acceptance criteria will only have an approved date, which is the date the document was approved by the Evaluation Committee. When existing acceptance criteria are revised, the Evaluation Committee will decide whether the revised document should carry only an approved date, or an approved date combined with a compliance date. The compliance date is the date by which relevant evaluation reports must comply with the requirements of the criteria. See the ICC-ES web site for more information on compliance dates. If this criteria is a revised edition, a solid vertical line ( ) in the margin within the criteria indicates a technical change from the previous edition. A deletion indicator ( ) is provided in the margin where wording has been deleted if the deletion involved a technical change. ICC-ES may consider alternate criteria for report approval, provided the report applicant submits data demonstrating that the alternate criteria are at least equivalent to the criteria set forth in this document, and otherwise demonstrate compliance with the performance features of the codes. ICC-ES retains the right to refuse to issue or renew any evaluation report, if the applicable product, material, or method of construction is such that either unusual care with its installation or use must be exercised for satisfactory performance, or if malfunctioning is apt to cause injury or unreasonable damage. NOTE: The Preface for ICC-ES acceptance criteria was revised in July 2011 to reflect changes in policy. Acceptance criteria are developed for use solely by ICC-ES for purposes of issuing ICC-ES evaluation reports Copyright 2011

4 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR FIXED CONDENSED AEROSOL FIRE- EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS (AC432) 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Purpose: The purpose of this acceptance criteria is to establish requirements for fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems to be recognized in an ICC Evaluation Service, LLC (ICC-ES), evaluation report under the 2009 International Fire Code (IFC). The basis of recognition is IFC Section (Alternative Materials and Methods). Applicable code elements are Chapter 9 (Fire Protection Systems), Table (Fire Protection System Maintenance Standards), and Sections 904 (Alternative Automatic Fire-Extinguishing Systems), (General), (Where Required), (Installation), (Inspection and Testing) and (Halon Systems). The reason for the development of this criteria is to document the requirements for evaluation of proprietary fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems, since the IFC and associated reference standards do not specify installation, test methods, inspection, maintenance and quality requirements for these types of systems. 1.2 Scope: Fixed condensed aerosol fireextinguishing systems are used in normally unoccupiable spaces as a total flooding fire suppression system for Class A (surface), Class B and Class C fires, to protect specific materials (especially hazardous materials) housed in fixed enclosures. The systems are considered alternatives to the Halon fire-extinguishing systems specified in Section of the IFC. 1.3 Codes and Referenced Standards: International Fire Code (IFC), International Code Council NFPA 12A-04, Standard on Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing Systems, National Fire Protection Association NFPA 70-08, National Electrical Code, National Fire Protection Association NFPA 72-07, National Fire Alarm Code, National Fire Protection Association NFPA , Standard for Fixed Aerosol Fire-Extinguishing Systems, National Fire Protection Association UL , Standard for Halogenated Agent Extinguishing System Units, Underwriters Laboratories Inc UL Subject , Outline of Investigation for Fixed Condensed Aerosol Extinguishing System Units, Underwriters Laboratories Inc. 1.4 Definitions: Fixed Condensed Aerosol Fireextinguishing Systems: The fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems are total flooding systems that consist of a condensed aerosol generator and an actuating mechanism. The systems comply with UL Subject 2775 and NFPA The systems do not require a piping distribution system. The generator stores the solid aerosol forming compound and discharges the fireextinguishing agent at the nozzle. The systems are listed for the intended application Halon Fire-extinguishing Systems: Halogenated agent fire suppression systems are total flooding systems that use a piping and nozzle distribution network and comply with UL 1058 and NFPA 12A. The systems are listed for the intended application Total Flooding: Total flooding consists of discharging the extinguishing agent in a fixed enclosure around the materials to be protected by the fireextinguishing system. Total flooding is limited to unoccupiable spaces Class A, B and C Fires: Classification of fires is defined in NFPA Normally Unoccupiable: Defined in NFPA BASIC INFORMATION 2.1 General: The following information shall be submitted: Product Description: Complete information pertaining to the components, generator, mounting brackets, actuating mechanisms and other accessory