Fire Sprinkler Research Articles

Transportation Tunnel Fire Sprinklers and Opportunities

Fire sprinklers are widely accepted as a fundamental building safety feature. Yet, in transportation tunnels where fires grow faster and hotter and exits are farther away, fire sprinklers were prohibited until recently and are still not required in underground rail public assembly areas. Fires in transportation tunnels have resulted in deaths, severe damage to tunnel structures and systems, and costly closures, all of which are preventable with fire sprinklers. The inability to suppress a fire unnecessarily exposes hazardous materials in road tunnels to potentially extreme heat and failing containment, and it sometimes allows hazardous materials to react to heat with extreme consequences. This results in the preventative rerouting of hazardous materials around tunnels at considerable expense to shipping. But we know that fire sprinklers are routinely used to protect hazardous materials manufacturing, processing, storage, and handling outside tunnels. This practice is used in four US road tunnels, which routinely allow unrestricted hazardous materials specifically because of the presence of fire sprinkler systems. Adding fire sprinklers to existing road tunnels could prevent tunnel fires from growing beyond the capability of the undersized ventilation systems which exist in many tunnels. Adding sprinklers could be less expensive than difficult ventilation upgrades. Including sprinklers in new tunnels can limit the fire growth rate and maximum heat release rate and thus reduce the ventilation size as well as passive fire system costs. If life safety is a primary consideration, fire sprinklers should be a cornerstone to improving public safety in transportation tunnels, as they protect occupants from fire as well as allow the safe passage of hazardous materials.

Design of Active Fire Protection System for Warehouse Buildings Using NFPA and Indonesian National Standard (SNI)

In the operational conduct of a company, especially those relating to the storage of materials and goods in warehouses, the occupational health and safety OHS) aspects are critical factors that cannot be neglected. Fire was one of the consequences of a non-standard OHS application. The purpose of this research was to provide a proposal for the design of fire protection systems in the Archives and Documents Company, which are light fire extinguishers, sprinkler systems, hydrants, and reservoirs. This research method is observational-descriptive. In conceptual planning, layout, and coordination with the company, the researchers directly perform observations on the PT Archives and Documents to analyze and identify the deficiencies of fire protection equipment owned by the associated companies. ADC requires a total of 9 light fire extinguishers, 192 sprinkler points, 6 hydrants, and a reservoir size of 343,000 liters as a fire protection system according to the National Fire Protection Association standards (NFPA). All buildings that are occupied by humans and have a risk of fire must be equipped with fire protection. for future research in the field of fire safety research to design an emergency response plan for a building by simulating it with advanced technology. By implementing the proposed fire protection, the Company can prevent fire and spread of fire more widely

A Study on Predicting the Deviation of Jet Trajectory Falling Point under the Influence of Random Wind.

As one of the main external factors affecting the fire extinguishing accuracy of sprinkler systems, it is necessary to analyze and study random wind. However, in practical applications, there is little research on the impact of random wind on sprinkler fire extinguishing points. To address this issue, a new random wind acquisition system was constructed in this paper, and a method for predicting jet trajectory falling points in Random Forest (RF) under the influence of random wind was proposed, and compared with the commonly used prediction model Support Vector Machine (SVM). The method in this article reduces the error in the x direction of the 50 m prediction result from 2.11 m to 1.53 m, the error in the y direction from 0.64 m to 0.6 m, and the total mean absolute error (MAE) from 31.3 to 23.5. Simultaneously, predict the falling points of jet trajectory at different distances under the influence of random wind, to demonstrate the feasibility of the proposed method in practical applications. The experimental results show that the system and method proposed in this article can effectively improve the influence of random wind on the falling points of a jet trajectory. In summary, the image acquisition system and error prediction method proposed in this article have many potential applications in fire extinguishing.

Low-Carbon Emissions and Cost of Frame Structures for Wooden and Concrete Apartment Buildings: Case Study from Finland

To date, the existing literature lacks any studies that compare timber and concrete apartment buildings in the Finnish context regarding their carbon footprint, handprint, and the cost of frame structures. This study rigorously analyzes and calculates the carbon footprint, carbon handprint, and costs associated with various structural solutions in a proposed multi-story building located in Laajasalo, Helsinki, Finland. While the primary focus is on wooden frame construction, exploring both its challenges and opportunities, this study also includes a comparative assessment with concrete frame construction. In Finland, regulations require a sprinkler fire extinguishing system to be installed inside. Also, weather protection is typically added to the top of building in connection with the construction of wooden apartment buildings. When the costs of a sprinkler system and weather protection are taken into account, the cost of achieving positive climate effects through a concrete frame is 290% higher than that of a solid wood frame. Our findings will provide a robust basis for assessing the sustainability and feasibility of construction methods, offering valuable insights into environmental and economic considerations for decision-makers in Finland and beyond as regulations evolve and awareness of climate impacts grows.

