Sprinkler Protection of NonStorage Occupancies with High
Ceiling Clearance
20 May, 2014
Peter Thomas
Background
•
Architectural designs create
real fire protection
challenges to fire engineers.
“The Taller” seems to be
“The Better”
•
Sprinkler performance and
effectiveness in buildings
with high roofs and nonstorage occupancies such as
atria, convention centers,
casinos, auditoriums,
theaters, exposition halls and
others, is not well
understood.
Introduction – Current Situation
Convention Center
Ceiling Height of 18 m
What is sprinkler
protection based on
current installation
standards?
Introduction – Current Situation
• EN 12845 (OH 4)
5.0 mm/min 360 sq m
• NFPA 13 (OH 2)
8.1 mm/min 139 sq m
6.1 mm/min 372 sq m
• FMDS 3-26 (HC 3)
20.0 mm/min 280 sq m
• China GB 50084 (OH 1)
6.0 mm/min 160 sq m
• Australia AS 2118.1
(High Hazard- Process)
12 mm/min 360 sq m
• Singapore CP52
Not Allowed
Test Plan
Test Fuel and Fuel Array Arrangement
Sprinkler System
Full Scale Fire Test 1
• Fuel
Arrangement: Group A Plastics
• Ceiling
• Fuel
height: 12 m
Height: 1.63 m
• Clearance
to ceiling: 10.4 m
• Arrangement
• Ignition
of fuel package: 8 by 2, solid pile
Location: Under 1 sprinkler
• Density:
15 mm/min
• Sprinklers:
• Spacing:
K115, RTI 105 (m-s)1/2 Standard Response, Pendent
3.0 m x 3.0 m
Full Scale Fire Test 1
Full Scale Fire Test 1
Full Scale Fire Test 1
Full Scale Fire Test 2
• Fuel
Arrangement: Group A Plastics
• Ceiling
• Fuel
Height: 16 m
Height: 1.63 / 1.13 m
• Clearance
to ceiling: 14.4 m
• Arrangement
• Ignition
of fuel package: 8 by 2, solid pile
Location: Under 1 sprinkler
• Density:
20 mm/min
• Sprinklers:
• Spacing:
K115, RTI 35 (m-s)1/2 Quick Response, Pendent
3.0 m x 3.0 m
Full Scale Fire Test 2
Full Scale Fire Test 2
Full Scale Fire Test 2
Full Scale Fire Test 3
• Fuel
Arrangement: Group A Plastics
• Ceiling
• Fuel
Height: 16 m
Height: 1.63 / 1.13 m
• Clearance
to ceiling: 14.4 m
• Arrangement
• Ignition
of fuel package: 8 by 2, solid pile
Location: Under 1 sprinkler
• Density:
23 mm/min
• Sprinklers:
• Spacing:
K161, RTI 138 (m-s)1/2 Standard Response, Pendent
3.0 m x 3.0 m
Full Scale Fire Test 3
Full Scale Fire Test 3
Full Scale Fire Test 4
• Fuel
Arrangement: Group A Plastics
• Ceiling
• Fuel
Height: 18 m
Height: 1.63 m
• Clearance
to ceiling: 16.4 m
• Arrangement
• Ignition
of Fuel Package: 6 by 2, solid pile
Location: Under 1 sprinkler
• Density:
40 mm/min
• Sprinklers:
• Spacing:
K363, RTI 130 (m-s)1/2 Standard Response, Pendent
3.0 m x 3.0 m
Full Scale Fire Test 4
Full Scale Fire Test 4
Full Scale Fire Test 5
• Fuel
Arrangement: Group A Plastics
• Ceiling
• Fuel
Height: 18 m
Height: 1.63
• Clearance
to Ceiling: 16.4 m
• Arrangement
• Ignition
of Fuel package: 6 by 2, solid pile
Location: Between 4 sprinklers
• Density:
40 mm/min
• Sprinklers:
• Spacing:
K363, RTI 130 (m-s)1/2 Standard Response, Pendent
3.0 m x 3.0 m
Full Scale Fire Test 5
Full Scale Fire Test 5
Test Summary
• Effectiveness of sprinkler to control depends on
delivered density
• Under 12 m ceiling, K 115 sprinkler at 15 mm/min.
did not control the fire.
• Under 16 m ceiling, K115 sprinkler at 20mm/min.
did not control the fire. A K160 sprinkler marginally
controlled the fire at 23 mm/min.
• Under 18 m ceiling, K363 sprinkler at 40 mm/min.
generates significantly larger drops and effectively
controlled the fire.
Conclusion
• EN 12845 (OH 4)
5.0 mm/min 360 sq m
• NFPA 13 (OH 2)
8.1 mm/min 139 sq m
6.1 mm/min 372 sq m
• FMDS 3-26 (HC 3)
20.0 mm/min 280 sq m
• China GB 50084 (OH 1)
6.0 mm/min 160 sq m
Change – 40 mm/min 160 sq m
with K360 sprinklers
• Australia (AS 2118.1)
(High Hazard- Process)
12 mm/min 360 sq m
• Singapore CP52
Not Allowed over 13 m
Proposed change - 12 mm/min
360 sq m with K160 sprinklers