User's Manual

Design
September 2013 3-2 P/N 81-CO2MAN-001
• Acceptable locations for agent storage as close to the hazard as possible
• Work flow processes and protected equipment
• Expected emergency response time
Use the information provided in Chapter 1 to determine if carbon dioxide is an appropriate
extinguishing agent for the hazard.
After confirming that carbon dioxide is an acceptable extinguishing agent, the designer must
then select an appropriate design approach (see Paragraph 3-5 through 3-6).
3-3 DESIGN FOR SAFETY
The designer shall be thoroughly familiar with the life safety features required by NFPA 12 and
outlined in Chapter 1. The designer shall be thoroughly familiar with the dangers associated
with carbon dioxide as a fire suppressant and the measures taken to mitigate those dangers.
NFPA 12 shall be referenced for additional considerations not published in this manual.
3-4 APPLICATIONS
Carbon dioxide suppression systems provide a great deal of flexibility to the designer in dealing
with almost any shape, size, or type of hazard. Because of this versatility, CO
2
is suitable for
many difficult hazards, including:
Industrial hazards -These typically consist of equipment or processes where flammable
liquids are involved. Examples of industrial hazards that can be protected by carbon dioxide
are:
•Dip tanks
•Mixing tanks
•Ovens and dryers
• Quench tanks
•Coating machines
• Turbines
• Generators
•Printing presses
• Dust collectors
• Industrial fryers.
Marine hazards - These include shipboard applications. Refer to the Kidde Marine Carbon
Dioxide Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance Manual, Part No. 81-220610-000, for
detailed information on marine system design.
The versatility of carbon dioxide systems is based on its ability to be used as a total flooding
or local application fire-fighting agent.
3-4.1 Total Flooding System
A total flooding system is designed to develop an extinguishing concentration of carbon dioxide
in an enclosed space and to maintain an effective concentration until re-ignition will not occur.
Such systems may be used to extinguish surface fires (Paragraph 3-5.2) and deep-seated fires
(Paragraph 3-5.3). The method of design is similar for both fire types. However, deep-seated
fires generally require a more rigorous treatment.