Kidde Offers Full Range of Clean Agent Systems

OXFORDSHIRE, UK, Aug. 1, 2006 — Kidde Fire Protection now offers the most extensive range of clean agent fire suppression systems designed for use with 3M™ Novec™ 1230 Fire Protection Fluid.  Kidde Fire Protection is part of UTC Fire & Security, a unit of United Technologies Corp. (NYSE:UTX).

The Novec 1230 fluid systems are designed to protect critical high-value assets from fire with minimal downtime and cleanup costs. Typical applications include telecommunication switch rooms, computer and electronic control rooms, and aboard ships. They are the latest addition to the company’s wide range of clean agent systems that includes FM-200, Argonite and Carbon Dioxide.

The company has invested in the new systems because it believes Novec 1230 fluid represents sustainable, long-term technology that meets not only today's environmental regulations but also those of the foreseeable future.  It has a low Global Warming Potential (GWP) rating of just one, an Ozone Depleting Potential (ODP) of zero and a low atmospheric lifetime of only five days. 

Kidde Fire Protection offers three different Novec 1230 fluid systems to suit a wide variety of applications. A standard 25 bar system for industrial applications, a specialist 25 bar marine system and a 42 bar system that offers increased design flexibility for larger or more complex facilities.

All the systems are European TPED (Transportable Pressure Equipment Directive) and PED (Pressure Equipment Directive) compliant and manufactured to ISO 9001:2000 standards. The 25 bar industrial system is approved by Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and FM Global, while the 25 bar marine system is MED (Marine Equipment Directive) compliant and approved by ABS, Lloyd’s Register and DNV. The 42 bar system is approved by VdS.

Novec 1230 fluid is stored as a liquid and discharged into the hazard zone by specially designed nozzles as a colorless, non-conductive and non-corrosive gas. It puts out fires quickly by reaching its extinguishing concentration in 10 seconds or less and then absorbing heat from the fire. It has the highest heat capacity of any commercially available chemical suppression agent, giving it the lowest extinguishing concentration of 4 to 6 percent.

In occupied spaces at normal design concentrations, Novec 1230 fluid presents no risk to personnel. US EPA SNAP has classified it as acceptable for use as a total flooding agent in occupied spaces. It provides a safety margin of nearly 100 percent, which is by far the largest safety margin of any clean fire suppression agent available on the market today.

The new technology is supported by Kidde Fire Protection global sales, technical and customer service resources. Systems are designed by specially trained and certified engineers using hydraulic calculation software that optimizes performance while minimizing installation costs.

This latest announcement reinforces the position of Kidde Fire Protection as the market leader in clean agent fire suppression system technology. Since pioneering their development more than 10 years ago, the company has supplied several thousand chemical and inert gas systems worldwide.

Kidde Fire Protection manufactures clean agent fire suppression systems at Bentham, North Yorkshire, and electronic fire detection and alarm equipment at Peterlee, County Durham. It provides product sales and customer support from Thame, near Oxford. Kidde Fire Protection is part of UTC Fire & Security, a United Technologies Corp. business unit that provides fire safety and security solutions to more than one million customers throughout the world. UTC Fire & Security is headquartered in Connecticut, USA.  3M and Novec are trademarks of 3M Company.
                             
Media Contacts:

Jonathan Brittain
+44 (0) 1844 265021
jon.brittain@kiddeuk.co.uk

Kimberly Reidy
+1 860-965-4378
kimberly.reidy@fs.utc.com