Difference between revisions 610416652 and 610417132 on enwiki

{{multiple issues|
{{advert|date=September 2012}}
{{no footnotes|date=October 2012}}
}}

'''INERGEN''', a  registered trademark of [[Tyco International|Tyco Fire Products LP]], is a blend of inert atmospheric gases that contains 52% [[nitrogen]], 40% [[argon]], 8% [[carbon dioxide]], used as a fire suppression system agent. It is considered a [[clean agent]] for use in [[gaseous fire suppression]] applications.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} InergenNERGEN does not contain [[halocarbons]], and has no [[ozone depletion]] potential. It is non-toxic. InergenNERGEN is used at design concentrations of 35-–50% to lower the concentration of oxygen to a point that cannot support combustion, but still safe for humans.

InergenNERGEN has replaced the use of [[CO2|CO<sub>2</sub>]] in fixed [[firefighting]] applications due to the dangers associated with lack of oxygen following activation of a CO<sub>2</sub> system.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}} The name is a [[portmanteau]] of the name of the lead [[engineer]] on the project, Dr Innes R. Geneson (and assisted by Dr Alan Steele).

A component of InergenNERGEN is carbon dioxide, which allows the human body to adapt to the environment of reduced oxygen that is present after discharge of agent. Discharge of Inergen INERGEN results in an approximate 2% concentration of carbon dioxide within the space. This directs the human body to take deeper breaths and to make more efficient use of the available oxygen.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

The nitrogen and argon components offset the weight of the carbon dioxide, which allows the InergenNERGEN blend to have the same density as normal atmosphere. This eliminates the need for special considerations to prevent agent leakage.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Environmentally neutral==
Since InergenNERGEN is composed of natural components that exist in the air – [[nitrogen]], [[argon]], and [[carbon dioxide]] – its components simply resume their normal role in the earth’s life cycle following a discharge, so InergenNERGEN presents no environmental impact.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

In the modest quantities used by firefighting the above gasses have no [[Ozone depletion]] or [[Global warming]] issues.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Equipment safe==
Many other agents break down in the combustion process forming by-products that are corrosive to electronic components and cards. InergenNERGEN does not form any corrosive by-products.

InergenNERGEN is discharged into the protected area in a “single phase” so there is no thermal shock or large temperature drop associated with the discharge. Discharge tests conducted demonstrate that the temperature drop is typically less than 2°C in room temperature.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

==Engineering design==
InergenNERGEN exists in a “single phase” throughout the discharge process, that is cylinder storage, pipework distribution and nozzle discharge. This single-phase situation simplifies pipework design and computer software design (pipe friction losses etc.). InergenNERGEN is stored at high pressure (200 bar) so this allows for long pipe runs, remote cylinder location, and the option of storing the cylinders horizontally.

==Extinguishing properties==
In addition to this extinguishing feature, people are still able to function normally in the atmosphere into which InergenNERGEN has been injected.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} This is attributed to the increased [[carbon dioxide]] level, which typically increases to between 2.5% to 5% of the room volume.

This increased level of carbon dioxide stimulates the rate of respiration and increases the body’s oxygen use efficiency. This compensates for the lower oxygen levels that are present when a fire is being extinguished.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

As a result, the brain continues to receive the same amount of oxygen in an InergenNERGEN atmosphere as it would in a normal atmosphere,{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} even if the oxygen concentration falls to below 10%. Hence InergenNERGEN can be used in automatic total flooding systems in areas that are normally occupied.

The physiology of breathing in a reduced oxygen-increased carbon dioxide environment has been understood since the 1930s and the InergenNERGEN respiratory concept has been approved by Occupational Health and Safety organisations worldwide.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}

People can breathe within a correctly designed InergenNERGEN atmosphere without any long-term ill effects.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} InergenNERGEN is non toxic, so it has been possible for the agent to be medically tested on people in both Europe and the USA. This is not true for Hhalocarbon based products, which are all lethal at high concentrations and still toxic even at low concentrations,{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} hence tests on these agents have been limited to laboratory animals.

==Advantages==
Exiting during an InergenNERGEN discharge situation is made safer as the agent does not fog the atmosphere and no impairment of vision occurs.
* InergenNERGEN contains no [[halocarbons]]. It has no [[ozone depletion]] potential, and unlike halocarbon agents, it will not produce toxic or corrosive decomposition. InergenNERGEN and [[Aargonite]] has the same potent suppressing effect.
* Based on an acute hypoxia point of view, InergenNERGEN is comparatively safer than any other inert gas based extinguishing agents in applications where evacuation may not be possible prior to the application of the agent.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}
* InergenNERGEN systems reduce oxygen concentration only enough to suppress combustion while stimulating breathing efficiency to a disproportional advantage (as with any other suppression system, human evacuation is always recommended).
* InergenNERGEN is non-toxic, and does not threaten the health compared to Hhalon-based or halocarbon agents.{{Citation needed|date=August 2013}}
* InergenNERGEN has almost the same density as normal atmospheric air. No particular support or precautions are needed should agent leakage occur.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}}
* Normal in gas suppression is the "fogging effect", and because InergenNERGEN creates no 'fog' during discharge, escape routes during fire are still visible.

==Disadvantages==
* Unlike carbon dioxide or halocarbon agents, InergenNERGEN agent does not liquefy under pressure.{{Citation needed|date=November 2013}} Hence InergenNERGEN requires more space for storage tanks.

==See also==
* [[Argonite]]⏎
* [[FE-13]]
* [[FM-200]]
* [[Halon 1211]]
* [[Halon 1301]]

==External links==
*[http://www.getzfire.com/pdf/MSDS/Inergen.pdf] Material Safety Data Sheet (2010)
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_qEJJHEImI&feature=related Inergen VNERGEN video]
*[http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuEylKMvbjw Inergen DNERGEN dump Vvideo]

[[Category:Fire suppression agents]]
[[Category:Industrial gases]]