1,1,1,2,3,3,3-Heptafluoropropane, also called heptafluoropropane, HFC-227ea (

ISO The International Organization for Standardization (ISO ; ; ) is an independent, non-governmental, international standard development organization composed of representatives from the national standards organizations of member countries. Me ...

name), HFC-227 or FM-200, as well as apaflurane (

INN Inns are generally establishments or buildings where travelers can seek lodging, and usually, food and drink. Inns are typically located in the country or along a highway. Before the advent of motorized transportation, they also provided accomm ...

), is a colourless, odourless gaseous

halocarbon Halocarbon compounds are chemical compounds in which one or more carbon atoms are linked by covalent bonds with one or more halogen atoms (fluorine, chlorine, bromine or iodine – ) resulting in the formation of organofluorine compounds, or ...

commonly used as a

gaseous fire suppression Gaseous fire suppression, also called clean agent fire suppression, is the use of inert gases and chemical agents to extinguish a fire. These agents are governed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Standard for Clean Agent Fire Ex ...

agent.

Chemistry

Its chemical formula is CF-CHF-CF, or CHF. With a boiling point of −16.4 °C, it is a gas at room temperature. It is slightly soluble in water (260 mg/L).

Use

HFC-227ea is used in

fire suppression system Fire suppression systems are used to extinguish, control, or in some cases, entirely prevent fires from spreading or occurring. Fire suppression systems have an incredibly large variety of applications, and as such, there are many different types ...

s that protect data processing and telecommunication facilities, and in fire suppression of many flammable liquids and gases. HFC-227ea is categorized as a Clean Agent and is governed by ''NFPA 2001 - Standard for Clean Agent Fire Extinguishing Systems''. Effective fire suppression requires introducing a concentration of the HFC-227ea agent between 6.25% and 9% depending on the hazard being suppressed. Its

NOAEL The no-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) denotes the level of exposure of an organism, found by experiment or observation, at which there is no biologically or statistically significant increase in the frequency or severity of any adverse effe ...

for cardiac sensitization is 9%. The

United States Environmental Protection Agency The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an independent agency of the United States government tasked with environmental protection matters. President Richard Nixon proposed the establishment of EPA on July 9, 1970; it began operation on De ...

allows concentration of 9% volume in occupied spaces without mandated egress time, or up to 10.5% for a limited time. Most fire suppression systems are designed to provide concentration of 6.25-9%. The HFC-227ea fire suppression agent was the first non-ozone-depleting replacement for

Halon 1301 Bromotrifluoromethane, commonly referred to by the code numbers Halon 1301, R13B1, Halon 13B1 or BTM, is an organic halide with the chemical formula carbon, Cbromine, Brfluorine, F3. It is used for gaseous fire suppression as a far less toxic alte ...

. In addition, HFC-227ea leaves no residue on valuable equipment after discharge. HFC-227ea contains no chlorine or bromine atoms, presenting no

ozone depletion Ozone depletion consists of two related events observed since the late 1970s: a lowered total amount of ozone in Earth, Earth's upper atmosphere, and a much larger springtime decrease in stratospheric ozone (the ozone layer) around Earth's polar ...

effect. Its atmospheric lifetime is approximated between 31 and 42 years. It leaves no residue or oily deposits and can be removed by ventilation of the affected space. As an

aerosol An aerosol is a suspension (chemistry), suspension of fine solid particles or liquid Drop (liquid), droplets in air or another gas. Aerosols can be generated from natural or Human impact on the environment, human causes. The term ''aerosol'' co ...

propellant A propellant (or propellent) is a mass that is expelled or expanded in such a way as to create a thrust or another motive force in accordance with Newton's third law of motion, and "propel" a vehicle, projectile, or fluid payload. In vehicle ...

, HFC-227ea is used in pharmaceutical metered dose inhalers such as those used for dispensing

asthma Asthma is a common long-term inflammatory disease of the airways of the lungs. It is characterized by variable and recurring symptoms, reversible airflow obstruction, and easily triggered bronchospasms. Symptoms include episodes of wh ...

medication.

Safety

At high temperatures, heptafluoropropane will decompose and produce a small quantity of

hydrogen fluoride Hydrogen fluoride (fluorane) is an Inorganic chemistry, inorganic compound with chemical formula . It is a very poisonous, colorless gas or liquid that dissolves in water to yield hydrofluoric acid. It is the principal industrial source of fluori ...

. Other decomposition products include

carbonyl fluoride Carbonyl fluoride is a chemical compound with the formula . It is a carbon oxohalide. This gas, like its analog phosgene, is colourless and highly toxic. The molecule is planar with ''C''2v symmetry, bond lengths of 1.174 Å (C=O) and 1.312 Å ( ...

carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide (chemical formula CO) is a poisonous, flammable gas that is colorless, odorless, tasteless, and slightly less dense than air. Carbon monoxide consists of one carbon atom and one oxygen atom connected by a triple bond. It is the si ...

and

carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound with the chemical formula . It is made up of molecules that each have one carbon atom covalent bond, covalently double bonded to two oxygen atoms. It is found in a gas state at room temperature and at norma ...

. Prior to re-entry of a room where HFC-227ea system has been activated to suppress a fire, the atmosphere should be tested. An Acid Scavenging Additive added to heptafluoropropane reduces the amount of hydrogen fluoride. Contact with liquid HFC-227ea may cause

frostbite Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when someone is exposed to extremely low temperatures, causing the freezing of the skin or other tissues, commonly affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin areas. Most often, frostbite occ ...

Climate change considerations

Heptafluoropropane (HFC-227ea) contributes to

climate change Present-day climate change includes both global warming—the ongoing increase in Global surface temperature, global average temperature—and its wider effects on Earth's climate system. Climate variability and change, Climate change in ...

. It has a

global warming potential Global warming potential (GWP) is a measure of how much heat a greenhouse gas traps in the atmosphere over a specific time period, relative to carbon dioxide (). It is expressed as a multiple of warming caused by the same mass of carbon dioxide ( ...

(GWP) of 3,220 over 100 years. Due to its high GWP, the HFC-227ea has been included in the list of controlled substances of the

Montreal Protocol The Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer is an international treaty designed to protect the ozone layer by phasing out the production of numerous substances that are responsible for ozone depletion. It was agreed on 16 ...

(2016 Kigali amendment, in effect in January 2019). Under EU regulations, production, imports and sales of HFC-227ea in spray cans such as freeze sprays or dusters have been prohibited since 2014, as the GWP is over the limit of 150 for these applications.

Tradenames for HFC-227ea used as fire suppression agent

* FE-227 FM-200 (Dupont) (

(EPA) SNAP Listed) * FITECH - 227 (Fitech Engineers) * Solkaflam 227 (Solvay Fluor) * MH-227 (Shanghai Waysmos) (

(EPA) SNAP Listed) * Orient 227 (Orient Corporation) (

(EPA) SNAP Listed) * SR-200 (SRI) * NAF S 227(Safety High Tech)

References

Sinerji Fire Protection Product Page
2009-04-25)

External links

MSDS for heptafluoropropaneMSDS for heptafluoropropane

MSDS for heptafluoropropaneSDS for (LUKE 227) heptafluoropropaneSDS for Chemori 227
{{DEFAULTSORT:Heptafluoropropane, 1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 3- Fluoroalkanes Fire suppression agents Aerosol propellants Refrigerants Hydrofluorocarbons