Water sprinkler systems, automatic

The space or room containing the incinerator combustion chambers and their accompanying burners should have a fire detection and alarm system. Fire protection may be provided by automatic extinguishing means such as a water sprinkler system or a fire hose station. In particular applications, foam or powder may be more appropriate. Depending on the radiation level expected for some of the components, an automatic or remotely actuated suppression system may be required. 

Water-reactive chemicals. Certain chemicals, including sodium, potassium, and many metal hydrides, react with water, producing heat and flammable gases. Other chemicals may burn upon contact with water. Storage areas used to hold water-reactive chemicals should be designed to prevent accidental contact with water. For example, these areas should not be equipped with automatic water sprinkler systems. Segregate water-re-active chemicals from other combustible materials, and be certain that the area is of fire-resistant 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. 

Automatic sprinkler systems have the great advantage that they are comparatively simple in concept and operate automatically, whether or not there are people present on the premises. Water is supplied from the public mains or tanks and pumps into a network of distribution pipes at ceiling level, which covers the whole premises. Water is discharged through nozzles or heads sited at regular intervals in the pipework, which are normally sealed with a he at-sensitive device. 

Containment systems are also used in conjunction with an automatic foam-water sprinkler/deluge system where rapid fire extinguishment is expected. 

If a sprinkler system is installed in a computer room or similar area, provisions must be made to automatically de-energize all electrical power to the room and equipment, except power to lighting, in the event of sprinkler operation. Ensure that de-energizing activity leads to a fail-safe condition. Preferably, this should take place prior to water application to minimize damage to exposed electronic circuits. This can be accomplished automatically by smoke detection systems. Manual activation is tolerable for constantly attended locations. Where automatic sprinklers are installed in areas containing minimal combustibles as described above, a sprinkler density of 0.10 gpm/ft (0.38 Ipm/m ) should be provided. Refer to NPEA 75. 

The catalyst preparation area is protected by an automatic water-spray sprinkler system that is actuated by associated heat detectors. Fixed fire water monitors surround this process area. The water for these fire protection systems is supplied through 8-inch underground water mains by three (two diesel and one electric) horizontal, centrifugal, 2500... 

Pre-action System A type of automatic sprinkler system in which thennostatic devices are employed to charge the system with water before individual sprinkler heads are fused. 

Wet-pipe Sprinkler System An automatic sprinkler system in which the pipes are constantly filled with water under pressure. 

Fire testing used to develop automatic sprinkler system design criteria has shown that other factors are important to determine the overall fire hazard of containerized liquids. These factors include the liquid properties, such as liquid burning rate, fire point, specific gravity, water solubility, and viscosity, as well as the container design and size. These important factors have been incorporated into the sprinkler system design tables in Section 4-8 of the 1996 edition of NFPA 30. 

Water supplies for sprinkler systems can be provided by public or private systems, or a combination of both. In both instances, it is customary to also provide for a fire hose flow allowance. This allowance is particularly important with fire control sprinkler systems. Public systems can be augmented with fire pumps typically powered by a diesel or electric driver. Private systems are usually supplied by automatic fire pump(s) taking suction from a tank, reservoir, or natural body of water such as a river. The water supply should be capable of meeting the hydraulic requirements of the sprinkler system, have an adequate duration, and be considered reliable. In some cases, it may also be necessary to have two sources of water to improve the reliability of the system. This is particularly relevant in areas having an unreliable public water supply. Fire pumps should be automatic starting. If a reliable electrical supply is not available, a diesel driven fire pump should be used. 

In addition to fire extinguishers, a sprinkler system in the ceiling is almost always available. These are, of course, useful in extinguishing Class A fires. However, these sprinklers activate automatically, in response to the presence of smoke and/or debris in the laboratory air. The automatic addition of water to a class B, C or D fire would be counter-productive and should be avoided. Therefore, the fire-producing potential of material in each room should be evaluated, prior to installation of the sprinkler system. 

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. 

The B6580/81 automatic sprinkler system also sen/es the HCF. Standard spray automatic sprinklers are provided in occupied areas of the basement, including Rooms 100,104,105,106, 107, 111, 112,113,113Aand114. The HCF is equipped with an independent fire-alarm control panel, located against the south end of the west wall of Room 107 that monitors all areas of the HCF. Water that may be released during fires is captured and routed to holding tanks. This capture system is described in Section 2.9.5. Any sprinkler-water flow will activate the TA-V... 

Zones 2 and 3 of the HCF are protected by an automatic wet-pipe sprinkler system. The sprinkler system is designed for Ordinary Hazard Group 2 occupancy. Therefore, this system will be able to accommodate any unforeseen increases in ordinary combustible loading. The HCF is below grade and will contain any firefighting water used. It is also equipped with heat... 

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... 

In areas where fire potential and the risk of injury or damage are high, automatic fire-extinguishing systems are often used. These may be of the water sprinkler, foam, carbon dioxide, halon, or dry chemical type. If an automatic fire-extinguishing system is in place, laboratory workers should be informed of its presence and advised of any safety precautions required in connection with its use (e.g., evacuation before a carbon dioxide total-flood system is activated, to avoid asphyxiation). 

A combiuatiou of water discharge devices (sprinklers), distribution piping to supply water to the discharge devices or more sources of water under pressure, water flow controlling devices (valves), and actuating devices (temperature, rate of rise, smoke, or other type device). The system automatically delivers and discharges water in the fire area. 

Automatic sprinklers—System built in or added to a structure that automatically delivers water... 

The System 80+ Standard Design is designed to preclude water spray from the fire protection system onto safety-related equipment. The sprinkler systems protecting the safety-related equipment is of the automatic sprinkler type. Actuation of these sprinkler systems requires the opening of the fusible link sprinkler heads and detection by combustible-products and/or heat detectors. In addition, the operator has the capability of isolating flow from the control room by isolating the Sub-sphere Building headers or, locally by manual isolation valves. 

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