What is the difference between PAF-222 clean agent and general extinguishing agents, and which one should you choose?
How does PAF-222 clean agent differ from general fire extinguishing agents?
The difference between PAF-222 clean agent and general agents, dry chemical powder in the standard red cylinders, or CO2, comes down to the chemistry, the residue left behind, whether the agent conducts electricity, and how safe it is for the equipment.
General agents (dry chemical powder): on discharge they throw up a cloud of chemical powder that settles as a sticky residue. It draws in moisture, corrodes circuit boards, and can damage electrical equipment, chips and instruments.
PAF-222 clean agent: a clean agent (FK-5-1-12) that evaporates quickly, leaves no residue, and does not damage sensitive electronic equipment or important documents.
What is PAF-222 clean agent?
PAF-222 is the trade name for a vaporizing liquid clean agent. Its chemical name is Perfluorohexanone, and the industry knows it by the designation code FK-5-1-12.
It was developed to replace the older Halon and HFC agents, with the emphasis on performance, safety, and a lower environmental impact.
What counts as a general fire extinguisher?
General fire extinguishers are the dry chemical powder units, the red cylinders, used for ordinary fires in homes and buildings. They are affordable, but a poor fit for discharging onto sensitive electrical equipment or expensive instruments, because the chemical residue damages what it lands on.
That does not make them a bad option. Each type has its own role.
Types of fire extinguisher most often compared
Clean agent extinguishers
Clean agent extinguishers are a popular choice around electrical equipment, because they leave no residue after a discharge. That suits areas holding servers, UPS units, MDB cabinets, control panels, or other critical electronics.
CO2 extinguishers
CO2 extinguishers leave no chemical powder residue and are popular for some types of electrical work. Take care over use in enclosed spaces, ventilation and operator safety, though. For the detailed comparison, read Clean Agent and CO2.
Dry chemical powder extinguishers
Dry chemical powder extinguishers suit a wide variety of general areas. Used in areas holding electronic equipment, though, the chemical powder residue after a discharge needs particular care. For the direct comparison with clean agents, read Clean Agent and Dry Chemical.
Foam and water extinguishers
Foam and water extinguishers suit only certain kinds of risk. As a rule they are not the main choice for electrical or electronic equipment, because they leave liquid and moisture behind, which can cause damage.
Comparing PAF-222 with general agents on the factors that matter
Performance, and how clean things are afterward
PAF-222 (clean agent): evaporates quickly and leaves no mess or chemical residue after a discharge, so electrical appliances, electronic equipment and important documents take no further damage.
Dry chemical powder: leaves white or yellow powder scattered across the area. It is corrosive, hard to clean, and usually gets into electronic circuit boards straight away.
CO2: also leaves no residue, but the discharge pressure is very high and the agent is extremely cold, which can damage electronic circuit boards through thermal shock.
Effect on electronic equipment and assets
PAF-222 (clean agent): very safe around electronic equipment such as computers, control cabinets, server rooms and circuit boards. It is non-conductive and does not corrode metal.
Dry chemical powder: can damage electronic equipment through the chemical powder itself.
CO2: safe around electrical equipment, but the extreme cold, or thermal shock, needs watching on sensitive parts.
Read more at What does non-conductive (Dielectric) mean?
Classes of fire each one covers
PAF-222: covers Class A (ordinary combustibles), Class B (flammable liquids), and Class C (energized electrical equipment).
Dry chemical powder: covers Class A, B and C.
CO2: used mainly for Class B and C, and is not suited to Class A.
Suitability for data centers, server rooms and electrical rooms
For fire extinguishers in data centers, server rooms and electrical rooms, the key factors are keeping downtime down and limiting the damage to the equipment after an incident. So PAF-222 and other clean agents are usually the stronger candidates against agents that leave chemical powder behind.
What kinds of areas suit PAF-222 clean agent?
PAF-222 is worth considering in areas holding important equipment where residue after a discharge has to be kept to a minimum.
Data center and server room
Suits areas housing servers, storage, network switches, routers, UPS units and critical IT infrastructure, where downtime costs the business a great deal. For advice on a specific area, read more at Fire Extinguishers for Data Center / Server Room / Electrical Room.
