Pentafluoroethane
Encyclopedia
Pentafluoroethane is a refrigerant
that has zero ozone depletion potential
.It has the formula CF3CHF2. Although it has zero ozone depletion potential, it has high global warming potential
, reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
(EPA) as 3450 times that of carbon dioxide.
Pentafluoroethane in an zeotropic mixture with difluoromethane
is known as R-410A
, a common replacement for various chlorofluorocarbon
s (commonly known as Freon) in new refrigerant systems. Pentafluoroethane is also used as a fire suppression agent in fire suppression system
s.
Agent. It is generally used in situations where water from a fire sprinkler would damage expensive equipment or where water-based fire protection is impractical, such as museums, banks, clean rooms and hospitals . HFC-125 does not deplete ozone (ODP 0) The HFC-125 clean agent is stored in a pressurized container and introduced into the hazard as a gas. The agent is odorless, colorless, electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive, and leaves no residue. It is used in occupied enclosed areas that contain high-value assets.
HFC-125 suppresses fire by absorbing heat energy at its molecular level faster than the heat can be generated, so the fire cannot sustain itself. It also forms free radicals to chemically interfere with the chain reaction of the combustion process. This makes it a highly effective fire fighting agent that is safe for people and causes no damage to equipment.
The HFC-125 fire suppression agent is a non-ozone depleting replacement for Halon 1301. In addition, HFC-125 leaves no residue on valuable equipment after discharge.
HFC-125 is considered a Clean Agent and is therefore included in the National Fire Protection Association
's 2001 - Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems.
When introduced to the market HFC-125 was not considered safe for use in occupied spaces. The
US EPA Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) listing reflected this. Following the introduction and acceptance of the PBPK model in the NFPA standard 2001 on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems 2004 Edition, the restriction was relaxed and now HFC-125 can be used in occupied hazards. Generally, class B (flammable liquid) hazards require concentrations that exceed the agent's no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) so extra precautions must be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to the agent.
ECARO-25 is a registered trademark
of Fike Corporation. FE-25 is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. NAF S 125 is a registered trademark of Safety Hi-Tech S.r.l.
Refrigerant
A refrigerant is a substance used in a heat cycle usually including, for enhanced efficiency, a reversible phase change from a liquid to a gas. Traditionally, fluorocarbons, especially chlorofluorocarbons, were used as refrigerants, but they are being phased out because of their ozone depletion...
that has zero ozone depletion potential
Ozone depletion potential
The ozone depletion potential of a chemical compound is the relative amount of degradation to the ozone layer it can cause, with trichlorofluoromethane being fixed at an ODP of 1.0. Chlorodifluoromethane , for example, has an ODP of 0.055...
.It has the formula CF3CHF2. Although it has zero ozone depletion potential, it has high global warming potential
Global warming potential
Global-warming potential is a relative measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere. It compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas in question to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of carbon dioxide. A GWP is calculated over a specific time...
, reported by the United States Environmental Protection Agency
United States Environmental Protection Agency
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is an agency of the federal government of the United States charged with protecting human health and the environment, by writing and enforcing regulations based on laws passed by Congress...
(EPA) as 3450 times that of carbon dioxide.
Pentafluoroethane in an zeotropic mixture with difluoromethane
Difluoromethane
Difluoromethane, also called HFC-32 or R-32, is an organic compound of the dihalogenoalkane variety. It is based on methane, except that two of the four hydrogen atoms have been replaced by fluorine atoms...
is known as R-410A
R-410A
R-410A, sold under the trademarked names Puron, EcoFluor R410, Genetron R410A, and AZ-20, is a zeotropic, but near-azeotropic mixture of difluoromethane and pentafluoroethane , which is used as a refrigerant in air conditioning applications.-Environmental effects:Unlike many alkyl halide...
, a common replacement for various chlorofluorocarbon
Chlorofluorocarbon
A chlorofluorocarbon is an organic compound that contains carbon, chlorine, and fluorine, produced as a volatile derivative of methane and ethane. A common subclass are the hydrochlorofluorocarbons , which contain hydrogen, as well. They are also commonly known by the DuPont trade name Freon...
s (commonly known as Freon) in new refrigerant systems. Pentafluoroethane is also used as a fire suppression agent in fire suppression system
Fire suppression system
Fire suppression systems are used in conjunction with smoke detectors and fire alarm systems to improve and increase public safety. Suppression systems are governed by the codes under the NFPA 13 handbook.-Types:...
s.
Fire Suppression Systems
HFC-125 (ECARO-25 / FE-25 / NAF S 125) can be used in clean agent fire suppression systems also referred to as Gaseous fire suppressionGaseous fire suppression
Gaseous fire suppression is a term to describe the use of inert gases and chemical agents to extinguish a fire. Also called Clean Agent Fire Suppression. These Agents are governed by the NFPA Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems - NFPA 2001 in the USA, with different standards and...
Agent. It is generally used in situations where water from a fire sprinkler would damage expensive equipment or where water-based fire protection is impractical, such as museums, banks, clean rooms and hospitals . HFC-125 does not deplete ozone (ODP 0) The HFC-125 clean agent is stored in a pressurized container and introduced into the hazard as a gas. The agent is odorless, colorless, electrically non-conductive, non-corrosive, and leaves no residue. It is used in occupied enclosed areas that contain high-value assets.
HFC-125 suppresses fire by absorbing heat energy at its molecular level faster than the heat can be generated, so the fire cannot sustain itself. It also forms free radicals to chemically interfere with the chain reaction of the combustion process. This makes it a highly effective fire fighting agent that is safe for people and causes no damage to equipment.
The HFC-125 fire suppression agent is a non-ozone depleting replacement for Halon 1301. In addition, HFC-125 leaves no residue on valuable equipment after discharge.
HFC-125 is considered a Clean Agent and is therefore included in the National Fire Protection Association
National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association is a United States trade association that creates and maintains private, copywrited, standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments...
's 2001 - Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems.
When introduced to the market HFC-125 was not considered safe for use in occupied spaces. The
US EPA Significant New Alternative Policy (SNAP) listing reflected this. Following the introduction and acceptance of the PBPK model in the NFPA standard 2001 on Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems 2004 Edition, the restriction was relaxed and now HFC-125 can be used in occupied hazards. Generally, class B (flammable liquid) hazards require concentrations that exceed the agent's no observable adverse effect level (NOAEL) so extra precautions must be taken to avoid prolonged exposure to the agent.
ECARO-25 is a registered trademark
Trademark
A trademark, trade mark, or trade-mark is a distinctive sign or indicator used by an individual, business organization, or other legal entity to identify that the products or services to consumers with which the trademark appears originate from a unique source, and to distinguish its products or...
of Fike Corporation. FE-25 is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company or its affiliates. NAF S 125 is a registered trademark of Safety Hi-Tech S.r.l.