KIT-FDR GRD 4894650 - Caterpillar

Industry Familiarity
This chemical has been widely used since 1957 in both mobile and stationary applications.
Fire Fighting Class
This agent is recommended for Class A, B, and C fires.
Cleanup After Discharge
Immediate cleanup is required after discharge because dry chemical agents in the presence of moisture form a weak acid and can corrode metals such as steel, cast iron, and aluminum. Discharge lines must also be cleaned to avoid caking and plugging that might inhibit the next discharge.
Hazards To Personnel
Considering normal health and body functions, dry chemical agents are considered nontoxic. However, ABC dry chemical is a fine powder that may produce mild irritations of the respiratory system, especially when used in enclosed areas. Normally, these effects are not considered serious and are not permanent.
Inhaling large amounts of any fine dust or powder can be detrimental to the respiratory system. Such inhalation should be considered hazardous and prolonged exposure could possibly be fatal.
Overdose Treatment
Move to an area of fresh air whenever this hazard exists to eliminate the risk.
Halon 1301
Industry Familiarity
This chemical has been widely used since 1970 for both mobile and stationary applications.
Fire Fighting Class
This agent is recommended for Class B and C fires. Halon 1301 is not recommended for machines whose primary fire hazard involves wood and paper products such as forestry applications and landfills.
Cleanup After Discharge
None.
Hazards To Personnel
Halon 1301 is considered to have low toxicity confirmed by its harmless use over the last approximately 20 years. Exposure to this agent has no history of resulting in a permanent injury or death.
Studies at the Medical College of Wisconsin shows humans exposed to Halon 1301 for 30 minutes at 7.1% (71,000 ppm or parts per million) concentration were not harmed, confused, or inhibited from performing simple mechanical tasks.
When fighting a fire, decomposition products of Halon 1301 are generated when exposed to flame or surfaces above approximately 480°C (900°F). These products are hydrogen fluoride, hydrogen bromide, free bromine and small amounts of carbonyl halides. Inhalation of damaging quantities is nearly impossible because generated volumes are minute and the heat of combustion keeps personnel to harmless distances. Twenty years of harmless use supports this fact.
Overdose Treatment
Same as for dry chemical.
Halon 2402
Industry Familiarity
This chemical is not a new fire extinguishing agent but is relatively new to the commercial market. Halon 2402 was first produced in the 1930s and patented in Germany for use in fire extinguishers in 1968.
The U.S. Military is the largest U.S. user of Halon 2402 today, primarily for aircraft. It is preferred because it is: ... harmless for use in the cockpit of aircraft,... more effective than other agents,... easier to handle because it is a liquid at atmospheric pressure, whereas Halon 1301 is a gas.
For these same reasons Caterpillar selected Halon 2402 as the standard fire suppression agent for all applications.
Fire Fighting Class
Halon 2402 is recommended for Class A, B, and C fires. It also has a cooling effect on burning material which increases its effectiveness. When comparing the relative effectiveness of Halon 2402, it is approximately twice as effective