The capability of impingement type water mist (fine spray) nozzles, with operating pres sures lower than 12 bar, was investigated in full-scale fire tests using light hazard scenar ios. In these tests, four prototype nozzles were evaluated; however, only one of the nozzles (Nozzle A) provided satisfactory protection. The results of the tests, with Nozzle A, are reported as an indication of the capabilities of impingement type water mist nozzles in light hazard occupancies. Nozzle A was typically operated at a flow rate of 15 Lpm and a pressure of 10 bar. The fire tests were conducted in a room 5.5 m x 5.5 m with openings to two adjacent rooms (and in one test, an opening to a corridor). The fuel packages used in the fire tests were: the residential fuel package of Underwriters Laboratories (UL), a living room fuel package, a bedroom fuel package, and a shielded heptane pool fire. The UL and the living room fuel packages were used in a room corner and along a wall between two nozzles. Gas temperature measurements indicated that Nozzle A provided acceptable protection in the fire tests of this study with a total water flow rate of 45 Lpm. Based on the results of this study and a review of previous work with water mist systems, recommendations for approval testing and installation standards have been made for light hazard scenarios.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
McCormick, P.Y. , Lucas, R.L. and Wells, P.F., "Gas Solid Systems," in Chemical Engineering Handbook (J.H. Perry ed.), McGraw Hill, 1963, p. 20-66.
2.
Proceedings of the Water Mist Fire Suppression Workshop, March 1-2, 1993, NISTIR 5207 (K.A. Notarianni and N.H. Jason, Eds.), Building and Fire Research Laboratory, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, March 1-2, 1993.
3.
Proceedings of the International Conference on Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems, Swedish National Testing Institute, Boras, Sweden, November 4-5, 1993.
4.
Halon Options Technical Working Conference, The Univ. of New Mexico, New Mexico Engineering Research Institute, Albuquerque, NM, 1995.
5.
Proceedings of International Fire Research and Engineering, sponsored by Building and Fire Research Laboratory, NIST, Gaithersburg, MD, and Society Fire Protection Engineers, Boston, MA, at Orlando, FL, September 10-15, 1995.
6.
Mawhinney, J.R. and Richardson, J.K., "A Review of Water Mist Fire Suppression Research and Development, 1996," Fire Technology, Vol. 33, No. 1, 1997, pp. 54-97.
7.
Thompson, N.J., Fire Behavior and Sprinklers, 3rd Edition, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 1974.
8.
Rasbash, D.J. , Rogowski, Z.W. and Stark, G.W.V., "Mechanisms of Extinction of Liquid Fuel Fires with Water Sprays," Combustion and Flame, Vol. 4, 1960, pp. 223-234.
9.
Mawhinney, J.R., Dlugogorski, B.Z. and Kim, A.M., "A Closer Look at the Fire Extinguishing Properties of Water Mist," Fire Safety Science—Proceedings of the Fourth International Symposium, 1994, pp. 47-60.
10.
Ural, E.A. and Bill, R.G., Jr., "Fire Suppression Performance Testing of Water Mist Systems for Combustion Turbine Enclosure," Halon Options Technical Working Conference, NMERI, Albuquerque, NM, May 9-11, 1995.
11.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Hansen, R.L. and Richardson , K., "Fine Spray (Water Mist) Protection of Shipboard Engine Rooms, Fire Safety Journal , Vol. 29, 1997, pp. 317-336.
12.
Arvidson, M., "Luxury Cabin, Open Area Public Space and Corner Public Space Fire Tests for Grinnell Fire Protection Using Aqua Mist AMS Nozzles," Test Report R30455a, Swedish National Testing Laboratory, Boras, Sweden, August 1994.
13.
Bill, R.G., Jr., "Fire Performance for Fine Spray (MIST) Systems in Passenger Ship Public, Accommodation and Service Areas," Technical Report J.I. 0X0N7.RA, July 1993.
14.
"Guidelines for Approval of Sprinkler Systems Equivalent to that Referred to in SOLAS II -2/12," MSC 64/22/Add. 1, International Maritime Organization, London, UK, 1994.
15.
