Flame Inhibition Chemistry and the Search for Additional Fire Fighting Chemicals (NIST SP 861)

Published

April 1, 1994

Author(s)

Marc R. Nyden, Gregory T. Linteris, Donald R. Burgess Jr., P R. Westemoreland, Wing Tsang, Michael R. Zachariah

Abstract

Replacements for the current commercial halons should posses a diverse set of properties which are rarely found together in the same molecule. Thus, the ideal candidate for the replacement of halon 1301 would be a nontoxic gas which is reactive in flames and in the troposphere, yet at the same time, inert in the stratosphere and in its storage environment. The present generation of replacements, as typified by the core candidates listed in Section 1, were selected on the basis of a compromise, whereby fire suppression efficiency was sacrificed to ensure acceptable environmental properties. The research reported in this section was directed at developing the capability to predict the fire suppression effectiveness, propensity to generate corrosive combustion products, and environmental impact of a molecule on the basis of its structure. This is essential to the development of a rational approach to the search for new and more effective fire fighting chemicals.

Citation

Special Publication (NIST SP) - 861

Report Number

861

NIST Pub Series

Special Publication (NIST SP)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.861

Keywords

halons, flame extinguishment, flame chemistry, chemical fire fighting, kinetics, hydrocarbons, fire suppression, effectiveness, ozone, reaction rate

Citation

Nyden, M. , Linteris, G. , Burgess, D. , Westemoreland, P. , Tsang, W. and Zachariah, M. (1994), Flame Inhibition Chemistry and the Search for Additional Fire Fighting Chemicals (NIST SP 861), Special Publication (NIST SP), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.SP.861 (Accessed October 18, 2025)