MX 1230, NOVEC Fire Suppression System

This MX 1230 fixed NOVEC fire suppression system is made by Minimax Fire Solutions International GmbH, a company that originated in Germany.

This system is a fire-smothering system which uses the Halocarbon agent Fluoroketone. This agent is also known as FK-5-1-12 (NOVEC-1230) as the extinguishing agent.

The MX1230 system releases NOVEC-1230 to the different protected spaces during a fire. It is designed for the protection of seagoing and inland waterway vessels, platforms and other marine applications.

Each set of cylinder clusters is dedicated to a specific compartment of the ship. The system consists of MX1230 cylinders including cylinder valves, release cabinets, control system, section valves where applicable, pipes, fittings and nozzles as required.

The system comprises three modes of operation:

1. Manual
2. Pneumatic
3. Electric

The Technical Data of the NOVEC Fire Suppression System

• Maximum Discharge time (95% of design concentration): 10 seconds
• Operating Temperature: (-20) to (+50) Celsius
• Control Power: 24VDC

The system consists of 16 cylinders:

• 05 cylinders for Forward Engine Room
• 05 Cylinders for After Engine Room
• 02 Cylinders for Fin Stabilizer Compartment
• 02 Cylinders for Auxiliary Machinery Room
• 01 Cylinder for Machinery Control Room
• 01 Cylinder for AVCAT Room

All of these Cylinders are fitted inside the MX 1230 room/ compartment.

Apart from the Novec cylinders, there are 2 No’s of N2 bottles inside the Pilot Cylinder Box dedicated to every protected compartment. These pilot bottles are used to release the bottles through the pneumatic method.

Releasing Methods of MX1230 NOVEC Fire Suppression System

The system has 2 releasing methods:

1. Remote Method
2. Local Method

Remote method:

Releasing bottles remotely from the Damage Control Headquarters (DCHQ) through a remote-control panel.

When the operator presses the Pre-Alarm Button or Release buttons at the remote-control panel the following actions will take place through an electric signalling system; The solenoids fitted on the neck of the respective gas bottles will release the fire suppression agent and flood the respective area. The power contactors will shut down the multiple types of machinery.

If the solenoid doesn’t work, the system will try to open the valve through the pneumatic method by using N2 Pilot Bottle. If the pilot bottle doesn’t operate or the pressure is below 20 bar, the system will operate a redundant N2 bottle inside the Pilot Cylinder Box at the Novec Compartment.

When Pressing a “Pre-Alarm All Section Button” or the dedicated “Pre-Alarm” button for a respective compartment:

1. The optical and visual pre-alarm in related areas will turn on.
2. The related Pre-Alarm LED on the Remote-Control Panel will turn on.
3. The Buzzer on the Remote-Control Panel will sound.
4. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer in the MX1230 room will turn on.
5. All external fans, Fuel pumps, fan coil units, and incinerators connected to the respective compartment will be stopped and all external dampers will be closed.
6. An internal time of 30 seconds will start to countdown to block a release for the related section during this time. This time allows us to perform any rescue operations in that area.

To reset a Pre-Alarm, the related Reset Button or Reset All button has to be pushed for 5 seconds.

When Pressing a “Release Section button” for a respective compartment:

1. The optical and visual pre-alarm in a related area will turn on.
2. The related Pre-Alarm LED on the Remote-Control Panel will turn on.
3. The related Release Section LED will start to flash.
4. The Buzzer on the Remote-Control Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer in the MX1230 room will turn on.
6. All external fans, Fuel pumps, fan coil units, and incinerators connected to the respective compartment will be stopped and all external dampers will be closed.
7. An internal time of 30 seconds will start to countdown to block a release for the respective section during this time. This time allows us to perform any rescue operations in that area. If the related Pre-Alarm was activated before, the internal block time is already counting down. After the time has expired the related release process will start and the related Release Section LED will light up continuously.

To reset a release section, the related “Reset” Button or “Reset All” button has to be pushed for 5 seconds. The related Pre-Alarm will reset, too.

