fire protection scover...hakuna matata, afx and kiwa have performed teststo determine the function...

Fire Protection

Scover

November 2nd, 2011

2e version

Testing Fire Protection of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport based on certification scheme BRL-K23003.

Kiwa Nederland B.V.

Groningenweg 10

Postbus 256

2800 AG GOUDA

The Netherlands

Tel. +31 182 820 460

Fax +31 182 820 465

E-mail [email protected]

www.kiwa.nl/fss

Colophon

Title Fire Protection Scover Project Number P101100364 Project Manager P.E. Voshol Contractor Hakuna Matata Quality Assurance T. den Haan Author(s) P.E. Voshol This report is not publicly available, but distributed only to the client(s) who commissioned this project. Distribution of the report outside the project team is done only by and under responsibility of the client.

Fire Protection

Scover

© 2011 Kiwa Nederland B.V. All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a database or retrieval system, or published, in any form or in any way, electronically, mechanically, by print, photoprint, microfilm or any other means without prior written permission from the publisher.

Testing Fire Protection of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport based on certification scheme BRL-K23003.

Fire Protection Scover © Kiwa Nederland B.V. - 1 - November 2nd, 2011

Preface

Hakuna Matata, AFX and Kiwa have performed tests to determine the function of detection & extinguishing concept for system of Fire Protection of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport. The function of the concept shall realize the free passage through the evacuation route. This concept has been tested on October 1st, 2011 in the lab of AFX Oud-Beijerland in the Netherlands. The test results have been evaluated and laid down in this report.


Summary

Hakuna Matata is manufacturer of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport. They have designed this small storage facility (shelter) whit the goal to increase fire safety in elderly homes where vehicles for handicapped transport are parked in hallways that are also used as evacuation route in these buildings. In use there is a risk of these vehicles getting on fire by a mail function of the energy source. These vehicles contain mostly plastic materials and are not specific threaded with fire retardants. The ignition source is the battery of the vehicle. Hakuna Matata has designed a safety concept existing out of the following components;

- a shelter of fire retarded material; - a detection and extinguishing system;

The concept has the function to protect these vehicles against the spread of fire. The designers of the concept wanted to test the function and effectiveness of this detection- and extinguishing system together with the shelter and to protect the evacuation route and leading to a safe passage out that part of the building. The tests have been carried out and the system was effective in detecting and extinguishing the fire cell in the shelter. The shelter was not affected by the fire.


Preface 1

Summary 2

1 Introduction 4

1.1 General 4

1.2 Motivation 4

1.3 Terminology 4

2 Test protocol 6

2.1 General 6

2.2 Scope 6

2.3 Goals 6

2.4 Performance requirment 6

2.5 The storage facility (shelter) 7

2.6 Detection system 8

2.7 Extinghishing system 8

2.8 Specific test equipment 9

2.9 Fire ignition material 9 2.9.1 Fire material n-heptane (BRL-K23001) 9

2.10 Test personal 9

2.11 Test setup 9

2.12 Test procedure 11

2.13 Performance requirements aerosol fire-extinguishing component 12

3 Test results 14

3.1 General 14

3.2 Configuration of the Detection & Extinguishing system 14

3.3 Test 1 14

3.4 Test 2 15

3.5 Test 3 16

3.6 Conclusion 17


1 Introduction

1.1 General Hakuna Matata, AFX and Kiwa have performed tests to determine the function of the detection and extinguishing concept for system of Fire Protection of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport. This concept has been tested on October 1st, 2010 in the lab of AFX Oud-Beijerland in the Netherlands. The test results have been evaluated and laid down in this report. The test protocol for this specific application has been designed in conjunction with certification guidelines BRL-K23001 “Kiwa product certificate for fixed dry aerosol fire extinguishing components” and BRL-K23003 “Kiwa process certificate for design, installation, acceptance and service of fire-extinguishing systems based on aerosol”. These certification guidelines have been approved by the Board of Experts “Fire Safety”. Kiwa is an accredited certification body by the Dutch Accreditation Council for performing certification according to certification guidelines BRL-K23001 and BRL-K23003. The accreditation standard for these certification guidelines is EN45011. The design evaluating and declaration can be used as an attest. Remark The test protocol has not been designed based on NEN 6069 “Resistance to fire - Testing of building products and building elements and classification of the results”. This standard refers to a test procedure with a standard heating curve of the construction products and building elements. The concept of the shelter with the detection and extinguishing is not a building product or building element. The Scover concept does not follow the standard heating curve because it is based on a swift detection and extinguishing whereby the heat production is low.

