Screening Methods for Agent Compatibility With People, Materials, and the Environment.
Screening Methods for Agent Compatibility With People,
Materials, and the Environment.
(5567 K)
Nyden, M. R.; Skaggs, S. R.
NISTIR 6323; 70 p. April 1999.
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900.
Website: http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: AD/A-379642
Keywords:
compatibility; plastics; fire suppression; halons;
storage; corrosion; ozone; toxicity
Abstract:
A workshop on fire suppressant agent compatibility with
people, materials and the environment was held at the
National Institute of Standards and Technology on
November 14 and 15, 1997, which was attended by
approximately 40 representatives from government,
academia, and industry. The participants were asked to
assess currently used screening methods for each of the
following properties of candidate fire suppressants:
environmental impact (including ozone depletion
potential, global warming potential, and atmospheric
lifetime); materials compatibility (including long-term
storage stability, the interaction of the agent with
metals, gaskets and lubricants, and the compatibility of
the agent and its combustion by-products with
potentially exposed weapons systems); and toxicity
(including acute, genetic, subchronic, developmental,
and cardiac sensitization). For each property, the
workshop participants compared currently used
measurement methods and identified the best method for
future use in screening candidates for the next
generation of fire suppressants. Each of these "best
current" methods was evaluated and given one of the
following designations: acceptable as is, acceptable
with modifications, or unacceptable. At the conclusion
of the workshop, a consensus screening method was
advanced for each property.