Solas, TheInternational Convention for Safety of Life at Sea, International Maritime Organization, London, UK, First Edition, 1992.
16.
"Approval Standard for Residential and Limited Water Supply Automatic Sprinklers," Class 2030, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, January 1983.
17.
"Standard for Residential Sprinklers for Fire Protection Service ," UL 1626, Underwriters Laboratories, Northbrook, IL, December 1990.
18.
"Final Report, Feasibility Study of Water Mist Application for Residential Fires," Contract No. EMW-93-4247, U.S. Fire Administration, Emmitsburg, MD, February 1995.
19.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Stavrianidis, P., Hill, E.E., Jr. and Brown , W.R., "Water Mist Fire Protection in Residential Occupancies," Technical Report J.I. 0Y1N9.RA/ 0Z0J1.RA, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, November 1995.
20.
"Water Mist Fire Suppression Systems," NFPA 750, 1996 Annual Meeting Report on Proposals, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 1995.
21.
"Fire Protection—Automatic Sprinkler Systems, Part 1, Requirements and Methods of Tests for Sprinklers," ISO 6182-1, International Standard, First Edition, Geneva, Switzerland, 1992.
22.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Kung, H-C., Brown, W.R., Hill, E.E., Jr., Spaulding , R.D., Stavrianidis, P., Vincent, B. and Yu , H-Z., "Evaluation of the Suppression Capability of Residential and Quick Response Sprinklers," Technical Report J.I. 0Q5N0-8.RA, Factory Mutual Research Corporation , Norwood, MA, December 1990.
23.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Kung, H-C., Hill, E.E., Jr., Chan, T-S. and Brown, W.R., "The Development of a Limited-Water-Supply Sprinkler for Mobile Homes," Technical Report J.I. 0T1N7.RA, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, April 1992; see also Bill, R.G., Jr. and Kung,H-C., "Limited Water Supply Sprinklers for Manufactured (Mobile) Homes," Fire Technology, Vol. 29, No. 3, 1993, pp. 203-225.
24.
Kung, H-C., Spaulding, R.D. and Hill, E.E., Jr., "Field Evaluation of Residential Prototype Sprinkler, Los Angeles Fire Test Program," Technical Report J.I. 0E0R3.RA(1), Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, February 1982.
25.
Bill, R.G., Jr. and Kung, H-C., "Evaluation of an Extended Coverage Sidewall Sprinkler and Smoke Detectors in a Hotel Occupancy," Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1989, p. 77.
26.
Vincent, B.G. , Kung, H-C., Hill, E.E., Jr. and Symonds , A.P., "Sprinklered Office Fire Tests, " Technical Report J.I. 0M3N5.RA(1), Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, March 1987.
27.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Allard, R., Braga, A. and Ferron, R., "Standardized Extended Coverage Sprinklers for Light Hazard Occupancies ," Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, Vol. 7, No. 4, 1995, pp. 133-151.
28.
Bill, R.G., Jr., Kung, H-C., Brown, W.R., Hill, E.E., Jr. and Spaulding , R.D., "Predicting the Suppression Capability of Quick Response Sprinklers in a Light Hazard Scenario, Part I: Fire Growth and Required Delivered Density (RDD) Measurements," Journal of Fire Protection Engineering, Vol. 3, No. 3, 1991, pp. 79-91.
29.
"Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One-and Two- Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes," NFPA 13D, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 1994.
30.
"Installation of Sprinkler Systems," NFPA 13, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA, 1996.
31.
Arvidson, M.A. , "Cabin, Corridor, Luxury Cabin and Public Space Fire Tests for Grinnell Fire Protection Using Aqua Mist AM6, AM11 and AM22 Nozzles," Test Report R30608, Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Boras, Sweden, October 1995.
32.
"FMRC Draft Performance Requirements for Water Mist Systems for the Protection of Light Hazard Occupancies," Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, August 1997.
33.
Arvidson, M., "Luxury Cabin, Open Area Public Space, and Corner Public Space Fire Tests for Grinnell Fire Protection using AquaMist AM5 Nozzles," Test Report R30455a, Swedish National Testing and Research Institute , Boras, Sweden, June 1994.