1.2 Motivation Hakuna Matata is manufacturer of a small storage facility for vehicles for handicapped transport. They have designed this small storage facility (shelter) whit the goal to increase fire safety in elderly homes where vehicles for handicapped transport are parked in hallways that are also used as evacuation route in these buildings. In use there is a risk of these vehicles getting on fire by a mail function of the energy source. These vehicles contain mostly plastic materials and are not specific threaded with fire retardants. The ignition source is the battery of the vehicle. Hakuna Matata has designed a detection and extinguishing concept to protect these vehicles and to protect the evacuation route. The designers of the concept wanted to test the function and effectiveness of this detection- and extinguishing system.

1.3 Terminology In this report the following definitions shall apply:


• Board of Experts: the Board of Experts “Fire Safety”;

• BRL: Certification Guideline (Certification scheme);

• Supplier: the party responsible for ensuring that the products continuously fulfil the requirements on which the certification is based; Aerosol: colloidal mixture of a substance and a gas.

• Colloidal: the condition of materials which are finely divided in a liquid or gas, in particulates larger than a molecule and smaller than those in a suspension.

• Suspension: liquid or gas in which another material is suspended as fine particles. • Container: structure containing the dry solid fire extinguishing agent and from

which the agent is discharged into the surroundings through a discharge opening. • Certification Guideline: arrangements concerning the subject covered by the

certification, as agreed by the Board of Experts. • Fire extinguishing mechanism (chemical): after the activation of the dry fire

extinguishing agent it is discharged as a dry aerosol consisting of finely divided particles (e.g. 40% of the mass), specifically alkali salts, and gasses (e.g. 60% of the mass) primarily consisting of nitrogen, carbon dioxide and water vapour. The dry aerosol has a chemical extinguishing action by interfering with the chain reactions in the flames by binding to free radicals as well as a physical extinguishing action by cooling the seat of the fire. Both reactions largely occur at the surface of the microscopically small particulates in the dry aerosol. The smaller the particulates, the more effective the mechanism will be.

• Solid fire extinguishing agent (SFEA): solid material which is transformed into an aerosol by heat.

• Fire extinguishing system: system consisting of a number of components to detect a fire, communicate it to the premises manager and possibly to others, and independently activate other components to extinguish the fire.

• Fire extinguishing components: components which may be incorporated into a fire extinguishing system. Examples: smoke detectors, fire detectors, manual call points, cables, signals and alarm annunciators, fire extinguishing components and other auxiliary components such as automatically closing doors. Here we are concerned with a fire extinguishing component comprising a container filled with dry fire extinguishing agent which, after activation, discharges a dry aerosol to extinguish the fire.

• EN: European standard. • IMO: International Maritime Organisation. • ISO: International Standardization Organization. • NEN: Netherlands standard. • NFPA: National Fire Protection Association. • n-Heptane is the straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula H3C(CH2)5CH3

or C7H16.


2 Test protocol

2.1 General The test protocol for this specific application has been designed in conjunction with certification guidelines BRL-K23001 “Kiwa product certificate for fixed dry aerosol fire extinguishing components” and BRL-K23003 “Kiwa process certificate for design, installation, acceptance and service of fire-extinguishing systems based on aerosol”.

