How to Choose a Listed Antifreeze

Four Important Qualities to Consider

A factory-premixed antifreeze product must pass UL 2901 tests to earn its listed status. All available listed antifreezes have passed these tests. But there are at least four criteria that differentiate listed products: system volume limits, design pressure requirements, compatibility and system color.

System Volume Size Limitations

Volume limitations vary widely between products, and for each product, between hazard uses. To perform as expected in a fire, UL listed antifreeze products should not exceed their volume listing.

While currently available listed antifreeze products are identical for NFPA 13R and 13D Residential and NFPA 13 Storage applications, they differ on Ordinary Hazard I & II and NFPA 13 Light Hazard applications. Those with large systems should assess the costs of valving the system off to meet volume limitations of a listed antifreeze product.

Minimum Design Pressure

The colder temperatures get, the more viscous antifreeze solutions become, which may not protect the farthest-point sprinklers adequately. When antifreeze thickens it moves a shorter distance for a certain pressure, which means it may provide less protection. To overcome this, some listed antifreeze products require a minimum design pressure to ensure that the solution is adequately delivered to the most remote sprinkler head if there is a fire. Design pressure is typically specified in NFPA 13 and can be based on the size and layout of the building and hazard type. Minimum design pressure requirements for listed antifreeze may also mean additional maintenance and equipment to stay at the proper pressure.

Compatibility with Piping Types and Other System Materials

Piping material compatibility is another important consideration when evaluating listed antifreeze. To avoid damage or a costly repiping project, compare a product’s listing with a system’s piping material.

UL 2901 includes compatibility testing with most sprinkler system accessories, such as materials you'd find in valves and sprinkler head adapters, as well as piping materials, but does NOT include galvanized steel. All listed antifreezes are listed as compatible with black steel, stainless steel, brass, copper, bronze, cast iron, PEX and all brands of CPVC. freezemaster™ antifreeze completed additional UL testing to be listed for use with galvanized steel. Brands without this listing either did not complete the additional compatibility testing or completed but failed the additional test.

Solution Color

There's a variety of listed antifreeze colors, and while the formulas may have some similarities, there are notable differences in how the colors contribute to the ease of installation and maintenance. Without an easy way to distinguish the antifreeze from water, technicians must rely solely on testing instruments to identify a fully flushed or filled system or to see if the antifreeze has been diluted. Clear can be confused with pure water, and orange can be confused with rusty water. That's why freezemaster™ antifreeze chose its signature blue tint.

What Makes freezemaster™ antifreeze Different?

UL listed freezemaster™ antifreeze meets NFPA requirements and has qualities that make it one of the most widely used listed antifreeze on the market, including:

• A corrosion inhibitor package that effectively reduces pipe corrosion by up to 65%
• A distinctive blue tint so you can see the material as it exits the vents and drains when flushing and filling systems
• No minimum pressure requirement
• An additional UL listing for galvanized steel piping
• Listed for systems up to 500 gallons in NFPA 13 Residential, Light Hazard, and Ordinary Hazard I&II Systems and 40 gallons in Storage Systems
• Backing by expert support and excellent customer service of Lubrizol

Ease of Doing Business with Lubrizol

Lubrizol is a material and chemistry company that leverages its size, core competencies and expertise to maintain access to supply chain, materials and volumes that other suppliers can’t access. You'll get the product you need, when you need it and at a fair price, and you'll get the expert support of Lubrizol.

With representatives across the United States, Lubrizol’s freezemaster™ antifreeze team of field representatives can walk you and your local AHJ through the process of switching to listed antifreeze, address common questions and more.

freezemaster™ antifreeze is also available without minimum order quantities. No need to buy more than you need: freezemaster™ antifreeze is available in 5-gallon buckets, 55-gallon drums and 275-gallon totes, and you can order as much or as little as you want. Find a freezemaster™ antifreeze supplier.

freezemaster™ antifreeze has earned its reputation as the most popular product on the market. See how it compares to other listed products.