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Part of the BRE Trust
Protecting People, Property and the Planet
Fire Testing for Watermist SystemsLouise JackmanLPCB25 June 2012
Introduction
1. Watermist description
2. Fire testing
3. Standards and approval
4. How to demonstrate compliance
Protecting People, Property and the Planet
Watermist description
Water spray envelope
Watermist parameters
– One sprinkler droplet is equivalent to thousand(s) of smaller watermistdroplets
– Increased surface area for heat transfer– Watermist can remove more heat per sec
– Increased surface area for mass transfer– Watermist can evaporate more water per second
Watermist parametersLess momentum for small droplets
large droplet = 4 m per ssmall droplet = 1 cm per s
– Watermist can be more susceptible to other flows (draughts, fire plumes)
Suppression & extinguishment
– Droplets remove heat from fire and smoke (by conduction, convection, radiation)
– Droplets wet fuel (inhibiting fire spread)
– Water vapour displaces oxygen (near flame)
Fuel
Oxygen
Heat
Suppression & extinguishment
Flammable liquid fire (Class B)
– Extinguishment
– Direct interaction with flame
Solid combustibles (Class A)
– Suppression
– Coverage of fire source
Rooms or open space
– In rooms, filling/loading with droplets & water vapour
– In open, forced delivery to fire source, to reduce droplets and water vapour being pushed away
Watermist description
– Bespoke systems
– With features from both sprinkler and fixed gas extinguishing system
– Installed to manufacturer’s design manual and BS DD standards
Watermist components
NozzlesFiltersValvesFlow detectorsPipe fittings & couplingsPumps & DriversTanks
Watermist standards
– 1992 - International Maritime Organisation (IMO) introduced sprinkler specifications and fire test protocols for machinery spaces (1994), marine accommodation (1995)
– 2000 - NFPA 750 – general guidance
– 2005 - FM Approval Standard 5560 – application specific
– 2006 – CEN/TS 14972 – not applied in UK
– 2010/11
– BS DD 8489 Fixed fire protection systems• commercial and industrial watermist systems
– BS DD 8458 Fixed fire protection systems• residential and domestic occupancies
Protecting People, Property and the Planet
Fire testing
Standard fire tests
Reasons for fire testing
– To obtain fire performance test results for– Specified system design– Particular hazard type– Against an agreed standard
– To provide benchmarking
– To provide confidence in a system for:– Customers– Specifiers– Enforcers– Approval bodies
This is different from demonstration testing
BRE Trust research
– Understanding the mechanisms for successful water mist fire protection systems
– Industry partners (insurer and system providers)
– 3 year research programme, in progress
– Review and survey– Experimental programme– Report
Survey of UK commercial premises
Reviewed
– Ignition hazards– Fire load– Obstructions– Room geometry– Ventilation– Life/property
protection– Watermist suitability
Review - research
Finding 1 – sprinkler and office fire test
– LPCB approved K80 pendent sprinklers
– Centre of 4 heads on a 12 m2 spacing (5 mm/min).
– Sprinklers were successful, the fire was effectively suppressed
– Extinguishing flaming above the table– Preventing further burning in the plywood
walls.– Only a low level of burning in the two
shielded wood cribs persisted.
Finding 2 – watermist and office fire tests
– Low pressure watermist
– Centre of 4 nozzles on a 6.25 m2 spacing (5 mm/min) at ~13 bar
– The watermist was successful, the fire was effectively suppressed
– Extinguishing flaming above the table– Preventing further burning in the
plywood walls.– Only a low level of burning in the two
shielded wood cribs persisted.
Finding 3 – watermist and office fire tests
– High pressure watermist
– Centre of 4 heads on a 9 m2 spacing (2.8 mm/min) at ~100 bar
– The watermist was not successful, the fire was not effectively suppressed
– A level of fire control was demonstrated, the system significantly reduced temperatures within the office scenario fire set-up compared to the unsuppressed test
Critical parameters for fire testing of watermist
– Nozzle spacing
– Nozzle flow and pressure
– Ceiling height
– Fire hazard (fuel, arrangement)
– Compartmentation
– Ventilation
Ensure that the scope of the test, covers the scope of the application
Protecting People, Property and the Planet
Standards and approval
UK watermist standards and approvals
– Residential and domestic, BS DD 8458-1:2010
– Residential and domestic, LPS (in preparation)
– Low hazard occupancies, BS DD 8489-7:2011– Low hazard occupancies watermist system, LPS 1283– Low hazard occupancies watermist installer, LPS 1284 or FIRAS
– Industrial oil cookers, BS DD 8489-6:2011
– Combustion turbines and machinery spaces ≤ 80m3, BS DD 8489-5:2011
– Local application involving flammable liquid fires , BS DD 8489-4:2011
Residential & domestic
– Residential occupancies (e.g. blocks of flats, HMOs) not exceeding 20 m in height and domestic occupancies (e.g. dwellings)
– Fire test protocol based on fire test for residential sprinklers BS 9252
– With additional consideration for:– fire load positions– ventilation conditions– ceiling height (optional up to 5m)
Low hazard occupancy
– Non-storage, non-manufacturing occupancy where the quantity and/or combustibility of the contents is low and fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected. This descriptor is different from ‘light’ and ‘ordinary hazard’ as described in International sprinkler standards.
