NEXT-GENERATION FIRE SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM (NGP) 

A STATUS REPORT 

Richard G. Gann, Ph.D. 

Technical Program Manager 

and 

Chief Fire Science Division 

Building and Fire Research Laboratory 

National Institute of Standards and Technology 

A. TheNGP 

The Department of Defense has initiated an 8-year, $46 million research program to develop new 

fire suppression technologies for the replacement of halon 1301 in weapon systems. The goal of the 

NGP is to develop and demonstrate, by 2004, halon 1301 alternative technologies that are easily 

retrofitable into currently fielded weapon systems (is., within their form, fit, and function 

constraints). The processes, techniques, and fluids pursued in the NGP must be economically 

feasible, environmentally acceptable, and user-safe; while meeting the operational requirements now 

satisfied by halon 1301 systems in current aircraft, ships, and land combat vehicles. If successful, 

the NGP could eliminate DOD dependence on a substance no longer in national production and 

minimize any readiness impacts that could result ifhalon 1301 use restrictions were imposed in the 

future. The NGP will develop and demonstrate next-generation technologies to a level that will 

enable DOD weapon system managers to make prudent decisions based on cost, risk, schedule, and 

capability needs. Real-scale validation testing will demonstrate the readiness of these alternative 

technologies for system applications; however, this program will not develop fire suppression 

systems for specific weapon systems. 

The NGP consists of 24 Elements divided among 6 Technology Thrusts: 

1. RISK ASSESSMENT AND SELECTION METHODOLOGY: Development of a process 

for choosing among alternative technologies by applying modem decision-making concepts. 

2. FIRE SUPPRESSION PRINCIPLES: Establishment of mechanisms of flame 

extinguishment using detailed experimental studies and computational models. 

TECHNOLOGY TESTING METHODOLOGIES: Selection, adaptation, or development 

of test methods and instrumentation to obtain data on the effectiveness and properties of new 

suppression approaches. 

NEW SUPPRESSION CONCEPTS: Definition of new ideas for fire suppression based on 

chemical and physical principles. 

EMERGING TECHNOLOGY ADVANCEMENT: Acceleration to maturity of fluids, 

3. 

4. 

5. 
processes and techniques that are already under development. 

SUPPRESSION OPTIMIZATION: Development of knowledge to obtain the highest 

efficiency of each candidate technology. 

6. 

B. FY1997 Program 

After receiving competitive proposals from both government and non-government organizations, 

ten projects have been selected to begin in FYI997 and are now underway: 

1 .a. 

2.a. 

4d-2 

DEVELOPMENT OF MODEL FIRES FOR FIRE SUPPRESSION RESEARCH 

Principal Investigator: Anthony Finnerty, ARL 

Associate Investigators: Michael Bennett and Juan Vitali, WL; Ronald Sheinson, NRL 

Objective: Construct a small set of model fires, based on understanding of the specific types 

of DoD fires and their incidence data, and tabulate the constraints of current halon 1301 

systems to serve as foci for the other research elements. 

Principal Deliverable: Same as Objective 

MECHANISMS OF ULTRA-HIGH EFFICIENCY CHEMICAL SUPPRESSANTS 

Principal Investigator: Kevin McNesby, ARL 

Associate Investigators: Andrzej Miziolek, and Robert Daniel, ARL; Mitchell Smooke, 

Yale; Wing Tsang, NIST 

Objective: Determine how chemicals that are as or more efficient than halon 1301 quench 

the various flames that are of military interest. 

Principal Deliverables: Identification of the most vulnerable steps in flame propagation 

chemistry; key properties of chemicals that have high impact on those steps; flame chemistry 

model for appraising further candidate chemicals; input for models of flame extinction; new 

families of candidate suppressants. 

IDENTIFICATION AND PROOF TESTING OF NEW TOTAL FLOODING AGENTS 

Principal Investigator: Robert E. Tapscott, NMERI 

Objective: Identify and develop performance data for best compounds from among the 

following classes: phosphorous nitrides, silanes, siloxanes. If a case can be made for 

fluorinated amines and/or ethers. then add them to the set. 

Principal Deliverable: 

candidates for further study. 

Determination of which types of these chemicals are the best 

Halon OptionsTechnical Working Conference 6-8 May i997 187 
4d-13. FLAME INHIBITION BY PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING COMPOUNDS 

Principal Investigator: Elizabeth M. Fisher, Cornell University 

Associate Investigator: Frederick Gouldin, Cornell University 

Objective: Identify and obtain performance data on the best of these chemicals, relations of 

which have been widely used in fire retardancy. 

Principal Deliverable: Determination of whether and which types of phosphorus-containing 

chemicals are reasonable candidates for further study. 

