sprinkler protection criteria for exposed expanded group a

Sprinkler Protection Criteria for Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics Project Summary

Background NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, has limited information regarding protection criteria for Exposed Expanded Group A plastic commodity stored on racks. There is an important present need for protection criteria for this type of commodity, since it presents a significant fire hazard and is stored in many warehouse and retail buildings. At the 2008 meeting of the Foundation’s Automatic Sprinkler Research Planning Council, this topic was identified as an area where additional research is needed to inform provisions of NFPA 13. At the Council’s 2011 meeting, the topic was identified at or near the top of the priority list of projects with a particular focus on results needed for the next edition of the Standard. Although there is a broad range of criteria needed, the particular focus of this project was rack storage of this commodity with protection solutions which do not involve in rack sprinklers, to improve the flexibility of this storage protection configuration. Previous testing by Viking Corporation in Europe showed successful performance with ceiling only K19 sprinkler protection at 40-50 psi design pressure for 40 foot storage of actual mixed commodity (candles, foam slabs, cardboard boxes) in a non standard rack configuration with vertical barriers interspersed in the rack at approximately 20 foot on center. Research Objective To develop cost effective sprinkler protection criteria for rack storage of exposed expanded Group A plastic commodity with a particular focus on ceiling only protection.

Project Execution A Project Technical Panel was formed and met eight times over a three period to develop a proposed test plan and review and revise that plan during the course of its conduct.

Project Technical Panel

Ken Linder, Swiss Re (Chair NFPA

Sprinkler System Discharge Criteria

Technical Committee)

Rich Pehrson, (International Fire

Marshals Association)

Jason Huczek, Southwest Research

Institute

John Denhardt, Strickland Fire

Protection

Steve Wolin, Code Consultants, Inc.

Matt Klaus, NFPA Staff Liaison

Project Contractor Underwriters Laboratories – Dan Steppan, Kerry Bell

Project Sponsor Representatives

(various phases)

IKEA - Tom Pedersen, Jan Lagerblad

Viking Sprinkler – Scott Franson

XL Insurance – Pete Willse

Property Insurance Research Group -

Rich Gallagher (Zurich Insurance)

Tyco Fire and Building Products –

Reliable Sprinkler – Tom Multer

James Golinveaux

P&G - Christina Francis

Target – Karen Rebman

Aon Insurance – Tom Lentz

Discussion of Results

In total, ten full scale tests were conducted with various combinations of ceiling and commodity height, horizontal transverse flue space blocking, placement and type of vertical barriers, sprinkler type, and ignition location. All tests used standard exposed

expanded Group A plastic commodity (expanded polystyrene meat trays) stored in plastic bags and resting on two-way entry, hardwood pallets). With the horizontal blocking of transverse flue spaces (in all but the last four tests in the series), the length of the main storage arrays was extended beyond the normal 32 ft. to obtain useful data relative to evaluating the potential for horizontal travel of fire to the extremities of the test array. Table 1 summarizes the test parameters and the test results. Four fully detailed test reports (capturing the first six tests, the seventh test, the eighth test, and the ninth and tenth tests, respectively) have been prepared by UL LLC and are available on the Foundation’s website. Innovative testing methods were used to conserve the costly standard expanded plastics commodity. Six of the ten tests conducted met the pre established criteria of prevention of fire spread to the end of the array or to the target array1. (All of the tests met the pre established criteria for peak steel temperature above the ignition source.) The following observations were made during the test program which may inform future work:

Vertical barriers in the commodity had a significant positive impact by limiting the horizontal spread of fire along the commodity array. Both non combustible and combustible (3/8” plywood) barriers demonstrated the ability to maintain their integrity during the fire test series. The fire in the main test bay breached at least one of the vertical barriers placed closest to the ignition location in each test by travelling around the barrier at the aisle face where the commodity extended approximately 4 inches beyond the face of the barriers. However, the horizontal progress of the fire down the length of the racks was delayed by the barriers and helped enable the sprinkler system to control the fire spread.

