ul listings & fm approvals their impact on fire sprinkler ... · 1 ul listings & fm...

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UL Listings & FM Approvals

Their Impact on Fire Sprinkler System

Performance/Design

Presented by

Center for Life Safety Education

July 18, 2006

Featuring SpeakersKerry M. Bell, P.E. - Underwriters Laboratories

George E. Laverick - Underwriters Laboratories

Roger Allard - FM Approvals

Thomas G. McCarty - FM Approvals

Weston Baker - FM Global

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UL Listing Process

The Impact on Fire Sprinkler System

Performance/Design

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Kerry M. Bell, P.E. & George E. Laverick

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Underwriters Laboratories SpeakersKerry M. Bell, P.E.

Kerry Bell is a principal engineer at Underwriters Laboratories Inc. (UL) specializing in firesprinkler and pump equipment. Since 1976, he has been involved in UL s testing andcertification activities related to a variety of fire suppression products including firesprinkler system equipment, portable fire extinguishers and special hazard extinguishingsystems. He has authored several technical papers related to these products and hasalso contributed time as a speaker for numerous seminars and events sponsored byorganizations such as NFPA, SFPE and industry associations. Bell earned a B.S. degreein Fire Protection and Safety Engineering from Illinois Institute of Technology and an MBAdegree from Northern Illinois University. He is a registered professional engineer and amember of the NFPA, ASTM International and SFPE, and is vice chairman of UL s FireCouncil.

George E. Laverick George E. Laverick is a principal engineer with Underwriters Laboratories Inc. He has

been employed by UL since 1973 in the Fire Suppression area and has worked in variouscapacities, including the preparation of test programs and requirements for new water-based fire suppression safety related products for performance and safety. Laverick hasbeen responsible for certification of fire sprinkler system related suppression devices,including valves and fittings and participated in the planning and development ofrequirements for devices that resulted in new standards for evaluation of these firesuppression devices in the categories of residential sprinklers, ESFR sprinklers, andwater mist nozzles. He has represented UL on various NFPA Committees since 1984 andis a member of the International Society of Fire Protection Engineers and the Internationalorganization for Standards. He earned an A.A .S. in Mechanical Engineering Technologyand a B.S. in Mechanical Technology from Purdue University.

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Outline of Presentation

General Overview of UL

Listing Process Detail for Sprinklers

Product Qualification

Product Surveillance

Publication of Listing

Product Installation

Feedback on Use of Listed Products

Field Report Program

Sprinkler Field Sample Testing

Anti-counterfeiting program

Standards Development & Research

Summary

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Key Elements of UL Listing

Qualification -- UL undertakes an investigation todetermine that the product complies with theapplicable requirements which are typicallydescribed in a UL Standard.

Surveillance -- UL field representatives regularlyvisit the manufacturing facilities to inspect product,production procedures/records and select samples foradditional performance testing at UL.

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UL by the Numbers in 2004

5722 employees

58 laboratory testing locations

125 inspection centers

97 countries with UL customers

102,305 product evaluations

552,377 surveillance visits

19 billion UL marks appearing on products

125--average number of UL certified products

in a home

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Listing Process Detail –

Qualification of Sprinklers

Sprinkler Standards

UL199 - Standard for Automatic

Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service

UL1626 - Standard for Residential

Sprinklers for Fire Protection Services

UL1767 - Early-Suppression Fast

Response Sprinklers

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Qualification of Sprinklers(Cont.)

UL Listed sprinklers are evaluated to

specific performance requirements

designed to provide fire control or

suppression.

Physical Strength and Leakage Tests

Operation Tests

Exposure and Corrosion Tests

Water Flow and Distribution Tests

Fire Tests8

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Physical Strength and

Leakage Tests

•Load on heat responsiveelement

•Strength of heat responsiveelement

•Glass bulb thermal shock

•Strength of frame

•Impact resistance

•Rough usage

•Flow Endurance

•Leakage

•Hydrostatic Strength

•Dry sprinkler air tightness

•30-day leakage

•Water hammer

•Vacuum9

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Operation Tests

•Operating Temperature (Bath)

•Sensitivity Oven and/or Room Heat

•Operation Lodgment

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Exposure and Corrosion Tests

•High temperature

•Vibration

•Freezing

•10-day corrosion

•30-day corrosion

•90-day moist air

•Temperature cycling

•Hydrocarbon exposure

•Antifreeze exposure

•Dry sprinkler deposit loading

•Dezincification

•Stress-corrosion of copperalloy parts.

