Analysis of Hold Time Models for Total Flooding Clean Extinguishing Agents

This study documents the experimental results of a research program designed to evaluate the validity of the widely published hold time prediction models found in NFPA 2001, Annex C and ISO 14520-1, Annex E. The models discussed in these standards obtain a measure of the equivalent leakage area, which, when coupled with ‘worst case’ assumptions, can be used to determine the minimum hold time. Three hold time prediction theories are adopted from these standards for validation; a wide descending interface model as implemented in ISO 14520-1 and two sharp descending interface models from the 2004 and 2008 publications of NFPA 2001. The experimental program is comprised of 15 tests conducted in a 103 m³ test enclosure. Three commercially available clean agents are selected to span a wide range of agent vapor densities including FK-5-1-12, HFC-125, and IG-541. A series of holes were drilled through enclosure boundaries at upper and lower elevations which were opened or closed as a means of regulating the amount of leakage area for any given test. Vertical profiles of agent concentration and ambient pressure are used to evaluate the agent concentration distribution, rates of agent draining, and the effective lower leakage fraction. A non-dimensional hold time is used to compare experimental results involving differing agent types and leakage areas. Results show that empirical values of the hold time are up to 50% longer than the theoretical hold time predictions when evaluated as the time to reduce the agent concentration to half its initial value. When evaluated as a 15% drop in concentration the model validity is significantly reduced. Under this condition, empirical hold time values are up to 50% shorter than the predictions of the sharp descending interface models and up to 100% longer than the wide descending interface model.