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 into various protected spaces in the event of a fire. It is developed to protect seagoing and inland waterway vessels, platforms, and other marine applications.

Each set of cylinder clusters is dedicated to a specific machinery compartment of the ship. The system consists of MX-1230 cylinders with cylinder valves, release cabinets, a control system, section valves where applicable, pipes, fittings and nozzles as required.

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
• Back-Up Supply: 3.4AH Battery Inside DCHQ Releasing Panel

The System Composition

• NOVEC 1230 Cylinder: Fluoroketone (FK-5-1-12)
• Pilot Cylinder: Nitrogen
• Remote Releasing Panel at DCHQ
• Pilot Cylinder Box: 06 no’s
• Modular Cabinets 1 & 2
• Local Release Buttons: 06 no’s
• Optical & Visual Pre-Alarms: 11 no’s
• Sounders: 7 no’s

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 Compartment

All of these Cylinders except the cylinder for the AVCAT compartment are fitted inside the MX 1230 room/ compartment. The NOVEC cylinder for AVCAT Compartment is fitted inside Pollution Control Room adjacent to the NOVEC Compartment.

Apart from the Novec cylinders, there are two 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.

The system comprises three modes of operation:

1. Manual: From inside the NOVEC Compartment
2. Pneumatic: From Pilot Cylinder Box outside NOVEC Compartment
3. Electric: From DCHQ & Local Release Buttons at the protected compartment

Releasing Methods of MX1230 NOVEC Fire Suppression System

The system has two releasing methods:

1. Remote Method: Releasing from Remote Releasing Panel inside DCHQ
2. Local Method

Remote method:

This is for releasing the NOVEC fire impression agent from the Damage Control Headquarters (DCHQ) through the Remote-Release 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 required machinery area. The power contactors will shut down the multiple types of machinery.

Note: When opening the valves of the NOVEC bottles through the Remote Release System, the system initially tries to open them by sending an electric signal to the solenoid fitted on the neck of the bottle. When the solenoid is not operational, the system will release the main N2 bottle to open the valve through Pneumatic Method. If the pressure of the main N2 bottle is below 20 bar, the system will operate the redundancy N2 Pilot Bottle and open the valve of the respective NOVEC bottle.

When Pressing a Pre-Alarm Section 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 Buzzer on the Remote-Release Panel will sound.
4. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer fitted inside 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 of any 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-Release Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer fitted inside 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 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 the Release All Section button:

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-Release Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer fitted inside 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 release process will start. And all the Release Section LEDs and the Release All Sections LEDs will light up continuously.

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

Apart from these, features like Lamp Test, Door Switch Alarm, Power Supply/ Battery Failure Alarm, Low-Pressure Section Alarms, and Wire Break/ Short Circuit monitoring are also available in the Remote Release Panel.

Local Release Method:

For the local release, there are Three ways:

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

2. The operator can open the valveS of NOVEC bottles through a pneumatic method by sending an N₂ gas flow by operating the pilot bottle (N2 gas bottle) fitted inside Pilot Cylinder Boxes at the outside of the MX-1230 compartment.

3. 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 button inside it to initiate the local release.

Operating procedure for protected spaces by Local Release Button

1. Ensure all personnel have vacated the protected machinery compartment.
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-Release Panel will sound.
5. The Module Cabinet 1 buzzer fitted inside 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 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.

Note: The NOVEC fire suppression agent will release to the compartments as soon as the operator opens the valves of the Pilot N2 Bottle or the NOVEC bottle.

Safety Precautions

Before operating the NOVEC system, the following is to be ensured:

1. The compartment is vacated, and no personnel are present inside.
2. All ventilation fans connected to the machinery compartment are to be switched off.
3. All doors/ hatches leading to the machinery compartment should be tightly closed.
4. All machinery in the machinery compartment is to be stopped, and electrical supplies to the machinery 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 protected 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 the protected compartment without using the breathing apparatus.

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