3M Novec™ 1230 is a chemical clean agent that suppresses fire extremely quickly while leaving minumal residue. To clarify, 3M Novec™ 1230 is the patented name for the generic compound FK-5-1-12. It has a high margin of occupant safety among other NFPA 2001 clean agents, is non-conductive and non-corrosive. Furthermore, it has a proven reputation to extinguish fires faster than traditional water-based fire suppression systems, and it leaves behind virtually no damage to the facility itself. For this reason, Novec 1230 has been used in occupancies like data centers, fuel farms, laboratories, archives, or places with valuable electronic equipment and documents.
Although Novec 1230 has phenomenal fire suppression characteristics, it is being discontinued by 3M as a part of the company’s intention to discontinue the use of per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) across its product portfolio by the end of 2025. According to a press release by 3M, this decision was made in fear of even more stringent government regulations over PFAS in the future. While 3M will honor their contractual orders of Novec 1230, they have stopped taking any new orders for the product. In light of this, there are now new alternatives for Novec 1230, such as Fike FK-5-1-12, Fike SF 1230, and the Kidde Fluoro-K. Hopefully, the 3M Novec 1230 phase out will lead to more fire suppression alternatives in the future, and potentially even more environmentally friendly solutions. Below, I will go into further detail about the situation, new regulations, and how to prepare for the discontinuation of Novec 1230.
Since the launch of the American Innovation and Manufacturing (AIM) Act in 2020, the environmental impact of fire suppression clean agents are increasingly being taken into account when building systems. Agents such as halon and FM-200 are being phased out in favor of more environmentally friendly alternatives. Even though Novec 1230 has been listed as acceptable by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as a fluoroketone, the frequent changes in federal regulations have made 3M weary of continuing production of PFAS substances.
To add to the increasing regulations, the government is also looking at PFAS, which persists in the environment for a long time. PFAS are widely used, yet the long term effects of these substances are still not fully understood. Since they break down very slowly over time, PFAS can be found in water, air, fish, and soil in locations across the globe. The EPA is increasing research to understand the full impact of PFAS on our health and the environment. As a result, it makes sense to expect further regulations down the line for products containing PFAS.
In an effort to curb global warming, the government launched the AIM Act of 2020. This new legislation affects the consumption and distribution of chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) and hydrofluorocarbon (HFC) goods, including the popular FM-200. Find the full list of regulated substances in section7675(c) of the AIM act. Eventually, the act will all but completely phase out the use of HFCs for fire suppression in a step-wise manner by 2036.
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) are compounds that contain carbon, hydrogen, and fluorine as their primary constituents. Most importantly, the main difference between them is chlorine, which is present in CFCs, but not in HFCs. Despite these similarities, CFCs have a much longer atmospheric lifetime than HFCs, which accounts for their significant detrimental effect on global warming and ozone layer depletion. CFCs can last for several decades to a century in the atmosphere, while HFCs last around 2 to 7 years. Moreover, HFCs do not contribute to ozone layer depletion due to the lack of chlorine. Even though HFCs have some benefits compared to CFCs, they are still a potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential (GWP).
In the context of fire suppression, an FM-200 system is now much more expensive due to the phasing out of HFCs. For instance, if an FM-200 system discharges, facility owners will encounter uncertainty and risk concerning the future availability and prices of FM-200 to safeguard their valuable assets. Although it is true that it takes less FM-200 to achieve the same results as a larger amount of Novec 1230, it is no longer a cost effective solution for future systems. Subsequently, many systems have been using Novec 1230 as a solid alternative to FM-200 and similar HFC agents.
Novec 1230 is the spiritual successor for HFC and CFC fire extinguishing products like halon and FM-200. Halon, a haloalkane first used during World War II to extinguish fires in aircrafts and tanks, was the first fire suppressing solution to be used around high-value spaces like museums and aircrafts. It has since been replaced by FM-200 due to its ozone depleting potential. FM-200, an HFC compound, is a popular halon replacement. It shares some characteristics with Novec 1230 and halon in that it can extinguish fires while leaving no residue and posing minimal threat to the ozone layer. Compare the differences between these three compounds in the chart below:
| Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) | Atmospheric Lifetime (years) | Global Warming Potential (GWP) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Halon 1301 | 12 | 65 | 6900 |
| FM-200 | 0 | 38.9 | 3500 |
| Novec 1230 | 0 | 0.014 | 1 |
Products like Novec 1230 and FM-200 have zero ozone depletion potential (ODP). At the same time, the NFPA found that 3M Novec 1230 has a global warming potential (GWP) magnitudes lower than FM-200. To be precise, Novec 1230 has a GWP of 1, while FM-200 has a GWP of 2250. This illustrates that Novec is a vastly more environmentally-friendly choice than previous fire suppression compounds. As a result, fluoroketone agents like Novec 1230 and Fike FK 5-1-12 are deemed acceptable by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and have been listed in their Significant New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) list. Hence, Novec 1230 and FK-5-1-12 remain as approved alternatives for halon.
While Novec 1230 may still remain in the market for some time, it is important to prepare for its diminishing supply. If you have a pre-existing system with Novec 1230, you may continue to have that system in place, since that substance has only been voluntarily discontinued by the manufacturer. However, if you have a system discharge, you may be wondering what to do next. This is where drop in replacements for Novec 1230 come in handy.
Fike SF 1230 and Kidde Fluoro-K are chemically identical compounds that may be used to replace Novec 1230. Hence, these products can be used either to recharge your current Novec 1230 system or be used as your clean agent for a new installation. SF 1230 and Fluoro-K have the same physical properties as Novec 1230, and they have the same eco-friendly properties with a low GWP and zero ODP. The main draw of Fike SF 1230 is that it follows the high level of quality and purity standards set by Novec 1230 and FK 5-1-12. Furthermore, all batches of Fike SF 1230 are subjected to testing performed by an independent US-based ISO 9001-certified laboratory, are compliant with NFPA 2001 and ISO 14520, and is UL listed and FM approved. This validation ensures that every order of SF 1230 will be high quality and meet those existing Novec 1230 specifications.
Make sure each one of your clean agent systems have a certified cylinder to contain and vaporize the agent. We have Fike SF 1230 cylinders and Kidde Fluoro-K cylinders available in variable sizes. These cylinders are UL listed and compliant with NFPA standards.
Novek 1230 has been in production for over 20 years, and has set a high benchmark in fire suppression and environmental sustainability. Unfortunately, many government regulations group together PFAS used in fire suppression with those in other industries and other toxic substances, often resulting in harsher restrictions. Consequently, 3M has decided to discontinue production of many PFAS products, including Novec 1230. Luckily, there are now multiple manufacturers of FK-5-1-12 available, including both Kidde and Fike. The Fike SF 1230 and Kidde Fluoro-K are both UL listed and FM approved, and are designed to handle the same range of fire protection applications as Novec 1230 with exceptional efficacy. Get your fire suppression system started with Firealarm.com’s system design & installation services, or shop clean agent systems that are approved for FK-5-1-12 and similar compounds.
