FK-5-1-12 (Novec 1230) Clean Agent Suppression System

What Is It?

FK-5-1-12, best known under the trade name 3M™ Novec™ 1230, is a clean suppression agent based on a fluoroketone (C6F12O). Used against Class A, B, and C fires, it extinguishes by interrupting the fire’s heat transfer through a combination of chemical and physical action. The system is built around pressurized FK-5-1-12 cylinders, pipe network, nozzles, a control panel, and detection units, engineered specifically for the protected volume.

What most clearly sets FK-5-1-12 apart from FM-200 is its global warming potential: it has a GWP of 1 and an atmospheric lifetime of about 5 days. That is the lowest GWP among chemical clean agents; inert gases, made of naturally occurring gases, have a GWP of zero. Because its design concentration is calculated below its NOAEL (10%), it can also be used in occupied spaces, again with a pre-discharge alarm and evacuation procedure.

How It Works

When the detection units confirm a fire, the control panel triggers the discharge valve; liquid FK-5-1-12, pressurized with nitrogen in the cylinder, is delivered through the pipe network to the nozzles, where it vaporizes and fills the space in under 10 seconds. The agent extinguishes mainly by absorbing heat. System pressure (25, 34.5, 42 or 50 bar under ISO 14520-5:2024) and the operating temperature range are taken from the approval documents of the system used.

As with other clean agents, FK-5-1-12’s effectiveness depends on holding the design concentration for the required hold time after discharge. The sealing level of the protected space is therefore verified with door-fan testing, and pipe network and nozzle selection are calculated to ensure even distribution across the entire volume.

Where It’s Used

FK-5-1-12 is the preferred choice for occupied spaces, or spaces where environmental impact ranks high among the project’s design criteria: data centers and server rooms, museum and archive storage, critical infrastructure in hospitals and hotels, technical rooms in office buildings, and electrical/telecom spaces in shopping and mixed-use centers are the primary applications.

Its low GWP makes FK-5-1-12 a standout choice specifically on corporate projects with sustainability targets or environmental reporting obligations.

Safety

In the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s SNAP review, FK-5-1-12 is given a no observed adverse effect level (NOAEL) of 10% by volume. In occupied spaces the design concentration is calculated to stay below this value. As with any clean agent system, an audible and visual alarm sounds before discharge, the space is evacuated during the defined delay, and unnecessary exposure is avoided. Because the agent can form decomposition products when exposed to high temperatures in a fire, the space should not be re-entered after discharge until it has been ventilated and an authorized person has cleared it.

The system’s long-term reliability depends on correct pipe network design, periodic hydrostatic testing, and regular room integrity checks. A planned maintenance schedule after commissioning ensures both the extinguishing performance and the environmental advantages hold up over the life of the project.

Supply Status

In December 2022, 3M announced it would exit PFAS manufacturing by the end of 2025, and it has discontinued its Novec™ product family as part of that exit. “Novec 1230” is a trade name; the chemical name of the agent is FK-5-1-12, and it is also produced by other manufacturers. For new projects and for refilling existing systems, the agent and manufacturer the system is listed/approved with should be confirmed from the system manufacturer’s documentation.

EU PFAS Restriction

FK-5-1-12 is among the substances covered by the universal PFAS restriction proposal submitted to the European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) in January 2023; the same proposal also covers HFC-227ea (FM-200). According to the July 2024 assessment by the industry association Eurofeu, the proposal foresees an 18-month transition after entry into force plus a 12-year derogation for clean fire suppressant agents. Eurofeu also reports that ECHA confirmed in a meeting that there is, for now, no intention to restrict the use and refilling of existing systems. The proposal is still under committee review and no ban is in force. For long-lived installations, including projects in Türkiye, we recommend following this process.

This system is one of the gas fire suppression systems GYS designs and installs. Comparisons with other agents, applications and the project process are on our home page.