Introduction. This document is intended to provide additional information with respect to GelTech s family of FireIce and FireIce Shield products and equipment. It does not replace or supersede the respective product Owner s Manuals and the representations and warranties contained therein. FireIce and FireIce Shield Product Families: FireIce & FireIce Shield FireIce refers to the concentrated powder (copolymer) before it is mixed with water (and sometimes other ingredients) to make a variety of FireIce and FireIce Shield gels. Each formulation is designed for a specific purpose and is deployed using custom equipment. FireIce XT is formulated for use with GelTech s 2.5-gallon UL Class A FireIce Fire Extinguishers. FireIce XT is sold dry and pre-mixed in a variety of sizes ranging from 3.125 oz. Refill Bottles and 5-lb. buckets (both dry) to 2.5-gallon pre-mixed jugs. FireIce Pro is formulated for larger scale suppression and structure/asset protection from heat and direct flame. It is deployed primarily with high-volume eductors or high-capacity equipment outfitted with nozzle guns or high-pressure systems for home and mobile use. FireIce Pro is sold only in dry powder form in 25-lb. buckets. FireIce HVO-F is a fugitive orange one-part colorant designed to be the most visible retardant on the market specifically formulated for aerial wildland firefighting and on the ground for large structure asset protection. It is sold only in dry powder form in 40-lb. buckets. FireIce 561-F is the clear version of this formulation which is also listed on the U.S. Forest Service Q.P.L. and sold in 25-lb buckets. FireIce Shield is used for fire prevention and asset protection (primarily to prevent heat transfer and ignition during hot work), and is sold in a variety of sizes and formats ranging from 32-oz. Spray Bottles to 2-Liter and 2.5-gallon canisters. FireIce Shield is only sold in pre-mixed form. FireIce Shield CTP is designed specifically for asset protection in industrial settings such as manufacturing plants and on cell towers during hot work. It also includes a colorant for increased visibility and another ingredient to maximize adhesion to slippery surfaces such as coax cables. It is only sold in dry form in 5 lb. buckets. FireIce Shield Inflight Emergency Containment Unit is a portable storage case filled with FireIce Shield and used to suppress and contain damaged or faulty personal electronic devices aboard commercial and military aircraft. ChargeSafe is a protective case constructed with FireIce Shield inserts designed to reduce the risk of damage from lithium-ion battery fires while charging, transporting or storing personal electronic devices. This is our first consumer retail product that will be launched nationally in Spring 2017. FireIce Shield Welding Blankets are designed to prevent collateral damage, heat transfer and ignition during Hot Work (welding, cutting, brazing) up to 10,000⁰F. Available in variety of sizes, reusable FireIce Shield Welding Blankets are sold in one-half and 1.25-gallon water-tight buckets filled with FireIce Shield gel which can be replenished with 2-Liter or 2.5-gallon pre-mixed FireIce Shield refill jugs. Rev 08Dec2016a
When we refer to FireIce Products, we are speaking about the complete family of FireIce and FireIce Shield products. 1. What is FireIce? FireIce is an eco-friendly, non-corrosive, third-generation superabsorbent copolymer that, when mixed with water, becomes a fire prevention and suppression gel with a remarkable range of capabilities. FireIce gel is effective on: Fires up to 10,000ºF and voltages up to 50kV/40ka Metal fires (including magnesium, titanium, calcium, potassium and lithium) Car and calcium battery fires The only liquid-based agent that can extinguish Lithium Battery fires even when in runaway Tire fires Wildland fires (listed on the U.S. Forrest Service Q.P.L. as a suppressant and shortterm retardant in airtankers and engines) Some accelerant fires 2. Are FireIce products environmentally safe? GelTech Solutions develops and offers only environmentally safe, non-toxic and non-corrosive products. FireIce products contain no harmful or corrosive chemicals and are safe to use in sensitive terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. 3. Will FireIce gel freeze? Yes, but at a slightly lower temperature than water (27ºF) and over a longer period of time. FireIce gel that has frozen and thawed remains fully effective, even after multiple freeze/thaw cycles. 4. Does FireIce only come in powder? Depending on the application, FireIce products are sold as a powdered concentrate as well as larger 2-liter, 2.5-gallon and 55-gallon premixed refills. 5. Once mixed, will FireIce gel separate or dry out? Once FireIce is mixed, it stays in suspension as long as it is stored in a sealed vessel and not exposed to UV light. Under proper storage conditions, FireIce gel will last for years. NFPA, however, requires water enhancers in extinguishers to be inspected annually, hydrostatically tested every five years and emptied, cleaned and recharged every six years.