2.2 Scope The scope of the test is to determine if the fire protection concept is able to detect and extinguish a model fire in its storage shelter whit the goal to increase fire safety in elderly homes where vehicles for handicapped transport are parked in hallways that are also used as evacuation route in these buildings. This based on the two certification guidelines named in chapter 2.1.

2.3 Goals The main goal for the fire protection concept is; a swift detection and extinguishing to minimize the damage on the vehicle and making it possible that the transport and evacuation route in the building has no downtime. By this continuity is possible in emergency situations caused by fire. This main goal leads to the following sub-goals for this type of system;

• A swift detection of fire; • A closed compartment for extinguishing and fire; this by putting the shelter

over the vehicle; • A swift activation of the aerosol generator(s) after detection of fire; • Only damage to the vehicle; • Protecting of the evacuation route.

2.4 Performance requirment The performance requirement based on the above goals is following; Direct The detection and extinguishing system should detect and extinguish the model fires within 120 seconds. Indirect No flames getting through the shelter; No dangerous rise of the temperature at the outside of the shelter. Explanation As a boundary condition for this, the aerosol fire-extinguishing components must be coupled to and activated by an effective fire alarm extinguishing centre with detection component. For this a quick detection and a quick reaction are imperative.

Extinguishing effectively means that the object to be extinguished after the test does no longer burn and neither will reignite in course of time. In order to be able to match the aerosol fire-extinguishing components, regarding the extinguishing performance, with the fire classes as stated in the fields of application. The extinguishing components are tested for every fire class stated by the supplier and stated in the attest part of the product certificate.


The design of the shelter is such that some aerosol will be released at the floor to shelter connection after activation. This aerosol has no effect on the level of oxygen around the shelter. The volume of the aerosol is set on the volume of the shelter and is not abele to fill spaces with bigger volumes.

2.5 The storage facility (shelter) The storage facility has the following dimensions.

The following pictures give an impression if the application.


The storage facility consists out of s a glass fibre shelter with colour RAL 7006 containing flame retardant products on a steel construction. See reports by WFRGENT N.V., Gent, Belgium: - Test Report nr. 14619A EN ISO 11925-2 off WG 3E; - Test Report nr. 14619B EN13823-Off3-WG-5E; - Classification report for reaction to fire number 14619C. The fabric of the shelter is classified in the report 14619C according to EN 13501-1+A1: 2009. The product Fire Fabric 430 has the following classification; B, S1, d0.

2.6 Detection system The detection system is supplied by AFX. The detection system consists out of a thermocoord that is manufactured by FirePro. This is a simple principle that needs no exterior energy source

2.7 Extinghishing system The extinguishing system is supplied by AFX and is manufactured by FirePro. The extinguishing system exists out of the following components. Design and projection of the components is according to AFX. Component Fabricate Picture Functional standard

FP200

FirePro

BRL-K23001 with valid product certificate


FP80 FirePro BRL-K23001 with valid product certificate

2.8 Specific test equipment Supplier Hakuna Matata ;

• Shelter Supplier AFX;

• FirePro Aerosol Generators

• Thermocoord

• Test room 80 m3

• Temperature sensors and logging equipment

• Photo equipment

2.9 Fire ignition material Below is a specification of the fire materials. The ignition of the fire cell within the shelter is performed with n-heptane. This catalyst fluid is to define the performance of the extinguishing part of the system.

2.9.1 Fire material n-heptane (BRL-K23001) N-Heptane is the straight-chain alkane with the chemical formula H3C(CH2)5CH3 or C7H16. It is a totally non-polar solvent. This filled in a round bowl of 15 cm diameter and 5 cm deep with a volume of 150 cl.

2.10 Test personal Hakuna Matata; Personal to setup and handle the shelter. AFX; Personal to setup and handle the extinguishing components. Kiwa; Personal to setup and handle the measuring equipment and registration of the process of testing and its results. Witness and inspection of the tests.

2.11 Test setup The test setup is based on paragraph A.6.3 of NPR-CEN/TR 15276-1: 2009. The same fire cell is used with the following materials; - Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA); - Polypropylene.