The horizontal blocking of transverse flue spaces reduced the ability of the sprinkler system to effectively discharge water into the blocked flue spaces and limit the horizontal travel of fire. Removal of this blocking in the final four tests resulted in significant improvement in sprinkler performance.

8 foot aisle widths were a significant factor in the prevention of aisle jump in the first four tests; a wider aisle width (as used in the previous European test series) may have a further positive effect. In the tests where aisle jump occurred, the sprinkler activation pattern contributed to fire spread across the aisle.

Other variables observed to significantly impact the performance of the protection scheme include:

o sprinkler type which influenced penetration in the commodity and activation sequence;

o ceiling height and clearance to the commodity which did not influence actuation time significantly but did influence water penetration and number of operated sprinklers; and

o ignition location relative to the sprinklers, which significantly influenced activation pattern and fire control.

1 An extended length of test array was used for Tests 3-8 to fully explore this variable.

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Exposed Expanded Group A Plastic Test Series

Test Summary

FIRE TEST

NUMBER

Test 1 Test 2 Test 3 Test 4 Test 5 Test 6 Test 7 Test 8 Test 9 Test 10

Test Date July 9, 2012 July 13, 2012 July 18, 2012 July 25, 2012 Oct. 31, 2012 Nov. 8, 2012 June 8, 2013 June 19, 2014 Oct. 28, 2014 Oct. 30, 2014

Test Parameters

Storage Type Double Row Rack

Commodity Type Exposed Expanded Group A Plastic (Bagged Meat Trays on Hardwood Pallets)

Pallet Type 2 way entry, stringer, hardwood

Vertical Barriers

16 ft. on

center -

Main Array (Non-

combustible)

16 ft. on

center -

Main Array (Non-

combustible)

16 ft. on

center -

Main Array (Non-

combustible)

20 ft. on center - Main

Array (Non-

combustible)

24 ft. on

center - Main Array

(3/8 in.

plywood)

16 ft. on center - Main Array (3/8 in. plywood)

Horizontal Blocking

of Transverse Flues in

Main Array (non-

combustible)

18 flues

inside

vertical

barriers

12 flues

inside vertical

barriers –

None at

uprights

72 flues - None at the

uprights and

vertical

barriers

60 flues - None

at the uprights

and vertical

barriers

98 flues - None

at the uprights

and vertical

barriers

60 flues - None at the

uprights and

vertical

barriers

None

Length of Main

Storage Array, ft. 32 32 56 68 56 56 40 56 32 32

Nominal Storage

Height, ft. 20 20 35 30 40 30 30 35 20 25

Ceiling Height, ft. 40 40 40 35 45 40 40 40 30 30

Nominal

Clearance, ft. 20 20 5 5 5 10 10 5 10 5

Aisle Width, ft. 8

Ignition Location Between 2 Sprinklers (offset) Under 1 Sprinkler (offset) Between 2 Sprinklers

(offset)

Under 1 Sprinkler

(offset)

Between 2 Sprinklers

(offset)

Sprinkler Orientation Pendent Deflector to Ceiling, in. 14 Sprinkler Spacing,

sprinkler by branchline ft. by ft.

10 by 10

Temperature Rating, F 212 214 214 212 214

Sprinkler Type ESFR Nominal Sprinkler

Discharge Coefficient K,

gpm/psig 0.5 22.4 25.2 25.2 16.8 25.2

Nominal Discharge

Density, gpm/ft2 1.58 1.95 1.95 1.19 -

0.99 1.95 1.38 1.38

Nominal Discharge

Pressure, psig 50 60 60

50 psig first

6 sprinklers then 35

psig for remainder of

operating sprinklers 60 30 30

Test Results

Length of Test, minutes 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31 31

