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freezemaster™ Antifreeze Blog

In-depth antifreeze and fire safety advice and insights from the experts behind the freeze protection technology like no other.

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Codes, Standards & Approvals  |  Flammability

What You Need to Know About Factory Premixed Antifreeze

Fire sprinkler contractors who have an inspection, testing and maintenance (ITM) business are looking at new protocols for water-based fire protection systems.

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FAQs

Where Can I Winterize Sprinkler Piping With freezemaster™ Antifreeze?

Sprinkler pipes must be safeguarded when temperatures cannot reliably remain at or above 40ºF (4ºC) ambient temperature. New and existing sprinkler systems in Residential, Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard and Storage applications can be protected against severe cold with freezemaster™ antifreeze, a new UL-listed, factory premixed freeze protection technology.

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Codes, Standards & Approvals

Why You Should Convert to Listed Antifreeze Before the Approaching NFPA Deadline

NFPA fire sprinkler standards require new antifreeze systems to use an agency-listed antifreeze. And these same standards require that existing systems use an agency-listed antifreeze by September 30, 2022. These standards are intended to ensure an antifreeze system is designed and installed using the safest and most reliable practices in the industry.

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Codes, Standards & Approvals

Why NFPA Requires Annual Antifreeze Testing

Have you ever wondered why antifreeze in water-based fire sprinkler systems requires yearly testing before the onset of freezing weather? Simply put, testing ensures that the antifreeze maintains its proper concentration and freeze point. It must always remain in a liquid state and address the life safety issues associated with antifreeze use. To ensure this, the concentration of antifreeze solution should always be no more than the least amount necessary for the anticipated minimum temperature. In the event of leaks, pressure surges or temperature changes to the system, antifreeze can flow out of the system or water can flow into the system, leading to changes in the freeze temperature and antifreeze concentrations. If concentration conditions deviate from allowable tolerances, as illustrated by the chart below for freezemaster™ antifreeze, the fluid must be replaced. Because freezemaster™ antifreeze is a UL-listed, safe to use, factory premixed antifreeze, the percent concentration by volume would always be 100 percent.

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Codes, Standards & Approvals

NFPA Updates on Sprinkler System Antifreeze: What AHJs Need to Know

Many are not aware that the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) fire sprinkler standards require new antifreeze systems to use an agency-listed antifreeze. And these same standards require that existing systems use an agency-listed antifreeze by September 30, 2022. In fact, when safety concerns led to these NFPA updates, no listed product was available.

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Codes, Standards & Approvals  |  FAQs

Freeze Protection Technology Like No Other

As you select an antifreeze for your fire sprinkler system, it is important that you consider these questions: Does it meet the rigorous technical challenges of becoming listed as required by NFPA? Is it listed and approved for use with the application and the size of the system? Will it protect the system against damage from exposure to the severe cold? How does it contribute to the prevention of corrosion and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC)? In this blog post, I address why the answers to these questions are so critical, and the advantage freezemaster™ antifreeze offers for fire sprinkler systems in Residential, Light Hazard, Ordinary Hazard and Storage applications.  

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Temperature

The Importance of Temperature Thresholds in Antifreeze for Fire Sprinkler Systems

The 2014 edition of NFPA 25, the standard for the inspection, testing and maintenance of water-based fire protection systems, was written to specifically include emergency changes regarding the use of antifreeze. Those changes were based on events in which activated sprinkler systems, fortified with antifreeze, actually intensified blazes rather than extinguished them. This was likely due to onsite errors in mixing the solutions that introduced excessive amounts of the active ingredients glycerin and propylene glycol, both of which increase flammability when present in high concentrations.

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Corrosion

UL 2901 and Fire Sprinkler System Antifreeze Corrosion Issues

UL 2901 was established in December 2013, outlining certification requirements for antifreeze solutions for wet pipe fire sprinkler systems. To meet the UL 2901 requirements, antifreeze products must prove corrosion resistance (important for metal-based fire sprinkler systems), fire performance (i.e., flammability), hydraulic characteristics, human health and environmental impact, and meet marking and installation specifications.

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Flammability

Resistance to Flammability is the Key Component to UL 2901

When a fire sprinkler system activated as designed in 2009 to suppress a cooking fire – and instead intensified the blaze, killing one and injuring four – the use of antifreeze in sprinkler systems changed forever. The sprinkler system contained antifreeze that had been mixed improperly before application. A high concentration of the antifreeze agent caused the flames to virtually explode when the sprinkler system activated.

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