FM-200 (HFC227ea)
Fire Suppression System

FM-200 is the trade name for heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea), a colorless, odorless, electrically non-conductive clean agent stored as a liquefied gas under nitrogen pressure. When a fire is detected, FM-200 discharges as a vapor that floods the protected enclosure within seconds, extinguishing the fire through a dual mechanism before it can cause significant damage.

FM-200 belongs to the HFC (hydrofluorocarbon) family of clean agents. It was developed as a replacement for halon — the highly effective but ozone-depleting suppression agent phased out under the Montreal Protocol. FM-200 has zero ozone depletion potential (ODP) and is fully compliant with Indonesian environmental regulations, including Keputusan Menteri Perindustrian No. 33 Tahun 2007 regarding global warming substances.

FM-200 is classified as a clean agent per the NFPA 2001 definition: electrically non-conductive, volatile, and gaseous — leaving no residue upon evaporation. This means no cleanup, no equipment contamination, and no secondary damage beyond the fire itself.

FM-200 suppresses fire through two simultaneous mechanisms that work together to collapse the fire triangle faster than any single-mechanism agent:

1. Heat Absorption (Thermodynamic Mechanism)

FM-200 absorbs large amounts of heat energy from the combustion reaction as it vaporizes in the protected space. By rapidly removing heat — one of the three elements of the fire triangle — FM-200 reduces the fire’s energy below the threshold required for self-sustaining combustion. This is the primary suppression mechanism and accounts for the majority of FM-200’s fire-extinguishing effectiveness.

2. Chemical Interference (Catalytic Mechanism)

FM-200 also interferes with the chemical chain reactions that sustain combustion at the molecular level. The HFC-227ea molecule reacts with free radicals produced by the combustion process, interrupting the chain reaction and accelerating suppression. This chemical action means FM-200 achieves effective suppression at lower concentrations than purely oxygen-depleting agents — allowing the system to work without reducing oxygen to levels unsafe for human presence.

The combination of these two mechanisms allows FM-200 to achieve fire suppression at a design concentration of approximately 7–8% by volume — reached within 10 seconds of discharge initiation — while maintaining an oxygen concentration well above the safe human threshold.

Suppresses Fire in 10 Seconds or Less

FM-200 reaches its design concentration throughout the protected enclosure in 10 seconds or less from the moment of discharge — before a fire can grow large enough to cause significant damage to servers, storage systems, networking equipment, or power infrastructure. For live IT environments where even a small fire can cause catastrophic data loss or hardware destruction, this speed is the critical performance criterion that makes FM-200 the preferred choice.

Zero Residue — Servers Stay Clean

FM-200 vaporizes completely upon discharge, leaving absolutely no residue on any surface. Unlike water-based systems (which flood and short-circuit equipment), dry powder systems (which leave fine contaminating powder throughout the space), or foam systems (which coat every surface), FM-200 discharge leaves the protected room in exactly the same condition as before — except that the fire is out. Equipment can be inspected and returned to service after system ventilation, without decontamination.

Electrically Non-Conductive

FM-200 does not conduct electricity. It can be safely discharged into a room full of live, energized electrical equipment — servers running at full load, powered UPS systems, active switchgear — without any risk of electrical short circuit from the agent itself. This is a mandatory requirement for data center and server room protection.

Safe for Occupied Spaces at Design Concentration

FM-200 at its design concentration of 7–8% by volume is safe for human occupancy per NFPA 2001 NOAEL (No Observed Adverse Effect Level) limits. Unlike CO2 systems — which discharge at immediately life-threatening concentrations — an FM-200 discharge will not instantly incapacitate or kill building occupants who have not yet evacuated. This does not eliminate the requirement for pre-discharge alarms and evacuation, but it provides a critical safety margin in facilities where rapid complete evacuation cannot always be guaranteed.

Compact Storage — Minimal Equipment Room Space

FM-200 is stored as a liquefied gas under nitrogen pressure in compact cylinders. For a typical 50 m² server room, the entire FM-200 cylinder bank may be stored in as little as 0.5–1 m² of floor space — either inside the protected room itself or in an adjacent equipment area. This compact footprint is a significant practical advantage in data centers and telecommunications rooms where every square meter of space has high value.

Globally Proven — Over 100,000 Installations Worldwide

FM-200 has been installed in more than 100,000 systems across more than 70 countries since its introduction. This track record provides a level of real-world validation — in the widest range of facility types, climates, and operating conditions — that no other clean agent can match. PT Totalfire Indonesia has extensive experience installing FM-200 systems across Indonesia’s banking, telecommunications, industrial, and commercial sectors.

Laboratories & Research Facilities

Analytical laboratories, pharmaceutical research facilities, and scientific instrument rooms containing sensitive equipment that would be destroyed by water suppression are protected by FM-200 — ensuring research continuity and protecting expensive instruments from both fire and suppression-related secondary damage.

Electronic Data Processing (EDP) Areas

General EDP areas, computer rooms, and IT infrastructure supporting commercial and industrial operations are standard FM-200 applications. The system can be sized for rooms from small server cabinets to large-scale computing environments.

Archives, Vaults & Document Storage

Physical document archives, financial record vaults, and sensitive media storage rooms require residue-free suppression. FM-200’s zero-residue discharge protects both the documents and the storage facility without post-incident cleanup costs.