2.b. SUPPRESSION EFFECTIVENESS OF AEROSOLS AND PARTICLES 

Principal Investigator: Ronald Sheinson, NRL 

Associate Investigator: James Fleming, NRL 

Objective: Obtain the data and understanding of in-flame aerosol behavior necessary to 

engineer improved heterogeneous agent dispersion systems with enhanced fire-extinction 

capability and to guide identification of candidate high-boiling liquids and particles. 

Principal Deliverables: Diagnostics for in-flame characterization of fine aerosols and 

particles. Identification of their principal physical and chemical effects affecting the 

suppression process(es) within the flame. 

4d-8. ELECTRICALLY CHARGED WATER MISTS FOR EXTINGUISHING FIRES 

Principal Investigator: Charles H. Berman, AeroChem Research Laboratory 

Objective: Determine whether charged water droplets are drawn to a fire and are more 

effective at suppressing it. 

Principal Deliverable: Report on the effect (reduced mass and/or time) of charged water 

droplets on fire suppression. 

4d-1. DEVELOPMENT OF A SELF ATOMIZING FORM OF WATER 

Principal Investigator: Richard K. Lyon, EER, Inc. 

Objective: Make mist systems consisting of molecular hydrates and determine whether they 

“explode” downstream, increasing the effectiveness of total flooding. 

Principal Deliverable: Assessment of whether flashing of water can be effected by molecular 

hydrates and the approximate temperature range over which this is possible. 

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3.a. DISPERSED LIQUID AGENT FIRE SUPPRESSION SCREEN 

Principal Investigator: Jiann C. Yang, NIST 

Objective: Develop a bench-scale method for comparing the flame extinction performance 

of dispersed gases and liquids. 

Principal Deliverable: Reliable bench-scale method for obtaining quantitative data on the 

effectiveness of candidate gaseous and liquid suppressants. 

2.c. STABILIZATION OF FLAMES 

Principal Investigator: Vincent Belovich, WL 

Associate Investigators: W.M. Roquemore, WL; Sheldon Tieszen, SNL 

Objective: Understand how and the extent to which flame stabilization can impact the 

observed effect of a suppressant and guide identification of technologies that mitigate this 

limit to suppression efficiency. 

Principal Deliverables: Establishment of worst cases for extinguishment by gaseous, liquid 

and solid suppressants and the increases in agent concentrations needed to cause 

extinguishment. 

3.c. LASER-BASED INSTRUMENTATION FOR REAL-TIME, IN-SITU MEASUREMENTS 

OF COMBUSTIBLE GASES, COMBUSTION BY-PRODUCTS, AND SUPPRESSANT 

CONCENTRATIONS 

Principal investigator: Kevin McNesby, ARL 

Associate Investigators: Paul C. Klara, Aberdeen Test Center and Andrzej Miziolek, ARL 

Objective: Measure gas production and distribution during suppression of deflagrations in 

crew and engine compartments of a ground vehicle: 

Principal Deliverahles: New instrumentation methods ready for use for all platforms of 

interest to the NGP. 

C. FYI998 New Start Solicitation 

In January, 1997, proposals were solicited from both government laboratories for research in 16 

Elements of the NGP and from non-government organizations in 7 of those Elements. The areas are: 

Halon OptionsTechnical Working Conference 6-8 May 1997 189 
1 .b. ULLAGE INERTING IN-FLIGHT DATA COLLECTION 

Objective: Obtain accurate data on in-flight ullage conditions on which to base a valid fire 

protection strategy. 

Product: Assessment of proper fuel/air conditions needing protection based on accurate ullage fuel 

concentration data and other conditions in flight throughout the flight envelope. 

I.c. RELATIVE BENEFIT ASSESSMENT OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM CHANGES 

Objective: Develop means to evaluate the relative desirability of potentially effective changes to fire 

protection systems and changes in fire suppression procedures that would enhance the efficiency of 

the suppression process. 

Products: Methodology for assessing the impact each change in suppression system parameters has 

upon the effectiveness and cost of the entire weapons system. 

2.a. MECHANISMS OF ULTRA-HIGH EFFICIENCY CHEMICAL SUPPRESSANTS 

Objective: Determine how chemicals that are as or more efficient than halon 1301 quench flames 

characteristic of those identified in Thrust 1. This entails differentiating between chemical and 

physical effects, heterogeneous and homogeneous chemistry, etc. 

Products: Identification of the most vulnerable steps in flame propagation chemistry; key properties 

of fluid, aerosol, or particulate chemicals that have high impact on those steps; flame chemistry 

model for appraising further candidate chemicals. 

2.b. SUPPRESSION DYNAMICS OF FINE DROPLETS AND PARTICLES 

Objective: Obtain the data and understanding required to engineer improved heterogeneous agent 

dispersion systems with enhanced fire-extinction capability. 

Product: A validated model of the dominant suppression process(es) of small particles and aerosols. 

2.d. EXPLOSION INHIBITION PROCESSES 

Objective: Develop basis for "designing" explosion suppressants. 