The fire cell is placed on the floor in the centre of the shelter. The igniter fuel is n-heptane.

The PP and PMMA plates after the test. The fire-extinguishing components (generator) will be placed according to specification of AFX on the bottom in the shelter. The thermocoord is projected along the metal frame of the shelter at the inside. The thermocoord runs from the generator on the bottom along the metal frame to the top of the shelter. The fire ignition material is activated with a propane hand torch.


The position of the generator in the shelter

2.12 Test procedure Before testing the product must be conditioned. Extinguishing should take place as per EN2, class A, solids. The following boundary conditions apply:

� The standard fire-extinguishing agent should, for class A, meet the requirements as stated in certification guideline BRL-K23001.

� The fire cell is placed in the centre on the bottom. � The fire cell the fire-extinguishing components should be placed as per

the specifications by the supplier with a division as per the supplier’s user manual.

� Ignite the fire material. � This is the test’s starting moment. � The fire cell should burn for at least 30 seconds. Detection and

extinguishing should occur within in following 120 seconds. � At the conclusion of the activation of the extinguishing agent in the unit

should remain closed for at least 300 seconds. � During this period the cell should be monitored for active fire

phenomena and spontaneous combustion phenomena; this will take place based on the temperature measurements near the fire cell only in the shelter.

� After this period the cell should be checked visually for active fire phenomena and spontaneous combustion phenomena outside the test unit without the presence of extinguishing agent.


� Fire phenomena should be expressed in the report. The temperatures after extinguishing are leading within the shelter.

� Spontaneous combustion phenomena should have a form of visual fire. Just smoke is not categorised as such.

2.13 Performance requirements aerosol fire-extinguishing component The aerosol fire-extinguishing components must extinguish the objects to be extinguished for the fire class in question in an effective way. As a boundary condition for this, the aerosol fire-extinguishing components must be coupled to and activated by an effective detection component. For this a quick detection and a quick reaction are imperative.

Extinguishing effectively means that the object to be extinguished after the test does no longer burn and neither will reignite in course of time. In order to be able to match the aerosol fire-extinguishing components, regarding the extinguishing performance, with the fire classes as stated in the fields of application.

The tests are carried out for the aerosol, which the supplier wants to have certified. During these tests the design formula, used by the supplier for projection of the aerosol extinguishing components, is verified.

The formula used by the supplier should demonstrate that the following has been taken into account:

• the dimensions of the shelter containing the object to be extinguished as well as the specific mutual dimension proportions (length, width and height);

• the aerosol’s diffusion factor; • the amount of extinguishing agent in terms of grams extinguishing agent

per m3 room.

The test is carried out in a closed shelter. During the test the arithmetical translation of the amount of grams per volume unit must be taken literally, for this will be leading for the value is declared. There may not be any physical obstructions inside the shelter. During testing of the extinguishing performance and of the design formula for the amount of extinguishing agent necessary, no additional safety factors (1,3), which are required by European and NFPA directives for projection, should be applied. Furthermore the design formula should take into account the amount of extinguishing amount left behind in the cooling of the fire-extinguishing component. Determination of the extinguishing performance should be carried out on the following conditions:

Function Performance Unit

Fire class Determination method as per EN2

Fire class A -

Thermal energy / power See 2.5

Fire time realised by a catalyst. 30 Seconds

Catalyst See test procedure -

Air humidity in the room before the fire, measured by a hygrometer

60 ± 20 %

Ambient temperature before the fire to be measured by a thermo-couple directly outside the room with a ∆T 10 sec registration through a logger.

