Tyco Fire Protection Products showcased its expertise in water mist suppression options on the International Water Mist Association (IWMA) Conference in Istanbul. Dr Tim Nichols, Sales Director Water Mist EMEA, gave a presentation entitled ‘Fire Protection of Compact Archive Storage using Water Mist’, where he mentioned how the extinguishant is well suited to the safety of irreplaceable works and artefacts in extremely valuable buildings.
Tim’s lecture focused on a fire test protocol that was formulated to verify the efficiency and use of Tyco’s personal water mist resolution, AquaMist, in an historic constructing, residence to treasured archive storage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 750 normal requires that, when using a water mist suppression system, fire testing is undertaken pertinent to the danger. However, of the revealed fireplace take a look at protocols listed in NFPA 750, none details the necessities for archives that contain roller (compact) racking. digital pressure gauge of the racks within the targeted building are of the ‘roller’ kind, which limit the quantity of space for building providers, together with these for extinguishing system pipework.
Together with the project stakeholders, Tyco devised the protocol to include take a look at rig and structure, test kind, fireplace load, information acquisition (for instance, sensors and imaging), hardware required (such as pumps, nozzles, pipe, tank, generator), and well being and safety procedures (for occasion, the hearth brigade). The associated efficiency based mostly hearth exams were then designed to replicate the vary of utility parameters related to archive storage.
While ignition sources on the unique web site have been recognized to be minimal, and the principle fireplace source confirmed as arson, the multi-level constructing poses quite a few challenges that needed to be thought-about when formulating the fireplace check protocol to guarantee efficient safety. Low ceilings and numerous obstructions, similar to lighting, ducts and pillars, contribute towards the confined setting of the archive storage basement stage. Items are saved in a combination of open racks and compact racks, which offer less than a 150mm hole between themselves and the ceiling, and there could be restricted on-site water storage. Pre-test risk analysis additionally highlighted restricted access and exits under and above ground, so it is essential for cupboard space to be maximised and secure egress supplied in case of the event of a hearth. In addition, the highly useful nature of the storage contents meant that the chosen hearth suppression answer had to ensure minimal harm to these historical items.
To achieve validation, the tests needed to meet numerous aims. These comprised fast management of the hearth within a prescribed area (in this case, outlined as inside a block of racks); control of temperature; attenuation of radiation; and minimisation of collateral harm via water clean-up. They additionally had to keep in mind numerous parameters, together with the desired excessive pressure mist system; a 30 minute run time; and an annual measurable achievement goal (AMAO) outlined in accordance with a method based mostly on the amount of nozzles activating during testing.
The fire checks, carried out for each open and curler racks with minimal storage gaps, have been undertaken in a customised check rig, designed, constructed and fitted to duplicate the precise specification, racking arrangements and storage supplies of the site. Considered a high load, the gasoline materials had been equivalent to that present in archive storage, including paper, books, micro-film and CD instances.
Success was outlined by cross or fail criteria and determined by detailed quantitative measurements on system configuration, hydraulic analysis, discharge stress, discharge sequence, hearth spread, temperature, fireplace injury and water consumption. In both exams, Tyco’s AquaMist system operated successfully and was observed to suppress and control the fire efficiently. The challenge staff was impressed by the shortage of fireplace and smoke damage to the materials and construction and the product has since been put in in the constructing in query.
“The IWMA convention is a unbelievable opportunity to spotlight the advantages of water mist as a hearth suppression answer, in addition to reveal its versatility in a variety of functions,” feedback Dr Tim Nichols. “Identifying a gap available within the market and taking the chance to formulate a fireplace take a look at protocol for archive storage enabled us to validate the expert capabilities of our AquaMist system and facilitate protection of a customer’s extremely useful property.”
For extra data, go to www.tfppemea.com
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