Alternative fire extinguishing agents. 1994.

TURI Technical Report No. 23. Our group has prepared many non-volatile precursor (NVP) agents which have been shown to generate hydrobromofluorocarbon and olefinic bromofluorocarbon fire extinguishing agents when heated to temperatures typical of those encountered near a fire zone. The liquid NVP agents proved to be as effective as the most efficient Halon agents now in use. Solid polymer NVP agents are now being prepared for possible use in the prevention of fires in small enclosed areas. All NVP agents show greatly reduced emissions to the atmosphere, and would be predicted to have no ozone depletion, global warming or toxic vapor problems. Lower vapor pressures in the case of liquid NVP agents results in less of the agent evaporating en route to the fire zone. In addition, the greater streaming characteristics of the liquid NVP agents greatly reduces the agent requirements and increases the throw ranges, which results in increased safety for firefighting personnel. Solid NVP agents would have zero vapor pressure and thus no loss to the atmosphere due to evaporation. The chemical nature of all of the NVP agents prepared so far suggests that gradual hydrolysis to yield relatively innocuous materials would prevent extended environmental contamination.

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