– Room types covered– Seating areas– Classrooms and office areas– Entrances foyers and display areas– Bedrooms and sleeping areas– Common rooms in apartments, nursing
or convalescent homes and residential– Corridors– Data processing areas
Low hazard tests
– Fire test protocol based on– FM 5560, IMO A.800, BRE Trust
research, FB34– With additional consideration for:
– Fire load– Obstructions– Room arrangement (LPS 1283)– Ventilation (LPS 1283)
Low hazard categories
– Category I system– System that covers rooms up to 37 m2
– Equivalent fire load density ≤ 9 kg/m2
– Category II system– System that covers rooms above 37 m2, with no obstructed fire
loads– Equivalent fire load density ≤ 9 kg/m2
– Category III system– System that covers rooms, with obstructed fire loads– Equivalent fire load density ≤ 29 kg/m2
DD 8489-7 Category 3 test arrangement
– Ceiling up to 5 m high
– Open on all sides, no wall
– Four nozzles
– Untreated plywood wall lining (6mm)
– Two wood cribs
– Chipboard table + indicatives
Component and system approval, LPS 1283
• Requirements for:• Documentation• Design requirements• System manual• Fire performance tests• System verification• Component examination and tests
• Classification• Category• Scope of application, i.e. area type and occupancy• Limiting parameters, i.e. floor area, ceiling height,
ventilation, equivalent fire load density, fire growth rate, height of combustibles, obstructed fire load
Protecting People, Property and the Planet
How to demonstrate compliance
Approved systems and installations
• Testing to fire test protocols is critical, however it can only give a snapshot in time
• Approvals provide continual confirmation of:• Components• System fire tests• System design methods• System installations
Specifer/approver requirements 1
– Specify LPS 1283 systems, DD 8489 (commercial) and DD 8458 (domestic)
– For other applications:– Check scope of application– Check system design and system performance– Check component credentials– Check fire performance reports
• Check test house credentials• Check the details of test
– Small differences in watermist system arrangements can make a big difference in the test outcome
– Small differences in test parameters can make a big difference in the test outcome
• Other test standards are not the same
Specifer/approver requirements 2
– Specify LP1284 installation and maintenance
– For installations– Check scope of application, occupancy and limiting parameters– Check design and installation against design manual and DD
8489 & DD 8458 requirements– Check that the installed watermist system is the same as the
approved watermist system – Check commissioning & maintenance requirements – Undertake periodic testing of hydraulically most remote test
connection incorporating a nozzleEnd users of watermist systems are responsible for the on-going
maintenance of watermist systems and in particular maintenance of the fire load and fire hazard classification in-line with the watermist system design
Key facts
– Watermist is a complex technology (combination of gas & water systems)
– All systems are bespoke, no generic system designs
– Mechanism of fire performance– Increased efficiency– Increased vulnerability– There are critical watermist parameters– There are critical fire / room parameters
– Application specific fire test protocols are required
– Scopes of application, need careful examination
– Specify DD 8489 (commercial) and DD 8458 (domestic), LPS 1283 & LPS 1284
Part of the BRE Trust
National Solar CentreProposed centre in St Austell, Cornwall
Nick TuneDirector BRE Wales and South West
National Solar Centre
– industry briefing and informal consultation
Plan for this morning:– Provide information on the NSC aims and objectives
– Describe background and work to date
– Describe proposed work streams
– Determine what else is needed
– Secure industry support and backing
Agenda
Time Schedule Who
09.30 NSC Overview Nick Tune, Director BRE
09.50 Cornwall perspective Adrian Lea, Cornwall Council
10.10 NSC Details Ray Noble
10.30 Questions Nick, Adrian, Ray
10.50 Coffee
11.00 Workshop Anthony, Jonny, Steve
12.00 Feedback / discussion Nick Tune
12.30 Lunch
13.30 Close
13.30 Innovation Park tours Go to: Visitor Centre
National Solar Centre
Objectives– To support the UK solar PV industry
– Provide info for solar investors, banks and construction industry
– Provide higher quality training for installers
– Create jobs and attract industry to Cornwall
National Solar Centre
Rational– Experience of the FIT highlighted industry weaknesses
– Data available from UK installations provides an opportunity
– Cornwall recognised as “the place” for UK PV
– Cornwall Council and DECC very supportive
– Training opportunity for higher level design courses
From DECC Press Notice 24th May 2012
DECC is also pleased to welcome plans being brought forward by Cornwall Council and the Building Research Establishment to set up a National Solar Centre in Cornwall.Energy and Climate Change Minister Greg Barker said: “I am very happy to see a proposal for the creation of a National Solar Centre in Cornwall, led by the Building Research Establishment.”
National Solar Centre
What– A recognised “observatory” of UK knowledge and expertise for PV
– Macro data analysis of FIT generation figures
– Fault finding diagnostics for existing installations
– Due diligence for larger scale installations
– Design level training for installers
– Local installation training
Each stream must be financially viable outright
National Solar Centre
Other opportunities to be discussed:– Best practice quality assurance, product knowledge, technical standards
– Provide a code of practice for construction and solar industries
– Building Integrated PV market development
– Optimise installation quality and cost reduction
– System performance database
– How to optimise operational sites
– Better integration for grid connections and supply-demand matching
– Monitoring and maintenance services
National Solar Centre
How– Business plan for every work stream being developed
– BRE is leading ERDF bid with support from Cornwall Council
– Support from Ray Noble – initial market study
– BRE team is Nick Tune, Jonny Williams & Steve Pester
– Centre located at St Austell ESAM development
– Initially 5 staff including 2 graduates
– Opportunities for related companies to co-locate – knowledge cluster
– ERDF funding with aim to create a viable business
– Consultation - today at BRE - 26/27 July Cornwall Renewable Energy Show
National Solar Centre
Thank you for your attention
Nick Tunetunen@bre.co.uk07800 622942
National Solar Centrensc@bre.co.uk01792 630100
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