why in-rack sprinklers? tom multer vice president, product technology the reliable automatic...
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Why In-Rack Sprinklers?
Tom MulterVice President, Product TechnologyThe Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.
As an industry, we have spent the last 30 years trying to eliminate in-rack sprinklers.
Are they coming back?
Higher buildings using automated storage and retrieval systems
More exposed plastic storage
Lower water demands by using horizontal in-rack barriers.
Using K- 360 ECs as in-rack sprinklers
.
Fire Protection Research Foundation:
Project for Rack Storage of Exposed Expanded Group A
Plastics
Outside the scope of NFPA 13
Ceiling sprinklers with vertical barriers @
4.8 m intervals
Testing carried out at Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Standard fuel package for EEP tests using polystyrene meat trays.
Rack Storage of Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics
Ceiling Height = 12.2 mStorage Height = 10.7 m
10 mm Plywood Horizontal Barrier at 6.1 m
Ceiling Sprinklers K-16.8 (240), 100°C ESFR @ 3.4 bar
In-Rack Sprinklers K-25.2 (360)EC, 100°C Pendent @ 2.1 bar
Reliable Model
N252 EC Pendent
•K-360•UL Listed, FM approved as a ceiling
application sprinkler• 100°C version was used for all testing
Patented
The Model N252 EC Pendent Sprinkler is a component of the N-Rack-EC™ Fire Protection System – Patent Pending
Minimum:100mm clearance above commodity50mm deflector distance below beam
Target Array
Spray Pattern @ 2.1 bar
1.2 m aisle width
4.2 m
N252 EC Sprinklers Centered in Longitudinal Flue and Centered
Between Rack Uprights = 2.5 m on center.
The horizontal barrier was left open at the rack uprights and no sprinklers are installed in the transverse flue or at the face of the racks.
Opened one (1) sprinkler at the
ceiling @ 1 minute/2 seconds
3.4 bar and 830 L/pm
Opened two (2) sprinklers in the rack @ 49 and 52 seconds
2.1 bar and 520 L/pm each or 1040 L/pm total
Results:
Proposed DesignCeiling Temp bar L/pm
per sprNo. of sprs
calculated
System Demand in
L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR 100° 3.4 450 12 5400+
In-Rack Temp bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs
calculated
System Demand in
L/pm
N-252 EC Pendent
100° 2.1 520 3 1560+
The in-rack sprinkler demand would not be added to the ceiling demand because of the horizontal barrier. The system demand
would be the ceiling demand at 5400+ L/pm
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
Proposed bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in
L/pm
Total System Demand in
L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR & N252 EC In-Rack
3.4 450 12 950 6350+
FM DS 8-9 bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in
L/pm
Total System Demand in
L/pm
K-25.2 ESFR
5.2 830 20 1900 18,500+ 2 hours
Existing Ceiling Sprinkler Design (FM) for Exposed Expanded Plastics Stored in Open Racks with
12.2 m ceiling and 10.7 m of storage
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
Proposed bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in
L/pm
Total System Demand in
L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR & N252 EC In-Rack
3.4 520 12 950 6350+
NFPA 13 bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in
L/pm
Total System Demand in
L/pm
K-25.2 ESFR
4.1 740 15 950 12,050+
Proposed Design (NFPA 13 -2016) for Exposed Expanded Plastics Stored in Open
Racks using Vertical Barriers at 16’ Intervals 12.2 m ceiling
and 10.7 m of storage
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
Second Phase of TestingCartoned Unexpanded, Group A Plastics
Primary Goals:• To reduce the number of in-rack sprinklers when
compared to standard in-rack schemes and to reduce water demands.
• To have a significant reduction of water demand for buildings up to 14.6 m high that can currently be protected by ceiling-only sprinklers.
• Protect buildings higher than 14.6 m with low water demands.
• Retrofit existing facilities, where the storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, without changing the existing ceiling sprinklers and/or increasing water flows or pressures.
Test 2 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective:
By using a horizontal barrier at 9.1 m, the total water demand and pressure would be lower than existing ceiling-only sprinkler designs. Also to protect buildings higher than 14.6 m with one level of in-rack sprinklers.
Test 2
Ceiling Height 14.6 m
Storage Height 13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier 1 at the 9.1 m level
Ignition Point At upright- face (aisle)
Ceiling Sprinklers N 252 EC pendent @ 18.2 m² and 2.1 barIn-Rack Sprinklers N 252 EC 100° pendent @ 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated 1 @ 3:01 minutesIn-Rack Spr. Operated 2 - 1st @ 2:53 2nd @ 2:59Peak Steel Temp – Ceil. 67° C
Proposed Design for Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics Stored in Racks up to and potentially over 14.6 m with Horizontal Barriers
at the 9.1 m level
Ceiling bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs .
calculated
System Demand in
L/pm
N-252 EC Pendent @ 18.2 m²/spr
2.1 520 6 3120+
The ceiling sprinkler design is based upon NFPA 13 and FM Global requirements for 9.1 m high ceilings with ceiling-only sprinkler protection.
