Field test and evaluation of residential sprinkler systems: Part II

A series of National Fire Protection Association full-scale tests involving sprinkler installations was conducted in a two-story residence in Los Angeles, CA, and in a mobile home in Charlotte, NC. Previous laboratory tests, including full-scale room fire tests, had indicated that a prototype “quick-response” sprinkler was effective in controlling residential home fires. More full-scale fire tests under less controlled and more operational conditions were considered necessary to confirm or deny this conclusion. Part I of this three-part series (November 1983) explained the objectives of the tests and the test procedures that were to be followed. This second part describes the criteria used to evaluate the effectiveness of sprinkler systems using the “quick response” sprinkler in the series of seventy-six tests and the results of those tests. Part III will cover that phase of the test program that focused on a comparison of sprinkler and smoke detector activation times in the mobile home test structure. National Fire Protection Association Mr. Cote is Assistant Vice President (Engineering & Technical Services) for the NFPA. He served as project manager for the test series insofar as the NFPA had overall management responsibilities for the program. Reference: Cote Arthur E., “Field Test and Evaluation of Residential Sprinkler Systems: Part II” Fire Technology, Vol. 20, No. 1, February 1984, p. 48.     

Field test and evaluation of residential sprinkler systems: Part III

A series of full-scale fire tests utilizing prototype “quick-response” sprinklers was conducted in a two-story residence in Los Angeles, CA, and a mobile home in Charlotte, NC. A prime objective of the program was to test the performance of alternative sprinkler designs to “control” the development of fire in single-family dwellings and mobile homes. Part of the mobile home test series focused on a study of the comparative activation times of sprinklers and smoke detectors installed in the same areas under a variety of test conditions. The results of that phase of the test program are given here. National Fire Protection Association REFERENCE: Cote, arthur E., “Field Test and Evaluation of Residential Sprinkler Systems”, Fire Technology, Vol. 20, No. 2, May 1984, p. 41. Mr. Cote is Assistant Vice President (Engineering & Technical Services) for the NFPA. He served as project manager for the test series insofar as the NFPA had overall management responsibilities for the program.     

Water for fire fighting in high-rise buildings

NFPA Standards provide guidance on water supplies for standpipe or sprinkler systems in high-rise buildings, but fire flow, pressure ranges, and the use of tanks and pumps are matters of engineering. National Fire Protection Association Note: This paper was presented at the National Fire Protection Association Fall Conference, November 16, 1965, at Los Angeles, California.     

Sprinkler performance tests—The extended coverage panacea

Performance testing of multiple extended coverage sidewall sprinklers indicates that these sprinklers, installed on spacings that are multiples of specified room areas with ceiling heights up to 9 ft, perform comparably to single sprinkler per room installations under fire conditions. Underwriters Laboratories Inc. Note: Mr. Suchomel and Mr. Castino are Associate Managing Engineer and Managing Engineer of the Laboratories' Fire Protection Department. Mr. Castino presented this paper, under the title “Fire Performance Tests of Sprinklers Under Simulated Field Installation Conditions—The Extended Coverage Panacea,” at the NFPA Fall Meeting on November 12, 1979 in Phoenix, Arizona.     

Estimating effectiveness of state-of-the-art detectors and automatic sprinklers on life safety in residential occupancies

The report provides a qualitative assessment of the life safety impact of early warning fire detection and automatic sprinkler technology in residential occupancies. This assessment is based on the results of full-scale studies and statistics on residential fire fatalities from the NFIRS data base. Estimates of the impact of three alternatives, smoke detectors, standard automatic sprinklers, and residential sprinklers, are provided for major fire hazard scenarios in residential occupancies. The results of this study indicate that significant life safety benefits can be derived from broad application of detectors and sprinklers in all residential buildings. National Bureau of Standards Note: This is a condensed version of the more detailed document NBSIR 84-2819 bearing the same title as above. The document is available in limited quantities from the National Bureau of Standards or it may be purchased through National Technical Information Services (NTIS). Reference: Edward K. Budnick, “Estimating Effectiveness of State-of-the-Art Detectors and Automatic Sprinklers on Life Safety in Residential Occupancies.” Fire Technology, Vol. 20, No. 3, August 1984, p. 5.     

Uncertainty in Estimating the Fire Control Effectiveness of Sprinklers from New Zealand Fire Incident Reports

The current state of fire sprinkler effectiveness information has been found to be a limiting factor when comparing the fire risk for alternative building designs in New Zealand (Determination 2005/109: single means of escape from a high-rise apartment building. Department of Building and Housing, Wellington, 7). Data on the past performance of systems in real fires is one of the best sources of information to estimate future performance, but there has not been a detailed study on sprinkler effectiveness data from fire incidents in New Zealand published since Marryatt’s work (Fire: a century of automatic sprinkler protection-revised. Australian Fire Protection Association, Melbourne, 13), which was last updated in 1986 and included data from Australia. The current research looks at the quality and quantity of data available on sprinkler effectiveness from New Zealand Fire Service (NZFS) incident reports over the period of 2001 to 2010 to evaluate the data’s usefulness for risk-informed building fire safety design. A comparison is made between the number of sprinklers reported activated in the NZFS dataset, Marryatt’s study, guidance from PD 7974-7:2003 (PD 7974-7:2003: the application of fire safety engineering principles to fire safety design of buildings. Probabilistic Risk Assessment, London, 3), and NFPA data (U.S. experience with sprinklers and other automatic fire extinguishing equipment. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, 12). Proposals to improve the collection and reporting process to increase the informative value of future NZFS data for risk-informed fire safety design are presented.     

