Design and installation guide
Green fire engineering: protection with environmental care
Preventing fire and limiting its spread form part of our aim to protect people, production and the environment together. Smoke, material loss and contaminated firefighting water also belong within that responsibility. We assess agents through suppression performance, operating conditions and management after discharge.
Özkartay’s green fire engineering approach aims to select documented, suitable technology and reduce environmental impacts throughout the project. Ecosystems, water resources and atmospheric effects inform design, testing, maintenance and waste decisions. Each environmental property is explained within its product and application scope.
01
Four foundations of environmental care
Fire safety and environmental responsibility are managed through the same project decisions. Suitable agents, necessary resources and after-use handling are planned together.
Environmentally considered agent selection
Fuel compatibility and suppression performance are assessed alongside fluorinated ingredients, ozone depletion, climate effects and environmental tests. Suitable NFF/F3 foams, inert gases and FK-5-1-12 options are evaluated using their own documentation. A family name does not establish identical environmental properties for every model.
Water and resource efficiency
Required flow, operating duration and water volume are calculated for the hazard. In tested applications, water mist can reduce water demand and secondary wetting effects. Benefits are determined using systems protecting the same hazard to the required performance. Pumps, energy demand and collection of contaminated water also inform design.
After-use management and disposal
Collection and handling are planned for agent residues, contaminated water, packaging and equipment at end of life. Gas recovery, reuse or disposal depends on agent properties and applicable law. Competent personnel, suitable equipment and authorised or licensed providers are used where required, with transfer and treatment records retained.
Green-building objectives and environmental management
LEED and BREEAM objectives are assessed against the chosen scheme, project criteria and evidence requirements. Product data, calculations and maintenance records support the project team’s assessment. ISO 14001 provides an environmental-management framework for identifying impacts, setting objectives and monitoring improvement. Organisation certification is assessed within its activity and validity scope.
02
Matching technology to environmental objectives
Product, fuel, hardware and site conditions are verified within the same design. Technical data, safety information and project calculations together establish the meaning of an environmental benefit.
Foam and gaseous agents
- NFF/F3 foams and PFAS
- PFAS is a broad substance group that includes PFOS and PFOA. NFF/F3 products with documented absence of intentionally added PFAS are matched to the actual fuel and proportioning equipment. Biodegradability is assessed by test method, duration and classification; non-fluorinated formulation alone does not establish complete biodegradation or harmlessness to aquatic life.
- Atmospheric indicators of clean agents
- Manufacturer sources identify zero ODP, GWP of approximately 1 and an atmospheric lifetime of about five days for FK-5-1-12. IG-100 is nitrogen, IG-55 nitrogen/argon, and IG-541 nitrogen/argon/carbon dioxide. Selection includes occupancy, enclosure integrity and pressure relief, together with filling, transport and system lifecycle impacts.
- NFF conversion of an existing system
- Legacy fluorinated residues in tanks, piping and equipment are assessed. Cleaning, appropriate analysis and any necessary replacement are planned. Viscosity, concentration and discharge devices are checked, with functional verification before return to service.
Water efficiency and controlled testing
- Water mist and fine droplets
- Fine droplets contribute to fire control through heat absorption and evaporation. Nozzles, pressure and application follow the selected system’s tested hazard scope. Reduced water use is assessed alongside required protection performance, reliable supply and actual hydraulic calculations.
- Puff flow checks and pipe leak testing
- A puff test uses controlled gas flow to assess the flow path and cleanliness. Pipe leak testing measures leakage under defined conditions. Manufacturer-approved dry air or nitrogen may be used. The checks are reported separately, with pressurisation and nitrogen handling carried out by competent personnel using suitable site controls.
- Door Fan and the test plan
- Door Fan measurements assess air leakage and predicted agent retention without discharging extinguishing agent. This does not replace piping tests or all commissioning checks. Required functional and discharge tests follow manufacturer instructions, standards and project acceptance criteria, with collection planned for any agent and water used.
Traceable environmental management
- Assess regulatory applicability
- REACH and EU F-gas rules cover different substances and equipment. Jurisdiction, agent, use and transitional provisions are reviewed for the project. Current product information informs supply, maintenance and replacement, alongside environmental and waste requirements at the project location.
- Maintenance that reduces leakage risk
- Cylinders, manifolds, valves and piping receive appropriate joint and leak checks. Faults, pressure loss and maintenance findings are tracked, with required verification after leak correction. Reducing unintended discharge and emission risk is an operating objective sustained through inspection and records.
- Collection, recovery and transfer records
- Agent identity and contamination determine the appropriate recovery or disposal route. Uncontrolled discharge of foam, wash water and contaminated firefighting water is prevented. Suitable gas recovery equipment, required waste authorisations and transfer documents are assessed and included in facility environmental records.
03
Environmental objectives for the facility
The same environmental approach leads to different application decisions across facilities. Hazards, operating arrangements and project evidence are assessed together.
Production, chemical and fuel facilities
- Facility need
- Combustible materials, existing foam, water supply and spill/firefighting-water handling are assessed together.
- Özkartay approach
- Documented fuel compatibility supports NFF selection alongside hardware conversion and collection/treatment planning.
Data centres and electrical rooms
- Facility need
- Electronic equipment, enclosure conditions and occupancy require protection.
- Özkartay approach
- Suitable clean agents or inert gases are selected alongside Door Fan assessment, pressure relief, maintenance and after-use management.
Buildings pursuing green-building objectives
- Facility need
- Water, material, operational and evidence objectives are matched to the assessment scheme.
- Özkartay approach
- Product information and calculations are reviewed with the LEED/BREEAM team; contribution depends on applicable criteria and whole-building performance.
04
What is assessed for environmental care
Scroll the table horizontally to view every column.
| Parameter | What is assessed | Özkartay approach |
|---|---|---|
| Foam technology | Fuel, fluorinated ingredients, concentration and existing hardware. | Suitable NFF/F3, product environmental evidence and controlled conversion. |
| Gaseous agents | ODP, GWP, application and occupancy. | Assess documented atmospheric properties alongside hazard and enclosure suitability. |
| Water consumption | Flow, duration and required performance. | Tested water mist or suitable protection, supported by project water calculations. |
| Testing method | Flow, piping leaks, enclosure integrity and acceptance criteria. | A controlled plan recognising separate puff, pipe-test and Door Fan functions. |
| After use | Agent, contaminated water, packaging and equipment. | Suitable collection, authorised treatment and traceable transfer records. |
| Regulation and building objectives | Applicable provisions and project criteria. | Project review of REACH/F-gas applicability and LEED/BREEAM evidence needs. |
Environmental benefits are explained through product documentation and project data. Building certification addresses the whole project, while organisation management-system certification has its own activity scope.
Plan fire safety together with environmental responsibility. Share your hazards, existing agents and environmental objectives so we can assess suitable products, resource use and after-use management together.