b'FOGHORN FOCUS If an operator is not getting cember 2022 that they plan to discontinue their product by the end of 2025. There are other manufacturers who have an their fire suppression FM (Factory Mutual) and UL (Underwriters Laboratories) listing for FK-5-1-12 and are listed on the EPAs Significant system inspected annually, New Alternatives Policy (SNAP) list. These companies are its a problem, Ellis said.continuing production of the extinguishing agent.Ellis noted that its an easy transition from HFCs to FK-For example, if there is a5-1-12. The systems are built with various size cylinders, such as a 20-, 30-, or 40-liter cylinder. He said its possible major fire event, the firstthat the same amount of FK-5-1-12 as HFC may fit in a cylinder. If thats the case, then theres no real difference thing an insurance for a vessel operator. Its a different label on the cylinder and a different agent inside, but its the same bracket and company will look at is same accessories, so its not a monumental task to switch the fire system and willfrom one agent to the other.want to know when it wasFor vessels which dont have a fire suppression system al-ready in place, Ellis said that the first thing to consider is last inspected.the volume of space that youll be protecting, which is most often an engine room. Using Sea-Fire Marines products as an example, the company offers what they call pre-engi-neered systems, which is like an off-the-shelf option, and We first touched on the phase out of FM-200 and changesengineered systems which are customized. The companys surrounding NOVEC 1230. Ellis started with some basicpre-engineered systems come in increments of 25 cubic feet. information on each. Both FM-200 and NOVEC 1230 areSo, if a builder had no fire system and an engine room that trade names, the first being manufactured by DuPont andis 390 cubic feet, theyd install a 400 cubic foot system. The the latter made by 3M. The chemical name for FM-200 iscylinder must be inside the space its protecting because it HFC-227ea (which stands for extinguishing agent), com- discharges directly from the cylinder. Therefore, the biggest monly referred to as HFCs, and NOVEC 1230 is FK-5-1-12.challenge for the boat builder is space as they must find a spot in the engine room to fit the systems cylinder. Theres TheAmericanInnovationandManufacturing(AIM)no pipe-in network for an off-the-shelf system.Act, enacted in December 2020, authorized the U.S. En-vironmental Protection Agency (EPA) to address HFCsCustom systems are used for larger applications. For a new by phasing them out as they are considered a potent green- vessel, a custom fire suppression system can be taken into house gas. The phase out approach will lead to an 85 per- account during the design and building process, making cent reduction below baseline levels in the production andinstallation straight forward.consumption of HFCs by 2036. Currently, HFCs are still available for businesses with this type of system in place.For any builder or operator, space is always the biggest con-Ellis explained that a company must apply for a quota eachcern when considering a fire suppression system, especially year and will be granted a certain amount of the extin- when installing one on an existing vessel. guishing agent. Once a fire suppression system is in place, its up to the op-As the FM 200 phase down has begun, companies haveerator to regularly inspect the cylinders. Theres a pressure started to transition to FK-5-1-12. Ellis said that there havegaugeoneachcylinderwithagreenportionindicating beenspeculationsaboutsomeaspectsofFK-5-1-12,butthatitsadequatelychargedandholdingpressure,ared there is currently no phase out of the product. After theirsection which is the danger area indicating it may need to patent on NOVEC 1230 expired, 3M announced in De- be recharged, and a white section which means the cylinder FOGHORN 22'