15 ± 10 °C

Room temperature. Determination To be determined during test in test °C


Function Performance Unit

method by means of at least 5 thermo-couples as per procedure with ∆T 10 sec registration through a logger.

laboratory

Dimensioning test room Max. 100 m3

Ventilation during the time of fire by means of a constant determination

Natural

Ventilation opening and positioning during the extinguishing

See test procedure m2

Air current in the room Natural

Close test room after ignition fire Direct Seconds

Amount of extinguishing agent necessary as per the formula

As per design formula BRL-K23001 Grams/m3

Extinguishing time after activation 30 Seconds

After inspection time 300 Seconds

Outflow aerosol Direction and homogeneity Visual

Weight extinguishing component for determining the outflow percentage of the extinguishing agent

Before and after the extinguishing Grams

Activation According to the supplier’s system -

Supplemental registrations during the test in seconds.

• The time of ignition. • The time the activation of the fire-extinguishing components started. • The end time of the activation of the aerosol. • The time at which the flames are extinguished.

During the fire period sufficient ventilation should take place and the oxygen level inside the test room should be kept level under atmospheric conditions.


3 Test results

3.1 General The test results are laid down in this chapter. The photo’s and temperature charts are to be found in the annex of this report.

3.2 Configuration of the Detection & Extinguishing system Detection components:

• 1 thermocoord high in the shelter Extinguishing component

• 1 x FP200 or FP80

3.3 Test 1 Pre test on the burning of igniter fuel. The requirement is minimal 210 seconds pre burn time with heptane. The cup was filled for the pre test. The heptane was ignited with the torch and burned freely for 210 seconds. The cup was still 50% filled after pre test. The cup was 179 grams before test complete filled with heptane. The empty cup is 171 grams.

The shelter after testing.


3.4 Test 2 The generator is type FP200; Sr. nr. 101021. July 2010. The weight of the generator is 1649 grams before activation and 1511 grams after activation. The free burn time of the fire cell is 240 seconds. The shelter is not closed to guaranty 20, 7% oxygen at the fire cell. If the shelter was closed after activation of the fire cell, the fire cell would be smothered. After 240 seconds is the shelter from halve closed put to complete closed. After 10 seconds is the generator activated by the thermocoord. After 8 minutes is the shelter opened. The fire is extinguished. There was visual damage on the shelter. The shelter was not affected by the fire. The outside of the shelter was only hand warm after the test.

The first test set up before closing of the shelter.

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Series1

Series2

The temperature graph in the shelter. Series 1 is at the bottom of the cell. Series 2 is at the top of the cell.


3.5 Test 3 The generator is type FP80; Sr. nr. 121010. May 2010. The weight of the generator is 742 grams before activation and 681 grams after activation. The free burn time of the fire cell is 240 seconds. The shelter is not closed to guaranty 20, 7% oxygen at the fire cell. If the shelter was closed after activation of the fire cell, the fire cell would be smothered. After 240 seconds is the shelter from halve closed put to complete closed. After 10 seconds is the generator activated by the thermocoord. After 8 minutes is the shelter opened. The fire is extinguished. There was visual damage on the shelter. The shelter was not affected by the fire. The outside of the shelter was only hand warm after the test.

The second test set up before closing of the shelter.

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Series1

Series2

The temperature graph in the shelter. Series 1 is at the bottom of the cell. Series 2 is at the top of the cell.


Explanation Series 1 is at the bottom of the cell. Series 2 is at the top of the cell. The graphs on series 1 show the building up of the temperature at the cell. At both tests is the 240 seconds shown. The first test shows this with a cell and a steel frame that are not heated. The second test shows this with a cell and steel frame that is heated by the first and the second test. The second graphs would have given a more correct measurement if the sensor parts would not have connected to the steel frame and new plates and a cooled steel frame would have been used at the second test.

3.6 Conclusion The tests have been carried out and the system was effective in detecting and extinguishing the fire cell in the shelter taking into account that the shelter must be completely closed. The shelter was not affected by the fire. The outside of the shelter was only hand warm after the tests. The concept of the shelter with the Fire Fabric 430 and the detecting and extinguishing system allows protection of the evacuation route.

fire protection scover...hakuna matata, afx and kiwa have performed teststo determine the function...

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