FM Global Research in Sprinkler...

FM Global Research in

Sprinkler Development

Bruce BromageSenior Consultant International Codes and

Standards

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2LOGO ORADOR

350th Anniversary “Great Fire of London”

Closer to Home

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25th August 1988. Lisbon

History of Sprinklers and FM Global’srole.

• Sprinklers were not invented by FM Global!

• British invention 1812. Installed at Drury Lane

Theatre, London.

• First “automatic” design 1874. Henry Parmalee.

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History of Sprinklers and FM Global’srole.

• Sprinklers were not invented by FM Global!

• British invention 1812. Installed at Drury Lane

Theatre.

• First “automatic” design 1874. Henry Parmalee.

• Grinnell refined the Parmalee design and basic

system unchanged for next 60 years.

•

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History of Sprinklers and FM Global’srole.

• Sprinklers were not invented by FM Global!

• British invention 1812. Installed at Drury Lane

Theatre.

• First “automatic” design 1874. Henry Parmalee.

• Grinnell refined the Parmalee design and basic

system unchanged for next 60 years.

• FM involved in testing sprinklers from 1884.

• Not a life safety device. Property protection with the

benefit of reducing insurance premiums.

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History of Sprinklers and FM Global’srole.

• First major FM Global invention 1953 “Spray

Sprinkler”

– Storages higher thanks to the forklift truck!

– More combustible content: plastics.

– Spray sprinkler pushes more water down.

• Change in warehousing provoked the new

design!

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History of Sprinklers and FM Global’srole.

• 1979 - Large Drop Sprinkler

• 1983-1988 - ESFR Sprinkler

• 1991 – Extended Coverage Sprinkler

• 2003 – FM Global Research Campus

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ESFR Sprinkler

• Research driven by customer feedback.

– Too much damage with conventional sprinklers

– Dislike of in-rack sprinklers

• Extinguishment rather than control.

• Further benefits:

– Smaller water storage (1 hour)

– Reduced smoke damage.• (video)sidebyside Portuguese.mp4

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What drives sprinkler research?

• Industry innovation:

– Products

– Packaging

– Material Handling

• Individual client problem.

• Uncertainty of fire/sprinkler interaction.

• Unexplained large fires.

• Cost Reduction

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Examples of recent sprinkler researchLithium ion batteries

Examples of recent sprinkler researchRoof slope

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Other recent research

• Rolled Paper

• Whiskey in Barrels

• AS/RS

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Computational Analysis of Fire Suppression Physics

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Left: model, Right: reality.

Top: unsprinklered, Bottom: sprinklered

SMART Sprinklers – the future?

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Conclusions

• Continued growth of knowledge of automatic

sprinklers.

• Driven by our clients’ needs.

• Looking to drive down protection costs.

• Better awareness of sprinkler limitations.

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Obrigado!

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www.fmglobal.com/research-and-resources/research-and-testing/research-

technical-reports