| Abstract | During full-scale fire suppression tests conducted at the National Fire Laboratory of the National Research Council Canada, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and specific ion electrode (SIE) method were employed to monitor the concentrations of the gaseous suppression agents in the test compartment. Also, these methods were used to determinethe halogen acid gases generated during the fire suppression process. This report describes the application of these three analytical methods for a series of tests conducted with HCFC Blend A.. The results for the measurements of gaseous agent and halogen acid gas concentrations using these three methods are provided. The uncertainties associated with measurements using these three techniques are analyzed in detail. It is shown that FTIR Spectroscopy provides an instantaneous and continuous method for the measurement of multiple chemical species in the fire tests with reasonable accuracy. The GC/MS and the SIE methods involve periodical sampling and off-linemeasurements. Uncertainties associated with measurements using these analytical techniques are strongly dependent on the characteristics of the analytical methods themselves, the set-up of the sampling system, calibration procedure, sampling procedure, quantitative analysis and testing conditions. Considerable care is required to obtain accurate measurements in the presence of halogen acid gases. |
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