•Stress-corrosion of stainlesssteel parts.

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Water Flow and Distribution Tests

•Calibration (K-factordetermination)

•10-pan (Standard CoverageSpray)

•16-pan (Standard CoverageSpray)

•Horizontal Distribution(Standard CoverageSidewall)

•Horizontal Distribution(Conventional/Old Style)

•Vertical and HorizontalDistribution (EC)

•Horizontal Distribution(ECOH)

•Horizontal and VerticalDistribution (Residential)

•Actual Delivered Density(Storage and ESFRSprinklers)

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Fire Tests

•Water Impingement

•350 lb. Wood Crib (Standard Spray)

•EC Light Hazard (33 lb.Wood Crib)

•Residential (Simulated Furniture Package)

•ECOH (350 lb. Crib & Storage Arrays)

•Storage (Storage Arrays)

•ESFR (ADD/Storage Arrays)

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Surveillance of Sprinklers

Objective of Surveillance Program

Periodic auditing of the manufacturing facilityprovides assurance that products having the ULListing Mark comply with the applicablerequirements on an on-going basis.

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Surveillance of Sprinklers(Cont.)

Surveillance visits conducted by local UL fieldrepresentatives.

Visits are conducted at a frequency of no lessthat once per quarter. For sprinklers, the visits aremore frequent than quarterly if production at themanufacturing facility is at a high level.

General Surveillance Information

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Conduct detailed examination of products inproduction.

Review records of production testing, inspection,calibration, material specifications, etc.

Verify that production inspection and testing isconducted as required for Listing.

Select and forward samples to UL for ongoingcountercheck testing.

Take immediate action if non-compliance issuesare identified.

Field Representative Duties

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Each sprinkler produced is tested for leakage

Each sprinkler incorporating a glass bulb heatresponsive element is tested to ensure that theintegrity of the glass bulb is maintained after thesprinkler is fully assembled

Other critical type tests are conducted at themanufacturing facilities on a regular basis

Samples sent to UL on a monthly, quarterly andannual basis are subjected to critical tests todetermine compliance on an ongoing basis

Production and Periodic Testing

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Publication of Listing

•Fire Protection Equipment Directory

–2006 edition available in both print and on

CD-Rom

•UL Online Certifications Directory

–All UL Directories are available on the

Internet at UL’s Web site WWW.UL.COM

Listing Verification

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212121

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Product Installation

UL Listed fire suppression equipment

is intended to be installed in

accordance with:

•Nationally recognized installation

standards such as those published by

NFPA

•The manufacturer’s installation

instructions

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Product Installation (Cont.)

For certain products, the installation standard maynot include all the limitations related to the properuse of the product.

In some cases, none of the detailed installationcriteria for a product is included in the NFPAStandard.

Why are Manufacturer’s Instructions Important?

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Example of Installation Criteria

Partially Addressed in Installation

Standard

NFPA 13 references that extended coverage

pendent or upright sprinklers are to be spaced not

less than 8 ft between sprinklers. However, the

manufacturer’s instructions may specify a

minimum distance between sprinklers of 10 ft.

which is based upon testing and the Listing

criteria.

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Examples of Installation and Use

Requirements Not Addressed Installation

Standard

Attic sprinklers

Combustible concealed space sprinklers

Certain storage sprinklers not addressed in NFPA 13

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Feedback on Use

Field Report Program

A critical element of a third party certification

program is the availability of a mechanism to

consider input and feedback from the field

regarding the performance and use of listed

products.

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Feedback on Use (cont.)

Examples of Field Feedback Leading

to Revisions to UL Standards

O-ring Seals in Sprinklers No Longer

Permitted -- Due to concerns regarding

“sticking” to the mating surface, seal

degradation and close clearances between

operating parts, UL no longer authorizes

use of O-rings as a water seal in sprinklers.

Dry Sprinklers – New deposit loading

test was implemented to simulate conditions

observed in samples sent to UL from the field.