Fire Safety Code for Historic Structures

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) periodically updates each fire safety code and standard that it develops. Acknowledging the need for a document to prescribe fire safety for historic buildings, a complete and thorough rewrite of NFPA 914 was undertaken. The former recommended practice has now been issued as the Code for Fire Protection in Historic Structures. The 2001 edition identifies a process for analyzing fire safety needs in historic buildings, outlines generic approaches to dealing with specific provisions of other codes that may endanger historic integrity, and includes a performance-based approach to fire safety in historic buildings. This paper describes the background, revision process, and current proposed content NFPA 914.     

Research on friction reducing agents

Experiments with long chain, linear polymers have resulted in an additive that reduces friction losses in fire fighting handlines. Some of the work done suggests a potential application of such a product in automatic sprinkler systems. Note: An adaptation of a paper delivered by the author to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ Seminar No. 2 held in conjunction with the 76th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Philadelphia, May 18, 1972.     

Findings of the International Road Tunnel Fire Detection Research Project

Fire detection systems are essential fire protection elements for road tunnels to detect fires, activate safety systems and direct evacuation and firefighting. However, information on the performance of these systems is limited and guidelines for application of tunnel fire detection systems are not fully developed. The National Research Council of Canada and the Fire Protection Research Foundation, with support of government organizations, industries and private sector organizations, have completed a research project to investigate current fire detection technologies for road tunnel protection. The project included studies on the detection performance of current fire detection technologies with both laboratory and field fire tests combined with computer modelling studies. This paper provides an overview of the findings of the project. Fire detectors, fire scenarios and test protocols used in the test program are described. A summary of the research results of the series of full-scale fire tests conducted in a laboratory tunnel facility and in an operating road tunnel as well as of the computer modelling activities will be reported.     

AP1000核电厂常规岛消火栓和灭火器设计标准分析

随着国内AP1000核电厂的陆续兴建,尽快掌握国际通用的相关标准已经迫在眉睫。消防系统是电厂设计中的重要系统之一,美国NFPA(National Fire Protection Association)标准作为国际通用的消防设计标准,与中国标准存在一定的差异。对比分析了中国标准和美国NFPA标准在消火栓和移动式灭火器系统方面的差异,以期为消防系统设计人员提供参考。     

Fire tests to evaluate CPVC pipe sprinkler systems without fire resistance barriers

Nine full-scale fire tests were conducted to assess the adequacy of exposed chlorinated poly vinyl chloride (CPVC) pipe and fitting sprinkler systems installed in light hazard occupancies. The tests were conducted in an enclosure using six different types of automatic sprinklers including QREC pendent and sidewall sprinklers, a pendent residential sprinkler, and a sidewall residential sprinkler. Two types of fires, fast growing and slow growing, were used as test fires.The sprinkler in each test was operated with the normal operation pressure until the test fire was almost completely suppressed. Next, to assess the integrity of piping systems after fire exposure, the water pressure was increased to 12.1 bar and maintained for 10 min and then were visually inspected for any leakage while hydrostatic pressure was maintained at 12.1 bar. No leakage was detected in any of the tests.The results of the tests indicate that sprinkler systems based on exposed CPVC pipe and fittings can be safely installed in light hazard occupancies and will provide adequate protection when installed to all the relevant standards.     

Post-crash fire testing of titanium fuselages

The problem … maintain fuselage integrity and a survivable cabin environment during a post-crash fire. Its high melting point made titanium an attractive candidate for the large-scale test discussed here. Note: This paper is an adaptation of Report No. FAA-RD-71-3, “Titanium Fuselage Environmental Conditions in Post-Crash Fires,” prepared by the author for the Federal Aviation Administration. The report was also the basis for Mr. Sarkos’ presentation at the 75th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in San Francisco on May 18, 1971.     

The movement of people in buildings and design solutions for means of egress

Problems posed by the movement of people in buildings are influenced by design features, some of which are dictated by safety codes and standards. Over the last decade research addressing these problems has led to recommendations that depart from traditional design and regulatory practices. Empirical studies of crowd movement suggest a more cost-effective, performance-oriented approach to selecting egress stair widths using the “effective-width” model. Research suggests that by building stairs with larger treads, improved visibility, and better handrails, it is possible to improve comfort and safety in normal, everyday use and reduce the risk posed by crowd conditions in emergency egress situations. Reference: Pauls, Jake, “The Movement of People in Buildings and Design Solutions for Means of Egress,” Fire Technology, Vol. 20, No. 1, February 1984, p. 27. This paper was originally prepared for presentation to the Ninth Australian Conference on Fire sponsored by the Australian Fire Protection Association, Sydney, September, 1983.     