equipment; along with material specifications and manufacturing processes Instructions: Design, installation, operation and maintenance instructions complying with Section 65 of UL Subject Installation instructions shall include details and drawings, noting installation configurations, requirements and limitations Packaging and Identification: A description of the method of packaging and field identification of the fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system. Identification provisions shall include the evaluation report number and the name and listing mark of the inspection agency Field Preparation: A description of field testing, maintenance, and inspection of the system Listing: Evidence of the listing of the system by an agency accredited to test in accordance with UL Subject Testing Laboratories: Testing laboratories shall comply with Section 2.0 of the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Test Reports (AC85) and Section 4.2 of the ICC-ES Rules of Procedure for Evaluation Reports. 2.3 Test Reports: Test reports shall comply with AC Product Sampling: Sampling of the aerosol fireextinguishing system for tests under this criteria shall comply with Section 3.1 of AC ANALYSIS, TEST METHOD, CONSTRUCTION AND PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS 3.1 Analysis: Substantiating data shall be provided verifying that the fixed condensed aerosol fireextinguishing system, for which recognition is sought, is an alternative to code-complying fire-extinguishing systems such as the Halon fire-extinguishing systems specified in the IFC. This could be accomplished by submitting an analysis comparing the requirements of UL Subject 2775 applicable to UL 1058 and submitting test data in 2

5 ACCEPTANCE CRITERIA FOR FIXED ONDENSED AEROSOL FIRE-EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS (AC432) accordance with Section 3.2 of this criteria. The analysis shall be prepared by an independent third party, either a laboratory accredited to test in accordance with UL Subject 2775 and UL 1058 or a fire protection engineer/scientist. The analysis must conclude that, for the same intended application, the performance of the fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system is equivalent to the performance of a Halon fire-extinguishing system. 3.2 Test Method: Testing in accordance with UL Subject 2775 shall be submitted. Conditions of Acceptance: The conditions of acceptance shall be in accordance with UL Subject Construction: Evidence that construction of the system meets the construction requirements of UL Subject 2775, Sections 6 through QUALITY CONTROL 4.1 The systems and associated components shall be manufactured under an approved quality control program with inspections by an inspection agency accredited by the International Accreditation Service (IAS) or otherwise acceptable to ICC-ES. 4.2 Quality documentation complying with the ICC-ES Acceptance Criteria for Quality Documentation (AC10) shall be submitted. 5.0 EVALUATION REPORT RECOGNITION The following information shall be included in the evaluation report: 5.1 Information described in Section A design manual for the fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing system, prepared by a registered design professional, shall be submitted. A section referred to as Design shall be included in the evaluation report as follows: Design: The [product or system trade name] fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems must be designed by trained, certified, and authorized distributors using design calculations and methods described in the design manual. The design manual must use data on dimensions, areas of leakage and location of uncloseable openings, along with fire class and other factors, to arrive at system-specific requirements. If the design calculations are performed using a proprietary computer-aided design program, a sample report for the program must be submitted for evaluation to compare with the calculations and methods described in the design manual. The calculated minimum extinguishing agent quantity shall be the same or higher than that noted in the manual. 5.3 The evaluation report shall include the following conditions of use: Fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems must be installed, inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with Section 904 of the IFC, and NFPA Fire detection systems for fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems must be designed, installed, tested and maintained in accordance with the applicable requirements of NFPA 70 and NFPA Fixed condensed aerosol fire-extinguishing systems are limited to suppression of Class A (surface), Class B and Class C fires in normally unoccupiable spaces as limited in accordance with NFPA Testing to the satisfaction of the code official is required for suppression of specific materials listed in NFPA A design and drawings showing compliance with this report must be submitted to the code official. The design must be prepared by a registered design professional where required by the statutes of the jurisdiction in which the project is to be constructed. 3