Predicted Sprinkler Response

Table 3.4 Predicted quick response sprinkler link operation time and corresponding fire growth characteristics (courtesy of FM Global)...

Detector response models These models are used to predict the response time of a detector device to a fire event, so as to predict how quickly an active intervention will be made by a fire reaction system, such as sprinklers or foam sprayers. Such models use calculated fire heat-release to determine the trigger point of a thermal indicator for example, by calculating the time taken for the local air temperature to reach a trigger value. As such they have very specific inputs and outputs and limited objectives specific to certain devices in contrast to more ambitious categories of models, such as egress or fire endurance models. 

FIRE SIMULATOR predicts the effects of fire growth in a 1-room, 2-vent compartment with sprinkler and detector. It predicts temperature and smoke properties (Oj/CO/COj concentrations and optical densities), heat transfer through room walls and ceilings, sprinkler/heat and smoke detector activation time, heating history of sprinkler/heat detector links, smoke detector response, sprinkler activation, ceiling jet temperature and velocity history (at specified radius from the flre i, sprinkler suppression rate of fire, time to flashover, post-flashover burning rates and duration, doors and windows which open and close, forced ventilation, post-flashover ventilation-limited combustion, lower flammability limit, smoke emissivity, and generation rates of CO/CO, pro iri i post-flashover. 

A simplistic model, the DETACT-QS model used to predict the thermal response of detectors and sprinklers, has been subjected to the ASTM El 355 guidelines as a test case Oanssens, 2002). Over five years of effort have been dedicated to this evaluation, showing the difficulty in performing a detailed, recognized validation process. 

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