In-Rack bar L/pm per spr
No. of sprs .
calculated
System Demand in
L/pm
N-252 EC Pendent
2.1 520 3 1560+
The in-rack sprinkler demand would not be added to the ceiling demand because of the horizontal barrier. The total system demand would be the ceiling demand at
3120+ L/pm
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
Current UL Listings for 14.6 m High Buildings-Class 4/Group A Plastics
K22/K 25 ESFR @ 9.3 m² Proposed Design - N252 EC @ 18.2 m²
Sprinkler demand 7550+ L/pm/8100+ L/pm 3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand 950 L/pm 950 L/pm
Total demand 8500+ L/pm/9050+ L/pm 4070+ L/pm
Future Protection for 14.6 m+ High Buildings- Class 4/Group A PlasticsK22/K 25 ESFR Proposed Design - N252 EC
Sprinkler demand NA 3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand NA 950 L/pm
Total demand NA 4070+ L/pm
Current UL Listings for 13.7 m High Buildings-Class 4/Group A Plastics
K22/K 25 ESFR @ 9.3 m² Proposed Design - N252 EC @ 18.2 m²
Sprinkler demand 6440+ L/pm/7240+ L/pm 3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand 950 L/pm 950 L/pm
Total demand 8390+ L/pm/8190+ L/pm 4070+ L/pm
The Future of Storage ProtectionTests 3, 4, & 5
12.2 m/18.2 m
6.1 m/9.1 m
18.3 m/27.3 m
24.4 m/36.4 m
Test 3 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective:
By using multiple horizontal barriers at 6.1 m intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues.
Test 3
Ceiling Height 14.6 m
Storage Height 13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier 2 – 6.1 m level & 12.2 m level
Ignition Point Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers N 252 EC pendent @ 18.2 m² and 0 psiIn-Rack Sprinklers N 252 EC 100° pendent @ 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated 3 – 1st @ 20:40 last @ 21:15 In-Rack Spr. Operated 5 - 1st @ 1:13 in 6.1 m level
1st in 12.2 m level @ 13:40Peak Steel Temp – Ceil. 235° C
Test 4 with Cartoned Unexpanded PlasticsObjective:
By using multiple continuous horizontal barriers at 6.1 intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Test 4
Ceiling Height 14.6 m
Storage Height 13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier 2 – 6.1 m level & 12.2 m level
Ignition Point Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers N 252 EC pendent @ 18.2 m² and 0 psiIn-Rack Sprinklers N 252 EC 100° pendent @ 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated NoneIn-Rack Spr. Operated 4 – 6.1 m level only 1st @ 1:26 4th @ 1:36
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil. 28° C
Test 5 with Cartoned Unexpanded PlasticsObjective:
By using multiple continuous horizontal barriers at 9.1 m intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Test 5
Ceiling Height 14.6 m
Storage Height 13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier 1 – 9.1 m level
Ignition Point Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers N 252 EC pendent @ 18.2 m² and 0 psiIn-Rack Sprinklers N 252 EC 100° pendent @ 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated NoneIn-Rack Spr. Operated 3 -9.1 m level 1st @ 1.14 3rd @ 1.15
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil. 28° C
In Conclusion:
For storage of exposed expanded plastics in double row, open framed racks:
By installing a horizontal barrier at the 6.1 m level with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings up to 12.2 m high will have lower water demands than using ceiling-only sprinkler protection.
For storage of cartoned unexpanded plastics in double row, open framed racks:
By installing a horizontal barrier at the 9.1 m level with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings up to 14.6 m high will have lower water demands than using ceiling-only sprinkler protection.
Retrofit applications where storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, adding a horizontal barrier or barriers with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, may eliminate changing ceiling sprinklers or water supplies.
For storage of cartoned unexpanded plastics in double row, open framed racks:
By installing continuous horizontal barriers at 6.1 m to 9.1 m levels with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings over 14.6 m high may be protected while reducing the number of sprinklers required by current in-rack schemes. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Retrofit applications of high bay buildings where storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, adding continuous horizontal barriers with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, may eliminate changing ceiling sprinklers or water supplies while greatly reducing the quantity of in-rack sprinklers.