sprinkler project coupling experimental science and fire modeling for the first time Modeling allowed FM Global researchers to simulate multiple scenarios sprinkler sizes and locations When we started this project there were 13 open questions Jamison explained Each one of those questions could have had its own series of large scale tests But through the synergy of modeling and experi mentation we were able to answer these questions with a fraction of the resources that would have been needed for the tradi tional approach Modeling showed us where we needed to put the sprinklers how to opti mize the flow rate and hone all those param eters which were then validated through tar geted large scale testing A new understanding Understanding the in rack sprinklers per formance in the event of a fire was the big gest challenge Jamison said they identified 11 parameters that affect the way the in rack sprinkler interacts with a fire Jamison and her team needed to determine which were the dominant parameters in order to optimize the in rack system They studied water flow distributions ideal sprinkler positioning and maximum vertical and horizontal spacing We really had to key in on which of the parameters were most important and which were secondary Jamison said We ended up focusing on the placement of sprinklers within the racks and optimizing the activation time and water coverage area And for the first time we understood what the parameters were that led to in rack sprinkler success Unlike ceiling sprinklers in rack sys tems are dramatically affected by the com modity itself Water distribution from ceiling sprinklers is unencumbered by the commod ity and is much easier to predict That is not the case with in rack systems One of the most important aspects of in rack sprinklers is understanding when a sprinkler is activated where does the water go and how much water do you need to sup option compared to US 3 57 million under the current guidelines a reduction of 40 per cent Under the new FM Global guidelines warehouse owners could save at least US 2 per square foot 09 square meter because of the reduced equipment and installation costs Right off the bat this new approach to in rack sprinklers offers significant savings said David Fuller FM Approvals manager fire protection There are other benefits as well It will cost less to maintain it is more environmentally friendly there is a reduced potential for sprinkler damage from forklifts and it offers better fire protection Fire modeling put to the test The magnitude of the in rack sprinkler research project was incredibly ambitious and would not have been possible without another equally ambitious project A team of FM Global researchers with help from scientists and academic institutions from around the world had recently completed a five year effort to develop cutting edge open source fire modeling software The software named FireFOAM integrates key physical models relating to fluid mechanics heat transfer combustion and multiphase flows The software was the first to incorporate the complex relationship between fire and water when a fire suppres sion system is activated The model can predict the impact a fire suppression sys tem will have on a fire s fuel source and the fire s growth The software allowed for an innovative approach as researchers tackled the in rack protection codes assume that both the ceil ing and in rack sprinkler systems will be activated simultaneously thus increasing the water supply needed Also because fewer levels of in rack sprinklers are needed they can be deployed in a way that protects them from damage With in racks required every 10 to 15 feet under NFPA 13 and FM Global s previous Data Sheet 8 9 in rack systems are sus ceptible to damage from forklifts and other equipment resulting in leaks and water dam age to the commodity being stored The new guidelines allow for a design that eliminates the mid bay face in rack sprinkler which is the most likely to be struck and damaged We were able to confirm some things we already knew Baker said and were able to learn a lot of new things that if you stopped to think about really make a lot of sense Greatly reduced costs The impact of the new guidance on instal lation costs is impressive FM Global asked two leading fire protection and sprinkler experts S A Comunale and Wiginton Fire Systems to compare costs of the new design and installation guidelines now offered in Data Sheet 8 9 to existing in rack sprinkler protection schemes found in NFPA 13 The two companies looked at the in rack storage requirements for a hypothetical 500 foot by 1 000 foot 152 m x 305 m storage facility with a storage height of 75 feet 23 meters and a ceiling height of 80 feet 24 4 meters The total cost of the project was US 2 11 million using the new FM Global Right off the bat this new approach to in rack sprinklers offers significant savings It will also cost less to maintain it s more environmentally friendly and it offers better fire protection David Fuller MANAGER FIRE PROTECTION FM APPROVALS 16 REASON ISSUE 2 2015

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