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Field Sprinkler Testing Program

•Periodic sample testing of field installed

sprinklers is referenced in NFPA 25

•Most sprinklers tested are at least 40 years

old, and some are more than 80 years old

•Approximately 95% of tested sprinklers

have operated as intended

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UL’s Anti-counterfeiting Program

•Invests about $2 million annually in anti-

counterfeiting activities and education

•Has close working relationships with key

government officials around the globe

•Has trained more than 200 Customs officials

in key U.S. ports

•Handles about 1,500 inquires annually from

Customs officials

•Additional information on www.ul.com

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Standards Development

and Research

The development of appropriate and comprehensive

requirements is an important element of the Listing process

UL publishes over 800 standards

UL’s test facilities provide extensive capabilities to

conduct internally as well as externally sponsored research

that can be valuable in establishing the basis for revisions to

UL’s standards

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Standards Development

and Research (cont.)

Feedback from authorities having jurisdiction,

manufacturers, users and others

Experience in conducting product testing

New product technology

Revisions to nationally recognized installation

standards and codes

Sources of Revisions to Standards

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Levels of Published

UL Requirements

ANSI/UL Standards (>50% of total UL standards) –

Standard subject to voting by a balanced Standards Technical

Panel (STP). UL has one vote in STP.

UL Standards - Standard developed by process whereby

input is sought from broad spectrum of constituents. Final

requirements determined by UL.

UL Outlines of Investigation – Requirements based upon

a single or a few product investigations.

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Summary

Manufacturers make a significant investment in timeand resources to earn the authorization to apply theUL mark to their product

UL Listing program for fire suppression iscomprehensive and products are subjected toextensive testing and auditing to determinecompliance with the applicable requirements.

On an on-going basis, UL is receptive to receivinginput related to enhancing our certification programand requirements

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Questions For

Underwriters Laboratories?

Contact Kerry Bell

847–664–[email protected]

OR

Contact George Laverick

847–664–2665 [email protected]

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FM Approvals

Their Impact on Fire Sprinkler System

Performance/Design

Tom McCarty and Roger Allard, FM Approvals

Wes Baker, FM Global

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Factory Mutual SpeakersThomas G. McCarty

Thomas G. McCarty is loss prevention coordinator for FM Approvals in Norwood, Mass. Hehas over 30 years of practicing property loss prevention, including experience as: fieldengineer with FM Engineering Association, metallurgical test engineer in Factory MutualResearch Corporation, department manager for Field Application Data Sheets, groupmanager/field engineering Chicago operations, operations chief inspector of boilers andpressure vessels, and industry leader, staff engineering responsible for telecommunicationsoccupancies and eCommerce risk assessments.

Roger Allard

Roger L. Allard is Assistant Vice president and principal engineer at FM Approvals. Allardjoined FM Approvals in 1974 as a mechanical engineer in the Hydraulics Section and held thepositions of senior engineer, assistant manager, and group manager before assuming hispresent position as principal engineer in 2004. He received a bachelor s degree in AerospaceEngineering from Boston University and an MBA from Bryant College. He is a registeredprofessional engineer, and a member of the Rhode Island Society of Professional Engineers,the National Society of Professional Engineers, the Society of Fire Protection Engineers(SFPE), and the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).

Weston Baker Wes Baker, a Senior Engineering Specialist at FM Global, has been with FM Global for over

20 years. He is primarily responsible for many of FM Global's property loss prevention datasheets related to sprinkler systems and storage protection.

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1897

Approved Electrical Fittings

Published by Factory Mutual Inspection Department

(now FM Approvals).

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FM Approvals’ Mission

StatementFM Approvals approves and certifies products

and services with unique focus on:

Objectively testing property loss preventionproducts and services and certifying thosethat meet rigorous loss prevention standards;

Encouraging the development and use ofApproved products and services that improveand advance property loss preventionpractices.

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The evolution of product

testing...1886

Kerosene lamps

Electrical fittings

Automatic sprinklers

Fire hoses/nozzles

Woburn, MA Testing FacilityWoburn, MA Testing Facility

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testing...1920s

Combustible dusts

Watchman’s clocks

Fire resistive

construction materials

Standard time-temp

curve

Everett, MA Testing FacilityEverett, MA Testing Facility

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testing...1930s

FM gas cock

system

FM flammable

vapor indicator

Everett, MA Testing FacilityEverett, MA Testing Facility

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Norwood, MA Test FacilityNorwood, MA Test Facility


testing...1940s, 50s, 60s1941 - Factory Mutual

Research Corp. formed

Standard spray sprinkler

Density/area design

Class 1 metal deck

Rack storages to 30 ft.