First Sprinkler Operation

Time, min:sec 0:39 0:44 0:52 0:47 0:47 0:48 0:47 0:48 0:47 0:53

Last Sprinkler Operation

Time, min:sec 8:23 3:21 1:45 2:44 1:39 4:35 1:28 2:28 1:24 1:14

Number of Operated

Sprinklers 12 6 10 16 18 11 7 7 7 7

Peak Gas Temperature at

Ceiling Above Ignition, °F 564 558 1138 1163 1002 241 414 877 204 990

Maximum 1 minute Average Gas

Temperature at Ceiling Above

Ignition, °F 255 220 353 496 489 151 191 303 138 477

Peak Steel Temperature at

Ceiling Above Ignition, °F 126 119 145 164 160 129 133 136 114 149

Maximum 1 minute Average

Steel Temperature at Ceiling

Above Ignition, °F 124 117 141 164 156 127 127 134 112 144

Fire Travel to Extremities of

Test Array

Yes (East and

West end of

Main)

Yes (West end of

Main)

No No

Yes

(North Target

Array Burned

Through to

Extremities)

Yes

(South Target

Array Burned

Through to

Extremities)

No No No No

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Figure 1 - Test 1 Arrangement

N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)

Ignition location: Centered between two

sprinklers, offset in transverse flue space.

Spr 11 Spr 12 Spr 13 Spr 14 Spr 15 Spr 16 Spr 17 Spr 18 Spr 19 Spr 20










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Fire Protection Research Foundation 12CA26754/NC5756 07091204

Maximum Temperatures (°F)

Sprinkler 91..100 122 126 136 135 140 138 126 127 118 115

Sprinkler 81..90 129 138 144 142 156 156 147 136 122 122

Sprinkler 71..80 135 144 149 162 181 189 185 153 133 129

Sprinkler 61..70 149 160 174 194 217 279 226 205 176 154

Sprinkler 51..60 140 162 187 214 232 241 313 235 192 163

Sprinkler 41..50 136 156 190 208 183 190 199 208 187 171

Sprinkler 31..40 144 160 176 207 316 370 248 196 178 167

Sprinkler 21..30 142 149 172 199 228 230 225 212 174 147

Sprinkler 11..20 144 154 165 187 196 217 214 189 174 163

Sprinkler 1..10 138 147 151 162 176 196 192 178 169 158

Activation Times (min:sec)

Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70 08:20 08:23 08:18

Sprinkler 51..60 00:47 07:52 08:18

Sprinkler 41..50 00:39 00:39

Sprinkler 31..40 01:50

Sprinkler 21..30 01:12 01:08 01:16

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10

Tables 1 and 2 - Test Number 1 Maximum Temperatures and Sprinkler Activation Times

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Figure 2 - Test 1; South Main Array Damage from East

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Figure 3 - Test 1; North Main Array Damage from West

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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)













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Sprinkler 91..100 126 129 138 140 135 131 127 133 133 136

Sprinkler 81..90 122 127 133 149 154 145 136 140 142 138

Sprinkler 71..80 127 133 136 144 171 180 154 165 154 147

Sprinkler 61..70 140 144 156 158 185 221 180 189 171 160

Sprinkler 51..60 145 160 172 216 221 282 212 201 178 158

Sprinkler 41..50 147 165 196 198 246 207 176 198 167 153

Sprinkler 31..40 147 169 194 223 289 189 192 190 171 153

Sprinkler 21..30 136 154 169 187 199 163 149 145 147 140

Sprinkler 11..20 133 144 147 162 153 151 136 131 133 129

Sprinkler 1..10 129 127 135 138 131 131 129 124 122 124


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80



Sprinkler 41..50 00:48 00:44

Sprinkler 31..40 00:56 01:00

Sprinkler 21..30

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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Figure 5 - Test 2; South Main Array Damage

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Figure 6 - Test 2; North Main Array Damage

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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)













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Sprinkler 91..100 109 120 126 129 138 144 142 149 145 149

Sprinkler 81..90 120 122 129 136 153 156 158 153 160 156

Sprinkler 71..80 118 126 133 142 151 189 189 181 178 165

Sprinkler 61..70 131 127 135 144 187 216 214 225 196 174

Sprinkler 51..60 124 135 153 169 203 468 270 230 207 180

Sprinkler 41..50 111 126 160 271 192 167 270 235 214 183

Sprinkler 31..40 108 120 176 187 216 367 230 201 194 183

Sprinkler 21..30 106 111 133 153 198 225 216 199 181 160

Sprinkler 11..20 108 115 122 154 163 194 196 185 172 160

Sprinkler 1..10 108 111 111 140 149 171 174 162 154 156


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70 01:39 01:39

Sprinkler 51..60 00:57 01:45

Sprinkler 41..50 00:52 00:54 01:39

Sprinkler 31..40 00:54 01:36


Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)



