Evaluation of Protection for Plastic Containers Using Sprinkler Systems with 1.0% AFFF and Plain Water

Abstract

Four large-scale fire tests were conducted to compare an aqueous film forming foam (AFFF) agent against plain water for protection of an on-floor storage arrangement of a plastic container commonly used in automated and manual materials handling. The container used in these tests was a 600 mm × 400 mm × 280 mm open-top, double-wall, polypropylene box. These boxes were stored 4.5 m high under a 10.5 m ceiling. The protection design used fast-response 688C-temperature-rated K160 sprinklers discharging either 1.0% AFFF agent/water solution or plain water at a discharge density of 30 mm/minute. Initial test parameters, which included fuel and storage configuration, sprinkler system design (sprinkler type, temperature rating, actuation link sensitivity, spacing, and discharge pressure), ignition placement within the storage configuration and the relative positioning of the storage arrangement with respect to ceiling sprinklers were consistent for all tests. The testing procedure involved a format that used an initial test followed by a validation test under the same initial test conditions.