Rubber tire storage

Rolled paper storage

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W. Glocester, RI Test CenterW. Glocester, RI Test Center

Test Center

1967

Hydraulics

1992

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W. Glocester, RI Test CenterW. Glocester, RI Test Center


testing...1970s, 80s, 90s

In-Rack sprinklers

Clean agents

Plastic storages

FMRC/Harvard room test

Residentialsprinkler testing

Early SuppressionFast Response(ESFR)

FM4910 plastics

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Fire Technology Lab

Natural Hazards Lab

Hydraulics Lab

Electrical Lab

Former Test Center

(Now a Warehouse)

Research Campus

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testing...now, and tomorrow

Turbine simulation

60’ ceiling height storages

Noncombustible

hydraulic fluids

FM4910 plastic wall

panels

Water mist systems

Natural hazard

resistant materials

Research Campus

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What Makes Us Different?

Access to Research

With a staff of 51, including 25 PhD’s, FM

Global directs its efforts into the following areas

of science and engineering:

Fire and Hazards Protection

Risk, Reliability and Failure Prevention

Structural Hazards and Response

Management of State-of-the Art Test Facilities

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Our Approach

Understand the hazard

Apply science to the problem

Develop engineering solutions

Partner with manufacturers whose products meet our rigorous

testing requirements

Sharing knowledge

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• Visits with individual jurisdictions

• Participate in 116 committees in NFPA, ISO, ANSI,

IEC, ISA, ASME, NEMA, etc.

Sharing Knowledge

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Norwood, MA

FM Approvals’ Offices

Beijing, China

Windsor, UK

W. Glocester, RI

Singapore

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What do we do?

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Product Areas

As a testing and certification organization, focus ison products or services relating to property lossprevention in the following three areas:

Fire Protection

Electrical Equipment

Building Materials

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Fire Protection Products

The kinds of products tested...

automatic sprinklers

fire pumps, drivers and controllers

pipes, couplings, valves, hoses and nozzles

water based and non water based extinguishing

systems

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Fire Products Collector Test

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Dormitory Test SeriesRoom Contents

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Dormitory Test SeriesRoom Contents

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Dormitory Test SeriesWithout Sprinklers 5:25 After Ignition

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Dormitory Test SeriesPost Test without Sprinklers

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Dormitory Fire TestWith Sprinklers 1:42 After Ignition - Sprinkler Operation

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Dormitory Fire TestPost Test with Sprinklers

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Dormitory Fire TestPost Test with Sprinklers

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Free burn

Wet Bench – Semiconductor

With water applied

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Poolfire

Turbine Simulation

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Pool with Vertically Spreading FireTurbine Simulation

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Turbine Simulation—Surprise!

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Electrical Equipment


electrical equipment for use in hazardous

locations

various detectors and sensors (smoke, heat,

combustible gases, spot type, wire type,

aspiration type)

combustion safeguard devices

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Building Materials


Roofing components

Walls and building insulation materials

Plastic pallets

Materials used in the semiconductor industry

Hydraulic fluids

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E108 Test

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Accreditations

OSHA – as a Nationally Recognized Testing Lab

(NRTL)

Standards Council of Canada – (SCC) – electrical

(fire protection and materials in process)

European Union- as a Notified Body to the ATEX directive

- as a Notified Body to Construction Product

Directives (in process)

International Accreditation Service, Inc.– IAS

U. S. Coast Guard

Most states, cities, counties, and countries

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Recognizing FM Approved Products

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Key Points

Read the Approval Guide Listing andmanufacturer’s “cut sheets” associated withanyFM Approved product.

With regard to installation rules associatedwith FM Approved / listed products:

In some instances there may be differencesbetween NFPA standards and FM GlobalProperty Loss Prevention Data Sheets. There arereasons for those differences.

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To obtain a copy ofApproval Standards or the FM Approval Guide,

please visit:

www.fmapprovals.com

For additional information, please contact:

[email protected]

[email protected]

[email protected]

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ul listings & fm approvals their impact on fire sprinkler ... · 1 ul listings & fm...

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