Marine Firefighting

Fires at sea pose the risk of disastrous events in challenging surroundings. Fires on container vessels, e.g. as a result of undeclared hazardous goods demand efficiency, experience and speed. Fires in cargo holds, on car decks, battery rooms or in the engine room require a reliable extinguishing technology, especially when evacuation is not an option. F-500 EA is proven and tested in these scenarios and is used with standard marine equipment by commercial and military users.

• Effective on 98% of fires
• Fully extinguishes lithium-ion battery fires
• Saves up to 80% water
• Encapsulates fuels, gases and toxins
• Superior heat dissipation and cooling properties
• Eco-friendly, non-hazardous and readily biodegradable
• RINA type approval and MED certified

F-500 Encapsulating Agent is a liquid concentrate which is admixed to water. It can be applied with existing standard equipment.

Encapsulating technology: When admixed to water, F-500 EA forms stable, spherical micelles (in accordance with NFPA 18A), encapsulating fuels and flammable substances on a molecular level, permanently rendering them nonflammable and non-ignitable. Fires loose their fuels as a result of this innovative technology. Also, toxins, smoke and soot are encapsulated within the stable, spherical micelles (e.g. fluorine compounds with battery fires)

Superior cooling: F-500 EA reduces the evaporating temperature of water to 70 °C by impacting the hydrogen bonds
of water. Heat energy from fires dissipates rapidly, surfaces and structures cool down substantially quicker.

Surface tension: F-500 EA reduces the surface tension of water by more than 50%. This creates smaller water droplets, increasing the available water surface for cooling and encapsulation. The reduced surface tension also allows for highly improved surface penetration and surface activity of the extinguishing water, helping F-500 EA
to spread quicker and get to where it is needed.

Battery fires: As stated in NFPA 18A, F-500 EA is able to fully and sustainably extinguish lithium-ion battery fires. Actively intervening in a thermal runaway, F-500 EA encapsulates the electrolyte and rapidly cools the battery
as well as surrounding structures below critical temperatures.

Innovative Encapsulator Technology provides this multi-purpose firefighting agent with unique properties, allowing effective application on class A, class B, class D and class F/K fires. It currently is the sole technology to fully and sustainably extinguish lithium-ion battery fires. Actively intervening in a thermal runaway, F-500 EA encapsulates the electrolyte and rapidly cools the battery as well as surrounding structures below critical temperatures. For class D fires, F-500 EA currently is the only availble water-based extinguishing technology in the market. F-500 EA can be used on certain combustible metals, such as aluminum, magnesium, titanium and other. Also, F-500 EA works
exceptionally well with three dimensional fires.

F-500 EA is proven, tested, widely certified and can be used with existing, standard equipment, such as sprinklers, hydrants, fog/mist systems or mobile solutions. Foam based extinguishing systems can easily be retrofitted for use with F-500 EA. Fire and rescue services can use the unique venturi Turbo Nozzle, exclusively produced by AWG fittings. F-500 EA is certified for use in many proportioning appliances and systems. The F-500 EA concentrate is admixed to water at a ratio of 0.1% to 3%, depending on application. It is just as effective in closed rooms as in outdoor applications.

F-500 EA is approved for use to extinguish Class A and Class B fires according to DIN EN2 (MPA Dresden, SP83/08), also according to UL and NFPA (“Encapsulator Agent” in accordance with NFPA 18A). It is approved for maritime use by RINA and is MED-certified (“Wheelmark”). F-500 EA complies with legal standards with regards to safety, toxicity and hygiene. It is fluorine free, non-toxic, nonhazardous and eco-compatible. F-500 EA is readily biodegradable (OECD 306 & OECD 301b) and REACH compliant. Up to 3% admixture of F-500 EA to water is non-hazardous and meets the German Water Hazard Classification of 0 (VwVwS 1999, version dated 2005). There is no fire extinguishing agent with a lower water hazard classification. Non-hazardous waste under RCRA CFR261.

For more information on F-500 EA please send an E-Mail to Max Foster, or give us a call: +49 (0) 40 740 648 35

Further reading:

• Key facts about F-500 EA on one page
• Marina Militare Italiana (Italian Navy): Application of F-500 EA on MMI-Units and Cavour (aircraft carrier)
• RINA - Registro Italiano Navale: Approval for use of F-500 EA on all vessels classed by RINA