Barrier at

Upright

Barrier at

Upright

Barrier

Midspan

Barrier

MidspanSpr 11 Spr 12 Spr 13 Spr 14 Spr 15 Spr 16 Spr 17 Spr 18 Spr 19 Spr 20










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Sprinkler 91..100 167 167 169 165 153 133 131 133 133 133

Sprinkler 81..90 171 185 190 180 172 138 135 135 142 140

Sprinkler 71..80 183 199 225 203 216 181 149 145 154 149

Sprinkler 61..70 192 214 226 230 246 212 172 178 171 172

Sprinkler 51..60 180 194 234 212 763 165 151 217 208 192

Sprinkler 41..50 172 185 208 259 234 180 145 255 228 205

Sprinkler 31..40 172 181 183 221 185 642 392 284 244 217

Sprinkler 21..30 169 165 194 237 250 225 235 235 237 207

Sprinkler 11..20 163 169 176 190 205 221 219 241 232 214

Sprinkler 1..10 153 156 151 180 183 198 201 205 196 192


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70 01:45 01:32 01:32 01:30

Sprinkler 51..60 01:45 00:48

Sprinkler 41..50 00:52 00:48 00:48

Sprinkler 31..40 00:47 02:44

Sprinkler 21..30 02:38 01:28 01:38 02:26


Sprinkler 1..10


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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)

Ignition location: Centered under one

sprinkler, offset in transverse flue space.











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Sprinkler 91..100 151 156 156 158 165 189 185 185 183 183

Sprinkler 81..90 162 160 174 178 192 212 207 210 192 185

Sprinkler 71..80 181 176 183 181 243 241 241 223 212 192

Sprinkler 61..70 216 219 230 174 288 153 252 237 230 212

Sprinkler 51..60 217 235 232 306 176 208 212 234 226 208

Sprinkler 41..50 196 221 228 378 203 226 187 192 208 201

Sprinkler 31..40 189 212 221 147 219 216 199 230 205 189

Sprinkler 21..30 181 196 216 223 241 160 212 217 203 187

Sprinkler 11..20 181 187 194 187 207 194 212 185 185 183

Sprinkler 1..10 165 169 162 172 183 174 172 176 172 171


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90


Sprinkler 61..70 01:19 01:37 01:35

Sprinkler 51..60 01:15 00:59 01:05

Sprinkler 41..50 01:16 01:07 00:47 01:05

Sprinkler 31..40 01:16 01:19 00:59 01:03 01:35

Sprinkler 21..30 01:39 01:21

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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Figure 16 - Test 5; North Target Array Damage (from Outside Array)

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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)













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Sprinkler 91..100 131 135 140 147 156 160 151 149 131 126

Sprinkler 81..90 133 144 145 162 160 171 165 147 138 129

Sprinkler 71..80 142 147 162 190 180 185 176 158 140 133

Sprinkler 61..70 147 156 169 198 230 217 190 162 151 136

Sprinkler 51..60 165 178 212 234 244 192 221 180 151 136

Sprinkler 41..50 156 180 241 307 183 176 221 169 145 129

Sprinkler 31..40 165 176 214 226 171 210 205 172 142 133

Sprinkler 21..30 147 156 183 207 189 178 187 162 147 136

Sprinkler 11..20 142 154 162 163 156 149 160 153 135 131

Sprinkler 1..10 138 145 147 149 144 144 138 136 135 126


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70

Sprinkler 51..60 03:56 01:07 01:04

Sprinkler 41..50 03:50 03:53 00:48 01:10

Sprinkler 31..40 04:35 04:31 00:59 01:05

Sprinkler 21..30

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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Figure 20 - Test 6; South Target Array Damage (from Outside Array)

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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)













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FPRF 13CA25935/NC5756 06081301


