Ansul SAPPHIRE FK-5-1-12 Clean Agent Fire Suppression System

Low-odour clean agent protection with FK-5-1-12

The Ansul SAPPHIRE fire suppression system is a custom-engineered clean agent system that uses FK-5-1-12 agent, which Ansul describes as clear, colorless and low odor and instantly vaporizing on discharge. It is intended for spaces where electronics or high-value assets are kept and where water would be as damaging as the fire. The agent absorbs heat and provides total flooding of the protected space, and the brochure states it is effective on Class A, B and C fires.

Technical specifications

Occupied spaces and detection

Ansul states that FK-5-1-12 has a wide safety margin because it is used at 4.5 to 5.9 percent by volume, and that, in accordance with NFPA 2001, it is safe for occupied spaces. The system is described as especially suited to spaces where an electrically non-conductive medium is needed, where electronic systems cannot be shut down in an emergency, and where cleanup of other agents is a problem.

On detection the AUTOPULSE panel sounds alarms, closes doors, shuts down equipment and releases the suppression system. Listed applications include aviation facilities, commercial and naval vessels, computer and electronic control rooms, critical military systems, data processing centers, medical facilities, museums, offshore platforms, power generation plants, tape storage and vaults, and telecommunication sites.

What to confirm before ordering

The overview does not give cylinder sizes, pressures or part numbers. Confirm the hazard volume, minimum room temperature, fire class and the approval required, since the manufacturer site lists SAPPHIRE 25 bar, SAPPHIRE Plus 70 bar and compact system variants.

Documents and quotation

The attached file is the Ansul SAPPHIRE Fire Suppression Systems product overview (form F-2013129-02, 2 pages). It is a marketing overview, not a design manual, so hardware part numbers and design limits must come from the manufacturer design documents. For a quotation send the hazard or protected volume, the number of enclosures and the site standard. See Fire Fighting for related fire protection equipment.