Electrical rooms and MDB cabinets
Areas holding the main power distribution equipment for a building or industrial plant. Weigh the size of the area, the risk level, and whether portable extinguishers, an automatic system, or both are needed.
Control panels and PLC cabinets
Machine control cabinets, automation systems, or control panels holding electronics and circuitry that are sensitive to contamination.
Control rooms and communication equipment rooms
Areas holding system control screens, telecommunication equipment, or monitoring systems that must not be damaged by chemical powder residue.
Stores for high value assets
Important document archives, high precision instrument rooms, specialized equipment rooms, or anywhere the cleanup after an incident would be expensive.
For more product models, read PAF-222 Clean Agent Fire Extinguisher (MJZ Series)
What kinds of areas can still use general fire extinguishers?
General fire extinguishers still suit plenty of areas:
Open air areas and parking lots
Warehouses and areas storing large volumes of solid materials (Class A storage)
Commercial buildings, corridors and general residential areas
Heavy industrial facilities and general machinery
Dry chemical powder, CO2, foam and water each have their strengths and their right applications. The choice should follow the class of fire hazard and the conditions in the area.
What to know before deciding
Before choosing between PAF-222 and a general agent, check:
SDS (safety data sheet), to review chemical information, precautions and correct storage.
Datasheet, to check product models, key specifications and instructions for use.
Certificates for the standards that apply to the actual product.
Test report for laboratory test results.
Product specifications, such as cylinder size, agent fill weight and gross weight.
You can contact PAF GLOBAL here: Contact for Consultation
What to read next
Now that you know how PAF-222 differs from general agents, these related topics on clean agents, extinguisher comparisons and use in critical areas follow on:
What is PAF-222?
The detail on the PAF-222 solution, PAF GLOBAL's flagship product.Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
An overview of clean agent cylinders and their use around electrical equipment and valuable assets.Residue-Free Clean Agent Fire Extinguishers
Why residue after a discharge matters so much to servers, UPS units, electrical cabinets and electronic devices.Clean Agent and Dry Chemical
A detailed comparison of clean agent and dry chemical powder extinguishers.Clean Agent and CO2
Comparing residue-free clean agent extinguishers with CO2.What is non-conductive (Dielectric)?
Non-conductive properties, and why they are critical in areas holding electrical equipment.Fire Extinguishers for Data Center / Server Room / Electrical Room
Specific recommendations for areas holding electrical equipment, IT systems, or high downtime costs.Contact for Consultation
To ask PAF GLOBAL for more information.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. How does PAF-222 clean agent differ from general fire extinguishing agents?
Leaves no residue. PAF-222 evaporates fully into vapor and leaves no messy chemical residue, while dry chemical powder leaves a sticky deposit that is hard to clean.
Does not damage electrical equipment. PAF-222 is non-conductive, with a dielectric strength tested to 60 kV, and does not corrode circuit boards, so it can be discharged onto live electrical cabinets and servers. Dry chemical powder is different: the residue corrodes equipment and can wreck it permanently.
Safe to use. PAF-222 throws up no dust cloud on discharge, so escape routes stay visible.
Environmentally friendly. It breaks down in the atmosphere in less than 5 days, does not deplete the ozone layer (ODP = 0), and has a GWP of less than 1.
2. Can PAF-222 be used alongside dry chemical powder extinguishers?
Yes, but PAF-222 should be the first thing reached for. In a room holding electrical equipment, discharging PAF-222 first puts the fire out without wrecking the equipment.
The two can be used in the same building, with the areas divided to suit each one. But dry chemical powder should not be discharged over an area where PAF-222 has already been used, unless the fire has spread badly and is beyond control.
3. Between CO2 and PAF-222, which suits electrical equipment better?
Both are non-conductive and neither leaves messy residue, but PAF-222 has the edge over CO2 in a few important ways:
It avoids the risk of damage from extreme cold, or thermal shock.
It is safer for people in an enclosed room.
It covers more classes of fire, A, B and C, while CO2 suits only Class B and C.