Sprinkler 91..100 127 129 135 133 149 163 160 154 149 138

Sprinkler 81..90 133 136 138 149 156 178 165 165 153 147

Sprinkler 71..80 144 154 153 160 183 192 178 172 162 151

Sprinkler 61..70 160 165 176 180 228 214 228 190 163 147

Sprinkler 51..60 156 178 205 232 246 208 235 190 167 145

Sprinkler 41..50 156 174 198 149 270 284 223 169 145 135

Sprinkler 31..40 169 185 221 255 223 223 201 181 147 138

Sprinkler 21..30 163 178 181 190 205 219 187 167 149 142

Sprinkler 11..20 154 165 167 160 169 178 174 153 138 138

Sprinkler 1..10 145 149 151 147 147 160 160 149 140 127


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70

Sprinkler 51..60 01:07 01:02

Sprinkler 41..50 00:47 01:09

Sprinkler 31..40 01:28 00:57 01:02

Sprinkler 21..30

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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NOTE: This pallet load was

removed for fire-fighting efforts to

extinguish the pallet load of

commodity on the opposite rack in

the longitudinal flue space.

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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)













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Fire Protection Research Foundation 4786399939/NC5756 06191402


Sprinkler 91..100 90 93 99 115 120 120 122 118 115 118

Sprinkler 81..90 79 102 117 122 131 136 129 126 122 120

Sprinkler 71..80 86 82 120 133 144 151 142 133 127 126

Sprinkler 61..70 104 122 140 151 169 167 154 138 136 131

Sprinkler 51..60 102 124 162 210 162 255 147 162 149 136

Sprinkler 41..50 93 108 156 250 241 210 158 165 154

Sprinkler 31..40 97 122 158 163 176 318 167 167 163 149

Sprinkler 21..30 104 117 144 145 181 203 172 154 147 145

Sprinkler 11..20 95 102 115 147 154 158 153 145 140 140

Sprinkler 1..10 90 99 108 129 133 142 82 138 136 131


Sprinkler 91..100

Sprinkler 81..90

Sprinkler 71..80

Sprinkler 61..70

Sprinkler 51..60 00:53 02:11

Sprinkler 41..50 00:53 00:48 00:50

Sprinkler 31..40 00:50 02:28

Sprinkler 21..30

Sprinkler 11..20

Sprinkler 1..10


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N10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)



Spr 1 Spr 2 Spr 3 Spr 4 Spr 5 Spr 6 Spr 7 Spr 8








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Sprinkler 55..64 142 147 147 144 149 144 129 126

Sprinkler 49..56 75 151 169 165 163 160 138 138

Sprinkler 41..48 151 162 181 194 207 169 147 129

Sprinkler 33..40 160 176 210 205 237 190 149 133

Sprinkler 25..32 149 221 214 189 192 158 145 131

Sprinkler 17..24 142 163 237 379 230 181 154 131

Sprinkler 9..16 142 172 201 223 226 201 160 145

Sprinkler 1..8 133 154 174 210 196 169 153 142


Sprinkler 55..64

Sprinkler 49..56

Sprinkler 41..48

Sprinkler 33..40 01:14 01:16


Sprinkler 17..24 01:24 01:22 01:14


Sprinkler 1..8


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N

10 ft.

(Typ.)

10 ft.

(Typ.)











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Sprinkler 55..64 93 109 126 115 122 124 122 113

Sprinkler 49..56 70 120 154 169 147 144 135 127

Sprinkler 41..48 124 144 185 205 192 178 149 124

Sprinkler 33..40 122 174 226 212 234 194 145 120

Sprinkler 25..32 108 158 176 205 208 163 129 111

Sprinkler 17..24 111 154 208 241 172 151 135 115

Sprinkler 9..16 97 133 160 181 187 149 133 118

Sprinkler 1..8 84 104 117 135 140 129 124 118


Sprinkler 55..64

Sprinkler 49..56

Sprinkler 41..48

Sprinkler 33..40 01:06 00:59 01:14

Sprinkler 25..32 00:55 00:53 00:55


Sprinkler 9..16

Sprinkler 1..8


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sprinkler protection criteria for exposed expanded group a

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