Automatic sprinkler protection

Provide damper mechanical position stop to prevent complete closure of damper Eliminate flammables or combustibles Provide inert atmosphere Design ventilation system to keep flammable concentration below lower flammable limit Install on-line flammable gas detection system that activates an inerting system Provide automatic sprinkler protection Use deflagration vents... 

Typically, medium to small processing facilities are under the jurisdictional coverage of local fire and building codes that require automatic sprinkler protection. These processing operations should be fire protected by automatic sprinklers that extend overall areas that store, process, or transfer flammable or combustible materials. The physical limits of the areas requiring protection can... 

Laboratories are classified as Class A (High Fire Hazard), Class B (Moderate Fire Hazard), Class C (Low Fire Hazard), or Class D (Minimal Fire Hazard), according to the quantities of flammable and combustible liquids each is allowed to have. Table 8-16 and Table 8-17 (NFPA45) describe the flammable and combustible liquids limitations and the requirements involving automatic sprinkler protection and fire-resistive partition wall separations. The tables apply to laboratories less than 10,000 ft (929 m ) area and should be suitable for most labs in processing facilities. 

Provide automatic sprinkler protection for induced-draft water-cooling towers where property damage and business interruption could result. In estimating the extent of possible damage, it should be remembered that the exterior and certain interior portions of the towers are normally dry and that whole towers as well as single cells of multicell towers may be taken out of service for repairs. 

The NFPA 30B classification system is used to specify or determine the need for certain requirements for building ceiling height, allowable quantities, storage arrangement, automatic sprinkler protection, and building construction features. 

Where subject to temperatures below 40°F (5°C), a wet-pipe system cannot be used.There are two recognized methods of maintaining automatic sprinkler protection in such locations (1) through the use of systems where water enters the sprinkler piping only after operation of a control valve... 

Automatic sprinkler protection shall be designed and installed in the plenum and interstitial space above cleanrooms in accordance with NFPA 13, (NFPA 318 2-1.2.5). NFPA 13 does have some exceptions for concealed spaces, however. 

Workstations. All workstations must be installed with fire sprinkler protection. Workstations constructed of combustible materials containing HPMs must contain a sprinkler head within four feet of the exhaust duct connection. Sprinkler coverage of the horizontal surface at any workstation shall not be obstructed. NFPA 318, in addition to requiring automatic sprinkler protection of the horizontal surface, requires sprinkler protection in the exhaust transition piece of combustible workstations (Paragraph 2-1.2.8.1). A sprinkler shall be installed within the exhaust duct cormection of workstations of combustible construction. 

Regarding fires, water is the primary extinguishing agent, and it should be available in adequate supply and pressure at all of the locations in the plant. The layout for various types of installations and the appropriate recommendations are found in the standards of the National Fire Protection Association. Fire hydrants, hose lines, automatic sprinkler and water spray systems should all be a part of the permanent equipment facilities of the plant. 

Sprinkler and water spray installations-Many process and storage area buildings should be protected by automatic sprinkler systems. The size and arrangement for water supply are dependent upon the nature of the hazard and the degree of protection desired. Water spray installations are particularly adapted for cooling uninsulated steel structures, elevated pipe lines, vessels, spheres, and similar plant installations. 

Pilotex Ultra High Speed Deluge Fire Protection for Munitions Explosives Pyrotechnics Gary A. Fadorsen, "Automatic" Sprinkler Corporation of Amerloa... 

Measures to reduce the impact of fire include active and passive systems. Active systems include automatic sprinkler, water deluge, water mist, gaseous agent, dry chemical, foam, and standpipe handle systems. Passive protection is provided by fire resistive construction, including spray-applied or cementitious fireproofing of steel, concrete/masonry construction, and water-filled steel columns. Chapter 7 provides details on the design of fire protection systems. 

Enclosures, even partial enclosures, containing equipment handling flammable, combustible, ortoxic materials may permit the accumulation of hazardous concentrations of these materials within the enclosure, potentially resulting in fire, explosion, or personnel exposure. Where the possibility of a flammable spill or release within an enclosure exists, the enclosure design should include a relevant selection from the following features noncombustible construction, adequate ventilation, drainage, appropriate electrical classification, flammable vapor detection, isolation and alarm, and internal automatic sprinkler or water spray protection. 

Automatic sprinkler system protection for Class A and Class B laboratories should be in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, for Ordinary Hazard (Group 2) occupancies. Automatic sprinkler system protection for Class C and Class D laboratories should be in accordance with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, for Ordinary Hazard (Group 1) occupancies. 

If an air compressor is located such that a flammable release from nearby equipment could envelope the air compressor, then automatic deluge or sprinkler protection may be required to protect the air compressor from fire damage. 

NFPA. 1 997. Automatic Sprinkler Systems Ffandbook, 7th Ed. National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MA. 

The local fire department arrivedjust after the explosion at 11 22 A.M. With the limited water supply on two of the fire trucks and the utilization of another fire truck to pump water directly from a nearby cooling water tower basin, the firemen were able to slow the fire spread. By 11 30 A.M., the Maintenance Department was able to transfer the set of batteries from the impaired diesel fire pump to the other diesel fire pump. On completion of this task, this diesel fire pump was started. The automatic deluge sprinkler protection was severely damaged by the fire/explosions and had to be valved into the off position. Three fixed monitors were turned onto lull flow and directed at the fire. Also, the firemen and fire brigade used two hose streams olF nearby fire hydrants for fire fighting purposes. At 11 58 A.M., the fire was under control. Final fire extinguishment was accomplished by 12 10 p.m. 

Costs in Safety. The hazards present are a direct function of the fire insurance rates that can be obtained. A decrease of the hazards may effect important savings in the insurance items of the overhead costs. In this connection, the cost of a complete automatic sprinkler system may be entirely defrayed by the resulting decrease in fire insurance rates. Such protective schemes and equipment are not so easily paid for, but they frequently can be justified on economic grounds alone. Hazards also involve loss of production and men .s. services as well as impairment of product quality. Reduction of hazards thus becomes an economic problem. 

NFPA 30, 4.4.3.S NFPA 30, 4.5.14 NFPA 30, 4.5.2.S 4.3.2 Class Iflammable liquids (see definition) shall not be stored in basement areas. Class II and Class IIIA combustible liquids (see definition) shall not be stored in basement areas imless those areas are protected with automatic sprinkler systems. 

Fire protection is provided in the HCF. B6580 and B6581 are provided with automatic fire-protection sprinkler systems, except in areas containing significant quantities of radiological materials where water sprinklers would exacerbate radiological hazards. The building also has a fully supervised alarm and evacuation system, which includes automatic smoke and heat detectors in certain areas. 

Is there a suppression system Yes El NoD If yes, describe type, layout, capability, etc. Buildings and 6581 are provided with automatic, fire protection sprinkler systems throughout, except the Zone 1 SCBs and Zone 2A where water sprinklers would create a hazard. Zone 2A is equipped with manual AliW fire suppression systems. The Zone 1... 

References for this study included in Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook (3d edition), edited by John K. Bunchard and published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) (1987) and Automatic Sprinkler and Standpipe Systems, by John C. Bryan, also published by NFPA (1976). Probability data was interpolated from NFPA and other studies as reported in these publications. (Note As previously noted, probability/relia-bility data in this example are for illustrative purposes only and may not be accurate.)... 

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