Tyco Fire Protection Products showcased its expertise in water mist suppression solutions at 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 utilizing Water Mist’, where he discussed how the extinguishant is well suited to the protection of irreplaceable works and artefacts in extremely useful buildings.
Tim’s lecture centered on a fireplace check protocol that was formulated to confirm the efficiency and use of Tyco’s own water mist answer, AquaMist, in an historic building, house to precious archive storage. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 750 normal requires that, when employing a water mist suppression system, hearth testing is undertaken pertinent to the risk. However, of the printed fire take a look at protocols listed in NFPA 750, none particulars the necessities for archives that comprise roller (compact) racking. Many of the racks within the focused building are of the ‘roller’ kind, which limit the amount of area for building services, including these for extinguishing system pipework.
Together with เกจวัดแรงดันไฟฟ้า , Tyco devised the protocol to incorporate take a look at rig and structure, test sort, hearth load, knowledge acquisition (for example, sensors and imaging), hardware required (such as pumps, nozzles, pipe, tank, generator), and well being and security procedures (for occasion, the hearth brigade). The associated efficiency based fireplace exams have been then designed to copy the vary of application parameters related to archive storage.
While ignition sources at the unique site had been recognized to be minimal, and the primary hearth supply confirmed as arson, the multi-level building poses numerous challenges that had to be considered when formulating the hearth check protocol to guarantee efficient protection. Low ceilings and numerous obstructions, similar to lighting, ducts and pillars, contribute in the direction of the confined surroundings of the archive storage basement degree. Items are stored in a mix of open racks and compact racks, which provide less than a 150mm hole between themselves and the ceiling, and there is limited on-site water storage. Pre-test risk evaluation additionally highlighted restricted access and exits under and above ground, so it’s essential for storage space to be maximised and protected egress supplied in case of the event of a fireplace. In addition, the extremely valuable nature of the storage contents meant that the selected hearth suppression resolution had to ensure minimal injury to these historical items.
To obtain validation, the exams needed to meet varied objectives. These comprised speedy control of the fire inside a prescribed space (in this case, outlined as within a block of racks); control of temperature; attenuation of radiation; and minimisation of collateral harm via water clean-up. They additionally had to bear in mind various parameters, including the desired high strain mist system; a 30 minute run time; and an annual measurable achievement objective (AMAO) outlined according to a formula primarily based on the quantity of nozzles activating during testing.
The hearth tests, carried out for each open and curler racks with minimal storage gaps, have been undertaken in a customized take a look at rig, designed, built and fitted to duplicate the precise specification, racking preparations and storage materials of the site. Considered a excessive load, the gasoline materials were equivalent to that present in archive storage, including paper, books, micro-film and CD circumstances.
Success was outlined by cross or fail standards and decided by detailed quantitative measurements on system configuration, hydraulic analysis, discharge pressure, discharge sequence, hearth spread, temperature, hearth damage and water consumption. In both tests, Tyco’s AquaMist system operated effectively and was noticed to suppress and control the fire effectively. The venture team was impressed by the shortage of fireplace and smoke injury to the supplies and construction and the product has since been installed within the building in query.
“The IWMA conference is a fantastic alternative to spotlight the advantages of water mist as a hearth suppression answer, as well as demonstrate its versatility in a variety of purposes,” feedback Dr Tim Nichols. “Identifying a niche out there and taking the opportunity to formulate a fire test protocol for archive storage enabled us to validate the skilled capabilities of our AquaMist system and facilitate safety of a customer’s highly useful property.”
For more information, go to www.tfppemea.com
Shareg