6. Will FireIce powder or gel corrode or damage equipment? No. FireIce in both powder and gel form is non-corrosive, and has been tested by Pierce, a premier apparatus manufacturer, and found to be safe for use in their equipment. It has also been tested on plastics, rubbers and many other metals (including UL testing of the FireIce Fire Extinguisher) and found to be non-corrosive. 7. At what temperature will FireIce gel breakdown? Testing has shown FireIce gel capable of withstanding temperatures over 10,000ºF. 8. Can FireIce XT be used in existing water extinguishers? Yes, as long as it is an up-todate and approved extinguisher. A 15-degree spray nozzle (available from GelTech Solutions and its distributors) is recommended for maximum effectiveness. FireIce is not recommended for use in extinguishers that have been filled with anything other than water, as other agents can be corrosive and impair the effectiveness of FireIce. 9. Is FireIce UL rated? Yes, the FireIce 2.5-gallon Fire Extinguisher is listed by UL as a Class A fire extinguisher. 10. Can FireIce products replace Class A Foam? FireIce gels are completely different than Class A foams. Class A foam is a surfactant designed for penetration, even though professional firefighters often use Class A foam for structure protection. FireIce gels are significantly more durable and therefore highly effective for suppression and exposure protection (coating the fuel and preventing re-ignition). 11. Can educted FireIce be used with any nozzle? When FireIce powder is batch mixed at the recommended viscosities, it is compatible with all standard fog, straight stream, adjustable and most (but not all) automatic nozzles. 12. What makes FireIce gel durable? The durability of FireIce gel is a function of the unique chemical properties of the polymer and the proprietary manufacturing process. 13. Once applied, how long will FireIce gel remain effective? Depending on weather conditions (wind, heat, relative humidity) and the viscosity of the particular mix, FireIce gel can stay hydrated for up to 48 hours. 14. Will FireIce gel prevent cryogenic burns from things like propane? No. FireIce gels are not designed to prevent cryogenic burns.
15. What is the shelf life of FireIce products? When stored in a cool, dry environment and in unopened containers, FireIce powder has a shelf life of up to 15 years and premixed FireIce gel is up to five years. Neither requires any maintenance. 16. Can FireIce be used in on-board foam systems? On-board foam systems are designed for liquid foam concentrates and are not compatible with FireIce powder or FireIce premixed products. 17. Will FireIce gel work on alcohol fires? FireIce has a higher specific gravity than water, and therefore is effective on spills and shallow pools, but not on deep liquid pools. 18. Is this the stuff from baby diapers? Both are a form of superabsorbent polymer (virtually every gel in the supermarket gets its consistency from some kind of polymer). However, there are a number of critical proprietary differences, which in part is why FireIce products are eco-friendly, more durable than water and able to remain effective to extremely high temperatures. 19. Does filling the FireIce Shield 2-Liter canister with oxygen instead of nitrogen have any impact on the product? Air (not oxygen!) or nitrogen can be used to pressurize the FireIce Shield 2-liter canister. There is no difference in performance. Never use oxygen which will react with the fuel and cause fires to burn more quickly. 20. Is the FireIce Shield 2-liter canister approved or certified? No. Although FireIce Shield 2-liter canisters are fully EU and DOT compliant (which allows them to be transported under pressure within the manufacturer s designated PSI recommendation), these products are designed for prevention and asset protection, not suppression (in which case testing by a third party authority such as UL would be required). 21. What is the best way to extinguish a combustible material like aluminum dust fire in an industrial facility? FireIce gel is capable of suppressing Class D metal fires (such as aluminum) and is best applied using a wider (25-degree) spray nozzle so as not to disrupt or displace the fuel source. 22. Would FireIce gel affect the ultra-sonic testing equipment or reading when checking the weld? Although we have no reason to believe it would, we do not have testing to verify this.
23. Would performance of FireIce products be affected by the porosity of the metal being welded? We have not experienced any instances in which FireIce products have been affected by the porosity of the metal being welded. 24. Can FireIce products be used inside a calcium carbide acetylene manufacturing facility for fire suppression, since calcium carbide and water makes more acetylene? We have not performed any in-house or third-party testing to determine whether or not this might be the case and, until we do, would not recommend that FireIce products be used in this specific environment. 25. Can you add a color to FireIce products for industrial applications? GelTech currently uses a colorant for its wildland firefighting (FireIce HVO-F) and utility applications (FireIce Shield CTP). Please note, however, that the use of an additive in GelTech s 2.5-gallon Class A FireIce Fire Extinguisher would invalidate its Class A listing. To earn a Class A listing with any added ingredient would require further testing by UL.