Switch & Distribution Cabinets

Individual electrical cabinets, distribution boards, and switchgear enclosures can be protected by compact FM-200 systems — either as standalone cabinet-level protection or as part of a larger room-level system, depending on the risk assessment.

• FM-200 Cylinder Assembly — Steel cylinders containing liquefied FM-200 pressurized with nitrogen; sized to provide the design agent quantity for the protected volume. Available in a range of cylinder sizes from small (typically 10 kg) to large (147 kg) configurations
• Cylinder Valve & Solenoid Actuator — The solenoid actuator opens the cylinder valve automatically upon signal from the control panel; a mechanical pull pin provides manual backup activation if electrical power is lost
• Distribution Piping & Nozzles — Engineered piping network delivering FM-200 from the cylinder(s) to precision-orificed discharge nozzles; nozzle placement calculated to achieve uniform agent distribution throughout the protected volume within the 10-second discharge time
• FM-200 Control Panel — The system brain; receives signals from fire detectors, manages the pre-discharge sequence (single-zone pre-alarm → cross-zone suppression → time delay countdown → discharge), provides abort functionality, and maintains system in automatic standby. Dual dry-cell battery backup maintains panel operation during power failure
• Cross-Zoned Smoke Detectors — Photoelectric or ionization smoke detectors in a cross-zone configuration; a single detector activating triggers pre-alarm only — two detectors in separate zones must activate to initiate the suppression sequence, preventing false discharges
• Pre-Discharge Warning Devices — Multi-tone sounders (minimum 94 dB) inside the protected space and at all access doors, providing mandatory evacuation warning; visual strobes for hearing-impaired personnel
• Gas Discharge Indicator Lamps — Visual indicators above all access doors that illuminate when FM-200 discharge is initiated, warning personnel not to enter the space
• Abort Station — Wall-mounted manual override at each egress point allowing authorized personnel to halt the discharge countdown during the pre-discharge delay; must be actively held to prevent discharge
• Manual Release Station — Allows manual system activation in emergency conditions where automatic detection has failed; for use by trained personnel only
• Pressure Switch & Low-Agent Alarm — Monitors cylinder pressure continuously; alerts maintenance personnel if agent quantity falls below minimum due to leakage between inspections
• Door Releases & HVAC Shutdown Interface — Automatic fire door closers and HVAC damper releases activated on alarm to seal the protected enclosure and prevent FM-200 loss through air handling openings

1. Single Zone Detection (Pre-Alarm) — A smoke detector in the first zone activates. The FM-200 control panel triggers a pre-alarm: multi-tone sounders inside the protected space activate, warning all personnel to evacuate. No suppression action occurs at this stage
2. Cross-Zone Detection (Suppression Sequence Initiated) — A second smoke detector in the cross-zone activates, confirming a genuine fire event. The control panel begins the suppression sequence
3. Pre-Discharge Time Delay — A programmable countdown (typically 30 seconds per NFPA 2001 requirements) provides time for complete evacuation. Gas discharge indicator lamps illuminate above all doors. The abort station can halt the sequence if needed
4. HVAC Shutdown & Door Closure — HVAC systems supplying the protected space are de-energized and fire-rated dampers close automatically, sealing the room to retain FM-200 at design concentration
5. Solenoid Valve Opens — The solenoid actuator on the FM-200 cylinder valve opens, releasing liquefied FM-200 under nitrogen pressure into the distribution piping
6. Agent Discharge & Vaporization — FM-200 flows through the piping and discharges through the nozzles as a rapidly vaporizing gas, flooding the entire protected volume uniformly within 10 seconds
7. Fire Suppression — FM-200 simultaneously absorbs heat and interrupts combustion chemistry, collapsing the fire before it can grow. The oxygen level in the room remains at safe levels for personnel — a critical distinction from CO2 systems
8. Hold Period — Per NFPA 2001, a minimum of 85% of the design FM-200 concentration must be maintained for at least 10 minutes after discharge to ensure complete fire suppression and prevent re-ignition. This requires adequate enclosure integrity
9. Post-Discharge Ventilation — After the fire is confirmed extinguished by qualified personnel, the space is ventilated to remove FM-200 and any combustion products before full re-entry
10. System Reset & Recharge — Discharged cylinders are identified and sent for recharging. The system is reset to automatic standby and the protection enclosure is restored

For applications where environmental performance is the primary priority alongside fast suppression, see our Novec 1230 System. For unoccupied industrial hazards, see our CO2 System. For zero-GWP requirements, see our Inert Gas System.

• Novec 1230 System — Next-generation clean agent with near-zero GWP; same 10-second suppression speed as FM-200 with superior environmental credentials
• Inert Gas System — Zero GWP naturally occurring gas blend for archives, museums, and facilities with strict environmental requirements
• CO2 System — Cost-effective total flooding and local application for unoccupied industrial hazards and machinery

• Sprinkler System — Automatic water-based suppression for the broader facility surrounding the FM-200-protected room
• Wet Pipe System — For offices, corridors, and common areas adjacent to the server room
• Fire Hydrant System — Manual large-scale suppression for the overall facility
• Water Spray System — For transformer and industrial equipment protection in the same facility