FM-200 vs Novec 1230 (FK-5-1-12): Which Should You Choose?

FM-200 and Novec 1230 (FK-5-1-12) are both clean chemical agents that discharge in under 10 seconds and leave no residue. The real differences between them are not in extinguishing power but in the human safety margin, environmental impact, regulation and supply. This guide puts the two agents side by side under the headings that actually drive a project decision.

The Two Agents in Brief

FM-200 is the best-known trade name for HFC-227ea (heptafluoropropane), a hydrofluorocarbon. It extinguishes mainly by absorbing heat, with an additional chemical effect on the chain reaction in the flame zone, and it has a long track record in data centres, archives and technical rooms. See our FM-200 gas suppression system page for details.

Novec 1230 is the best-known trade name for FK-5-1-12, a fluoroketone (C6F12O). It is a liquid at room temperature, vaporises as it leaves the nozzle and extinguishes mainly by absorbing heat. Its standout feature is its environmental profile. See our FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230) page for details.

Both agents are stored as liquids in cylinders super-pressurised with nitrogen to 25 or 42 bar, discharge through a pipe network and nozzles in under 10 seconds, and are electrically non-conductive.

Comparison Table

Human Safety

In the U.S. EPA’s SNAP assessment, the no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) is 9% by volume for HFC-227ea, with a lowest observed adverse effect level (LOAEL) of 10.5%; for FK-5-1-12 the NOAEL is 10%. For both agents, the design concentration in occupiable spaces is calculated to stay below these limits.

The practical difference is the width of the margin. Typical FK-5-1-12 design concentrations sit well below its NOAEL, leaving more headroom for uncertainties in the volume calculation and for temperature changes. With FM-200 the gap between design concentration and NOAEL is narrower, so the volume calculation, ambient temperature and over-discharge risk need closer attention in design. With either agent, decomposition products can form when the agent meets a fire, so an alarm sounds before discharge, the room is evacuated, and nobody re-enters before it has been ventilated.

Environmental Impact

As an HFC, FM-200 has a high global warming potential and a long atmospheric lifetime. FK-5-1-12 has a GWP of 1 and an atmospheric lifetime of about five days, making it the lowest-impact option among today’s chemical clean agents. On projects with corporate sustainability targets, green building certification or environmental reporting duties, this difference is often decisive.

If environmental impact is the main priority, inert gases with near-zero GWP should also be considered; we compare the two families in our inert gas vs chemical clean agent guide.

Regulation: Türkiye and the EU

In Türkiye, fire protection equipment containing fluorinated greenhouse gases falls under the Regulation on Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases published in Official Gazette No. 32693 on 15 October 2024. Its placing-on-the-market ban for fire protection equipment is limited to equipment containing perfluorocarbons or HFC-23; HFC-227ea is not on that list. Companies installing and servicing these systems need a TSE Service Competence Certificate under TS 13905, the technicians need a Vocational Qualification Certificate, and operators of fixed systems containing 5 tonnes CO2-equivalent or more must register them in EKOMVET.

Regulation of HFCs in the European Union is stricter. For projects in EU countries, whether a new HFC-based system can be installed should be confirmed against current EU legislation at the start of the project.

Supply and Refilling

In December 2022, 3M announced it would exit PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025 and has ended the Novec product family as part of that. This does not mean FK-5-1-12 has disappeared: “Novec 1230” is a trade name, and the agent is also produced by other manufacturers. For both FM-200 and FK-5-1-12 systems, confirm at quotation stage which agent and manufacturer the system is approved with and how the system will be refilled after a discharge. The agents are not interchangeable; changing the agent means a new system design.

Which One, When?

The final choice is an engineering decision that weighs occupancy, room integrity, environmental priorities and regulation together. To assess which agent suits your project, fill in our quote form or read our guide to choosing the right suppression system.

To apply this guide to your project, see our gas fire suppression services and every system option on our home page, or contact us through the quote form.

Last updated: 26 October 2026