When Pressing a Release Section button for a respective compartment:

1. The optical and visual pre-alarm in related areas will turn on.
2. The related Pre-Alarm LED on the Remote-Control Panel will turn on.
3. The related Release Section LED and the Release All Sections LED will start to flash.
4. The Buzzer on the Remote-Control Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer in the MX-1230 room will turn on.
6. All external fans, Fuel pumps, fan coil units, and incinerators connected to the respective compartment will be stopped and all external dampers will be closed.
7. An internal time of 20 seconds will start to countdown to block a release for the related section during this time. This time allows us to perform any rescue operations in that area. If the related Pre-Alarm was activated before, the internal block time is already counting down. After the time has expired the related release process will start and all the Release Section LEDs and the Release All Sections LEDs will light up continuously.

To reset, the related Reset Button or Reset All button has to be pushed for 5 seconds. The related Pre-Alarm will reset, too.

Apart from these, there are features like Lamp Test, Door Switch Alarm, Power Supply/ Battery Failure Alarm, Low-Pressure Section Alarms, and Wire Break/ Short Circuit monitoring.

Local Release Method:

For the local release, there are 3 ways:

1. The operator can open the valve of the bottle by operating the lever fitted at the neck of each bottle.

1. The operator can open the valve of the bottle through a pneumatic method by sending a gas flow by operating the pilot bottle (N2 gas bottle) fitted at the outside of the MX-1230 compartment.

1. The operator can break the glass of the Local Release Panel fitted just outside the main entrance door to each respective protected compartment and press the local release button fitted inside it.

Operating procedure for protected spaces by Local Release Button

1. Ensure all personnel have vacated the protected space.
2. Press the corresponding Local Release Button. Then the following process will start.
3. Allow time for structural cooling before opening the space and venting.
4. Do not enter space without using breathing apparatus.

When Pressing a Local Release Button of any compartment:

1. The optical and visual pre-alarm in related areas will turn on.
2. The related Pre-Alarm LED on the Remote-Control Panel will turn on.
3. The related Release Section LED will start to flash.
4. The Buzzer on the Remote-Control Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer in the MX-1230 room will turn ON.
6. All external fans, Fuel pumps, fan coil units, and incinerators connected to the respective compartment will be stopped and all external dampers will be closed.
7. An internal time of 30 seconds will start to countdown to block a release for the related section during this time. This time allows us to perform any rescue operations in that area. After the time has expired the related release process will start and the related Release Section LED will light up continuously.

To reset a release section, the related Reset Button or Reset All button has to be pushed for 5 seconds. The related Pre-Alarm will reset, too.

Operating procedure for protected spaces by Emergency Mode

1. Open the corresponding Pilot Cylinder Box door. The Pre-Alarm will activate and all external fans, Fuel pumps, fan coil units, and incinerators connected to the respective compartment will be stopped and all external dampers will be closed.
2. Ensure all personnel have vacated the protected space.
3. Close all vents/doors/hatches of the respective compartment.
4. Shut down machinery if possible.
5. Open one pilot cylinder manually. if the pressure is below 20 bar, open the redundancy pilot cylinder.
6. If it is not working, open the valves of all the allocated cylinders for the respective protected compartment by removing the safety pin and rotating the handle fitted on the neck of the bottle.

Safety Precautions

Before bringing the system into use the following is to be ensured:

1. The compartment is vacated and no personnel are present inside.
2. All ventilation fans connected to the compartment are to be switched off.
3. All doors/ hatches leading to the compartment are to be closed tightly.
4. All machinery in the compartment is to be stopped and electrical supplies to the compartment are to be isolated.

Removal of smoke, combustion by-products and NOVEC 1230 NOVEC Fire Suppression System

1. Open doors, hatches and fan closure.
2. Switch on the ventilation fans for the compartment.
3. Ventilate the machinery compartment until a person can enter it without a breathing apparatus.
4. Allow time for structural cooling before opening space and venting,
5. Do not enter space without using the breathing apparatus.

Click HERE to read about the External Fire Fighting Systems of ships.