Products: A verified model of extinction of deflagrations; performance metrics for fast-flame 

quenchers. 
3.a. SUPPRESSION SYSTEM EFFECTIVENESS SCREENING 

Objective: Select, adapt, or develop test methods to obtain inexpensive fire suppression efficiency 

information on a diversity of suppression technologies. 

Products: Techniques for estimating suppression technology performance; apparatus documentation 

for replication by other laboratories. 

3.b. AGENT COMPATIBILITY WITH PEOPLE, MATERIALS AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Objective: Select, adapt, or develop test methods to obtain data on the toxicity, environmental 

impact, and materials compatibility of new suppressants and their principal degradation products 

during the tire extinguishment process. 

Product: “Loose-leaf” handbook fully documenting methods for obtaining performance measures 

of the key properties of new agents and identifying the best temporary measures for those properties 

where there is no consensus method. 

3.c. INSTRUMENTATION FOR GASEOUS FUELS, OXYGEN, AND SUPPRESSANT 

CONCENTRATION MEASUREMENTS DURING SUPPRESSION OF FLAMES AND 

EXPLOSIONS 

Objective: Develop measurement methods needed for real-scale characterization of suppression 

performance and for determining combustion conditions in laboratory-scale apparatus. 

Products: Instruments suitable for measuring fuellair ratios, agent concentrations, particle size 

distributions, number densities, composition. velocities, and radiant flux as a function of time and 

space in laboratory and, as needed, full-scale suppression experiments. 

4.a. POWDER-MATRIX SYSTEMS 

Objective: Investigate the concept of an agent dissolved in an inert polymeric or inorganic matrix 

with the specific property that it will be released rapidly at a temperature near or below the ignition 

point of the combustible mixture. 

Product: New approach, with specific chemicals, for suppressing fires where cleanliness is not 

essential. 

Halon OptlOnSTeChniCal Wolking Conference 6-8 May 1997 191 
4.b. EVALUATION OF HIGHLY EFFECTIVE CHEMICAL SUPPRESSANTS 

Objective: Identify and evaluate the full range of chemically active suppressants that are as or more 

effective than CF,Br and sufficiently low in toxicity and environmental impact. 

Product: A list of promising chemically-active compounds with pertinent information on their 

physical and chemical properties, suppression efficiency, toxicity, storage stability, and breakdown 

products and their properties and toxicities. 

4.c. SUPER-EFFECTIVE THERMAL SUPPRESSANTS 

Objective: Determine whether there are practical physical suppressants of efficiency comparable 

to halon 1301. 

Product: A list of promising compounds with pertinent information on their physical and chemical 

properties, suppression efficiency, toxicity, storage stability, and breakdown products and their 

properties and toxicities. 

4.d. NEW AND MORE EFFECTIVE FIRE-SUPPRESSION TECHNOLOGIES THAT ARE 

PRESENTLY CONCEPTUAL 

Objective: Introduce new and innovative approaches to fire suppression at the onset of the nextgeneration halon replacement program. 

Product: New classes of high efficiency fire extinguishing agents and technologies 

5.a. LIQUID MIST SYSTEMS 

Objective: Improve small droplet suppression systems. 

Products: Enhancements for mist suppression technology; new high efficiency fire extinguishing 

agents. 

5.d. 

Objective: Develop new types of chemically-generated gaseous suppressants 

Products: New solid propellant gas generators and an understanding of the fundamentals of their 

behavior. 

ADVANCED PROPELLANT/ADDITIVE DEVELOPMENT FOR GAS GENERATORS 

192 Halon OplionsTechnicai Wor*ing Conference 6.8 May 1997 
6.b. SUPPRESSANT FLOW THROUGH PIPING 

Objective: fluids with widely varying physical properties and flow conditions. 

Products: A validated, available computer code for calculating single- and two-phase flow in pipes 

for fluids of diverse physical properties. Laboratory data on flows, pressure losses, friction 

coefficients, Reynolds numbers, etc., for water and other suppression system fluids in pipes under 

the needed range of pressures and flow velocities. 

6.c. MECHANISM OF UNWANTED ACCELERATED BURNING 

Objective: Characterization of the mechanisms responsible for the enhanced burning which is 

sometimes observed when fire extinguishing agents are first applied to flames. 

Products: Tabulation of test conditions to be replicated (if accelerated burning is a concern for that 

type of fire) and real-scale conditions to be avoided. 

79 proposals have been received and subjected to peer review. The programmatic review process 

is underway, with decisions expected in mid-September, 1997. 

D. FY1999 Solicitation Plan 

A solicitation for proposals to a smaller set of project areas is expected to be issued in December, 

1997. Proposals will likely be due in March, 1998. At present, it is expected that the announcement 

will appear at the SERDP web site (www.hgl.comiSERDP) and in Commerce Business Daily. 

Halon OpliOnSTeChniCal Working Conlerence 6.8 May 1997 193