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Video Product Demonstrations
Global Safety Labs, Inc.;      Monday, 01 December 2008
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Product Applications

Fire Suppression
Steel - Slag Industry
Law Enforcement
Fire & Rescue
Industrial
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Engineered Systems
Boating
Automotive
Aerospace
Military
Heavy Equipment
Reactive Metals
Laboratory Testing
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Arctic Fire-Freeze™ Spentex™ Escape Cape™/Escape Hood™ Zerocel™ Spentex Arctic Fire Freeze

Product Information

Arctic Fire-Freeze™
Spentex™/Spentex™ FR Clothing
Escape Cape™/Escape Hood™
Zerocel™

Product Tests

Tire Fire Test
Lithium Fire Test
Oral Toxicity Test
Product Comparison
PCERF TPP Test

Documented Life Saves

Spring, 2004 Nucor Steel, Blytheville, Arkansas The pot carrier operator lost control, missing the vehicle's alignment with the stop bumpers. The pot emptied around the vehicle at which time the vehicle burst into flames. The operator activated the system and was not burned.
Lithium Fire Test PDF Print E-mail
OVERALL EVALUATION AND CONCLUSIONS

Based on the results of these tests, it was shown that Arctic Fire-Freeze™ (AFF) is unsurpassed in extinguishing lithium fires in record times.  The FAA Report (cited above) shows that Halogen type agents are "ineffective" for extinguishing "primary" Lithium Battery fires, while AFF can extinguish the fire and provide instant cooling.  This type of extinguishment would be applicable in "primary" Lithium Battery Fires (including fires from computer batteries, camera batteries, etc.). In completely extinguishing AND cooling the three (3) "Primary" Lithium Batteries which were ignited, only 2 quarts of AFF was necessary for both extinguishment and cooling.  Further, the total time required for extinguishment was as low as ten (10) seconds.
DATE:    April 15, 2007 LOCATION:   Rural Tulsa - Oklahoma

Participants/Observers:


David Osborne - Fireman - Tulsa Fire Dept
Michael Freeman - GSL
Tom Wright - GSL
Mitchael Freeman - GSL
Michaela L. Freeman - GSL
Jessica Jackson - GSL       

Test Conditions:

 

lft_photo01.jpg
Photo 01
A pad of Global Safety Labs Spentex™ Fire-Proof Cloth was used as a Test Bed for the combustion of "primary" Lithium Batteries.  The weather was clear and above 70° F with little wind and no rain.


 

ANALYTICAL DATA

 

Test Plan:


The test was planned to demonstrate the ability of the Arctic Fire-Freeze™ ("AFF™") AFF-Class D Agent to extinguish an active Lithium Battery fire which involved the combustion of two "primary" Lithium Batteries (Li-MnO2).  "Primary" Lithium Batteries exhibit the release of oxygen to sustain the exothermic reaction.  These are different from Li-Ion type batteries as Li-Ion cells do not contain metallic lithium as do lithium primaries.  The Lithium Batteries that had been opened to expose the unspent metallic lithium were ignited by a fire source (a propane torch).  An off-duty representative from the Tulsa Fire Department was on hand to observe the tests.    One of the goals in this test was to show extinguishment capabilities of AFF-Class D Agent on an ignited Lithium Battery. (See, GSL Test Photo 1).

Historical:


According to the FAA Report "DOT/FAA/AR-04/26, "Flammability Assessment of Bulk-Packed, Nonrechargeable Lithium Primary Batteries in Transport Category Aircraft" (June 2004) http://www.mobilit.fgov.be/data/aero/FAALiBaFiRe.pdf   Halon and like replacement "Clean Agents" cannot suppress a primary Lithium Battery Fire.  The FAA's Report states: A relatively small fire source is sufficient to start a primary lithium battery fire. The outer plastic coating easily melts and fuses adjacent batteries together and then ignites, contributing to the fire intensity. This helps raise the battery temperature to the self-ignition temperature of lithium. Once the lithium in a single battery begins to burn, it releases enough energy to ignite adjacent batteries. This propagation continues until all batteries have been consumed.   Halon 1301, the fire suppression agent installed in transport category aircraft, is ineffective in suppressing or extinguishing a primary lithium battery fire. Halon 1301 appears to chemically interact with the burning lithium and electrolyte, causing a color change in the molten lithium sparks, turning them a deep red instead of the normal white. This chemical interaction has no effect on battery fire duration or intensity.  (Emphasis Added).  Because of this inability of Halon type agents to extinguish Lithium Battery Fires, GSL has conducted tests to validate its ability to suppress and extinguish "primary" Lithium Battery fires.

GSL Test  04415:

 

lft_photo02.jpg
Photo 02
In this test, 2 standard "primary" Lithium Non-Rechargable Batteries (Li-MnO2) were used to demonstrate.  Prior to the test the Lithium Batteries were opened so that the lithium would be exposed to flame and to reduce the explosiveness of the batteries when on fire.  No Accelerant was applied prior to ignition.  Ignition to combustion was accomplished by fire from a propane torch applied directly to the exposed lithium. After (Photo 2) the ignition of the lithium,  the batteries were allowed to burn for 8 seconds to reach maximum burning temperature.  They achieved a burn temperature of 473° F. (See Photo 2).                                                                         

 

Extinguisher  Data:


The test was conducted using one (1) GSL Hand-held Extinguisher filled with the AFF product formulation 1015. The extinguisher was a standard 2.5 gallon GSL Model 250 Extinguisher unit with an aspirating nozzle under initial air pressure of 100 psi (prior to use).

Extinguishment:

 

lft_photo03.jpg
Photo 03
Prior to the initiation of each test, the weight of the extinguishers - filled with AFF was measured on an electronic scale and recorded. The weight was measured and recorded again after the completion of the test.

 

Time Required For Extinguishment:


After the initial burn period, the GSL Extinguisher was activated to extinguish the Lithium Batteries that were on fire. Within 10 seconds after initiating the application of the AFF the fire was totally extinguished.  Within said 10 seconds the Lithium Batteries temperatures were reduced to 69° F (Less than ambient temperature for that day).  (See Photo 3)

Quantity Applied:


In this test, the extinguisher applied less than two (2) pounds of AFF-Class D Agent to completely extinguish AND cool the Lithium Batteries.   The volume required for extinguishment was only two (2) quarts of Arctic Fire-Freeze with a significant amount of this volume being applied after the fire was completely extinguished to cool the batteries to less than ambient temperature of 69° F within the ten (10) seconds.
                                                                                                           

Final Observation:


In this test, the Lithium Batteries had completely combusted and exhibited red/orange/white flames and color from combustion. The fire was quickly extinguished, and after applying additional AFF for cooling, the Lithium Batteries were reduced to a temperature of 69° F, showing cooling to less than ambient temperatures within ten (10) seconds.  

All ingredients of AFF are listed on the TSCA Inventory.  AFF has a rating of ZERO for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) by current industry and governmental standards.  No AFF ingredients/compounds are believed to be hazardous or listed on the NIOSH Recommendations for Occupational Safety and Health Standards.  Nor are any ingredients/compounds listed as hazardous by CERCLA, RCRA.   No OSHA PELS are established for any AFF ingredients/compounds.  A recent Report of lab testing from the Eurofins Product Safety Labs (dated 3/30/07) concludes:
  
"The product, Arctic Fire-Freeze™, meets the national standard for a non-toxic substance."

 
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