3M Blue Sky Warranty Provides Peace of Mind Amidst New F-gas Regulation

BRACKNELL, England, September 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --

Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid by 3M offers fire suppression market an environmentally sustainable solution for now and the future. 

3M is pleased to announce that its Blue Sky Warranty for Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid by 3M provides the fire suppression industry with peace of mind in light of the recent approval of the new EU F-gas Regulation*.  Novec 1230 fluid addresses the industry's needs for clean agent fire protection while offering an environmentally sustainable alternative to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs).  

HFCs are impacted by the latest F-gas Regulation, which comes into effect in January 2015.  However, Novec 1230 fluid is not affected by any existing or future legislation including the new F-gas Regulation.  To provide extra reassurance to customers, so they are comfortable and confident in specifying Novec 1230 fluid, 3M is offering the Blue Sky Warranty for a period of 20 years. The Blue Sky Warranty is a global warranty - providing peace of mind directly to the regions impacted by the F-gas Regulation.

In March 2014, the European Parliament voted to support a European Commission proposal to cut the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) 79 per cent below average 2009-2012 CO₂ equivalent levels by 2030.  Under the regulations, HFC producers will be allocated a production/import quota for HFCs.  Because the quota will be in CO₂ equivalent and HFCs sold into fire suppression have some of the highest global warming potentials (GWPs) relative to other sectors, this framework does not favour HFCs sold into fire suppression. Thus they are likely to be more severely impacted than HFCs sold into other sectors.  HFC-227ea, HFC-125 and HFC-236fa are targeted in the overall scope of the regulation.  HFC-23 will be prohibited from being placed on the market after 1 January  2016.  Therefore, practical implications of the new ruling affect not just emission levels, but also the production and importation of HFCs.

"It is a mistake to think that the F-gas Regulation can be dismissed on the basis that HFCs have low emissions in fire suppression," says Bart Goeman, business development manager for 3M Electronics Materials Solutions Division.  "The F-gas Regulation is about reducing the use of HFCs through the cap and phase-down of the production and importation of HFCs.  Plus, given that fire suppression systems can easily be in situ for 20 or more years, any HFC-based system already installed or purchased over the next few years will likely be affected by the F-gas Regulation.  So, suddenly purchases of HFC-based fire suppression systems will not only be faced with immediate price consequences, there will also be more potential future recharge costs and end of life costs when a system is ultimately decommissioned.

"With our Blue Sky Warranty, we are the only organisation offering global assurance for our synthetic clean agent fire suppression fluid," continued Goeman. "This reassurance, in addition to the high level of performance, effectiveness and wide margin of human safety makes Novec 1230 fluid an ideal solution for those looking to move away from HFCs."

Details of the 3M Blue Sky Warranty 

3M warrants, for a period of 20 years after original installation and subject to noted requirements, that  Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid by 3M, installed in an approved fire suppression system, will not be restricted for use in fire protection due to its Ozone Depletion Potential (ODP) or Global Warming Potential (GWP) and is not targeted for phase-down by the Montreal Protocol, nor subject to the European F-gas Regulation targeting the phase-down of production and import of HFCs into Europe; and will not be affected by US EPA SNAP regulations which would render it either unacceptable or acceptable subject to narrow use limits.

More about Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid 

Novec 1230 Fire Protection Fluid is a next-generation HFC and halon replacement, designed to balance concerns for human safety, performance and the environment.  It has zero ozone-depletion potential, an atmospheric lifetime of just five days and a global warming potential of less than one.  It is non-conductive, non-corrosive and fast-evaporating - designed to protect sensitive components and other critical assets.  Applications include data centres, data processing and control rooms, telecommunications, marine applications, oil and gas applications, and museums and historical archives.  Novec 1230 fluid leaves no residue and does not damage equipment or disrupt the working environment. For more information visit http://www.3m.co.uk/Novec1230PressRoom

3M and Novec are trademarks of 3M Company.

Blue Sky is a Service Mark of 3M Company. 

About 3M 

3M captures the spark of new ideas and transforms them into thousands of ingenious products.

Our culture of creative collaboration inspires a never-ending stream of powerful technologies that make life better. 3M is the innovation company that never stops inventing. With $31 billion in sales, 3M employs 89,000 people worldwide and has operations in more than 70 countries.

The UK and Ireland is home to one of the largest 3M subsidiaries outside the USA, employing 3,000 people across 17 locations, including nine manufacturing sites.

Products manufactured in the UK include coated abrasives, personal safety equipment, adhesive tapes, industrial microbiology products, drug delivery systems, high-performance coatings, secure documents, passport readers and imaging systems.

For more information, visit http://www.3M.co.uk or follow @3M_UK on Twitter.

3M, Scotch and 3M logo are trademarks of 3M Company.

*Regulation (EU) No 517/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 on fluorinated greenhouse gases and repealing Regulation (EC) No 842/2006