Findings of the International Road Tunnel Fire Detection Research Project

Fire detection systems play a crucial role in ensuring safe evacuation and firefighting operations in road tunnels, but information on the performance of these systems in tunnels has been limited and guidelines for their application in tunnel environments are not fully developed. Recently, the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) and the Fire Protection Research Foundation completed a 2-year international research project, with the support of private- and public-sector organizations, to determine some of the strengths and weaknesses of the various types of fire detection systems and the factors that can affect their performance in tunnel environments. The project included both laboratory and field fire tests combined with computer modeling studies. Although this research was conducted on road tunnels, the findings should apply to other tunnels, such as those used in subway systems. As part of the project, the NRC conducted two series of tests in the Carleton University-NRC tunnel facility to investigate the performance of detection systems under minimal and longitudinal airflow conditions. In addition, NRC conducted tests in the Carré-Viger Tunnel in Montréal, as well as a computer modeling study. The project studied nine fire detection systems that covered five types of currently available technologies. The performance of the detection systems, including response times and ability to locate and monitor a fire in the tunnel and the effect of the tunnel environment, were evaluated under the same conditions. This article provides an overview of the findings of the project. Fire detectors, fire scenarios and test protocols used in the test program are described. A summary of the research results of the full-scale fire tests conducted in a laboratory tunnel facility and in an operating road tunnel as well as of the computer modeling activities is reported.     

Corridor wall linings— Effect on fire performance

During December 1964 and January 1965, research was conducted to determine the effects of three types of wall linings on fire performance within a partially ventilated corridor. Temperature and light transmission data were recorded, and gas samples were collected for immediate and later analysis. This information was supplemented by the recorded comments of observers, stationed in rooms adjacent to the corridor during the tests. Note: Based on the report “Effect of Wall Linings on the Fire Performance Within a Partially Ventilated Corridor” by Messrs. Schaffer and Eickner, publisherd by the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wisconsin, 53705, in cooperation with the American Hardboard Association.     

Experimental Validation of Smoke Detector Spacing Requirements and the Impact of these Requirements on Detector Performance

Changes were made to the smoke detector siting requirements for beamed ceilings in the 2007 edition of NFPA 72, the National Fire Alarm Code. These changes were based on a modeling studying. A series of full-scale fire tests were conducted to validate the findings of the modeling study for level corridor ceilings with and without beams. This paper provides an overview of the experimental testing conducted, presents a brief summary of the findings of the experimental validation, and addresses the impact of deep-beam profiles on level ceilings with respect to smoke detector response. Furthermore, the impact of deep-beamed ceilings on detector response is evaluated with respect to the citing requirements of the 2002 and 2007 editions of NFPA 72.     

A New Test to Evaluate the Fire Performance of Residential Sprinklers

Fire tests were conducted using the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) UL 1626 Fire Test for residential sprinklers. The results indicated that sprinkler performance in UL 1626 could not be reproduced due to differences in material flammability properties. This conclusion was reached in a cooperative effort with UL. Factory Mutual Research's Approval fire test that had been redesigned based on UL 1626 was thus subject to the same variability. A new fire test was developed using fuel with controlled material flammability parameters based upon the use of the ASTM E2058 Fire Propagation Apparatus. The new fuel package consists of a wood crib (one half the height of the one which was used in UL 1626) supported over a pan with heptane, two polyether foam cushions (about 60% greater in density than the foam previously used in UL 1626) measuring 34 in by 30 in by 3 in (864 mm by 762 mm by 76 mm) and in (6 mm) Douglas Fir plywood paneling. The new fire test was shown in a series of sprinklered fire tests to provide a reproducible challenge to residential sprinklers comparable to that observed in the Factory Mutual Research and the Los Angeles Residential Test Programs.     

Fire endurance of soldered copper sprinkler systems — Part II

The endurance and utility of soldered copper tube systems used as water conveyors to fire protection sprinkler arrays have been demonstrated using tested engineering scaling principles. Note: The author presented this paper at the 79th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association, May 1975, Chicago, Illinois. Part I appeared in the August 1977 issue of Fire Technology. Mr. Alvares is currently affiliated with the Lawrence Livermore Laboratory, University of California.     

Modeling fire spread in buildings

A computer-based technique for analyzing the spread of fire through a multicompartment building is described. The technique is a comparative tool for evaluating alternative fire protection strategies, and quantifies the economic and safety performance characteristics of a building. Some results are shown of its application to a four-story office building. Reference: D. G. Elms, A. H. Buchanan, and J. W. Dusing, “Modeling Fire Spread in Buildings,” Fire Technology, Vol. 20, No. 1, February 1984, p. 11.