The Development of Automatic Sprinkler System Concepts for Maritime Vehicle Carriers

Closed ro-ro spaces on maritime vehicle carriers are usually protected by a total-flooding carbon dioxide system. Such systems have many benefits, for example that there are no residues that can adversely affect the protected objects (in this case thousands of vehicles) and the agent is electrically non-conductive. However, there could be a considerable time delay from the start of a fire until the carbon dioxide system is discharged. Experience has shown that this delay time can cause significant fire damage and jeopardize the performance of the system. Within the EU funded LASH FIRE project, design and installation guidelines for supplementary automatic water-based fire sprinkler systems were developed. An important design feature is that the system automatically activates at an early stage of a fire. This would allow more time to fight the fire manually or to safely evacuate the space and discharge the CO2 system when the fire is controlled to one or a few vehicles instead of at a time when it has escalated in size. The work was partly based on a comprehensive literature review that identified relevant standards and information applicable to the design of automatic fire sprinkler and deluge water spray systems. Large-scale fire tests verified that the suggested system designs were able to provide control of realistic vehicle fires, including fires in passenger cars and a freight truck.

Full-scale tests of deicing with seawater

Sea-spray icing is one of the major hazards for small- and medium-sized vessels in polar regions. Predominant anti- and deicing measures include prevention by heeding the weather forecasts and avoiding high-risk situations, protection by enclosing exposed and high-priority areas, manual ice removal by personnel, heat tracing and surplus heat. Energy is in limited supply on vessels, and alternative ways of ice protection are sought after. Seawater is readily available, and as evident from wave-washing, either naturally occurring or increased by provocative maneuvering, seawater can hold an efficient deicing capacity. This study contains knowledge gained from four separate full-scale deicing tests. Deicing is achieved during the field tests by utilizing the vessel's external fire sprinkler systems and in one case a fire hose. To the author's knowledge, no recent tests with deicing of vessels using flushing seawater have been performed, and this article is considered a first step towards evaluating the viability of the method. Targeted high-volume, low-pressure systems seem to be an effective method for deicing, particularly combined with favorable design. However, because of the risk of increased icing or freezing run-off the method is suitable for vessels and structures with sufficient run-off capabilities. Vessel safety can be improved by incorporating the proposed method.

Optimization of fire sprinkler design for uniform water flux distribution using a micro-genetic algorithm

The fire sprinkler head design was optimized using a micro-Genetic Algorithm to produce a uniform distribution of droplet size and water flux. The optimization process consisted of two steps. The first step optimized the injection pattern at a radial distance of 0.05 m from the center of the sprinkler head to produce a uniform water flux. In the second step, the sprinkler head design which produces the optimized injection pattern was derived. The optimized injection pattern was a sinusoid pattern with a large amplitude and wide width. Also, the water is targeted upward in the tine stream. The large amplitude of the injection pattern helped to achieve a uniform distribution of droplet sizes by delivering large droplets directly to the region near the sprinkler head at the floor level. Also, the water flux in the radial direction showed a more uniform distribution in the optimized design. The final optimized design shows that the section angle should be larger, the tines should be more protruding, and the slots should be more concave to improve the water flux distribution. Caution must be exercised in applying these results to conditions different from those used in this study.

Experimental-based numerical simulation of interacting suspended ceiling-sprinkler piping systems

Suspended ceiling and fire sprinkler piping (CP) systems are two of the most common interacting nonstructural elements inside the buildings. While each of these elements individually is prone to losses during the earthquakes, their interaction can even more intensify their associated damage. This article aims to integrate system-level modeling methodology by using existing subsystem-level models in OpenSees platform to simulate the interacting behavior of CP systems. To do so, the numerical model of the CP systems is developed by using a series of previously developed component-level nonlinear models. Experimental results from a shake table study of CP systems installed in a five-story building (fully scaled) are used for the validation of the proposed methodology. Experimental acceleration and displacement responses of CP systems at different locations as well as the damage-progression pattern in the suspended ceiling system are predicted well through the use of the proposed modeling technique.

Reliability of an automatic fire sprinkler installation in a woodworking shop

The article examines and evaluates in detail the problem of reliability of an automatic fire protection system. Several solutions are proposed to enhance the fire safety of technological processes and the continuous production of combustible materials (wood).

Preparedness of Rumah Ilmu Library in Facing Fire Disasters: Safety Education for Campus Society

Due to its contents and amenities, Rumah Ilmu, a library building at Universitas Negeri Semarang, is vulnerable to fire disasters. The goal of this study is to analyse the safety aspects of Rumah Ilmu building. In this study, a qualitative methodology and a descriptive strategy were applied and a direct interview with the informants was conducted to collect the data needed. This study was carried out between February and March of 2023. Rumah Ilmu building has met all the government's standards with the fulfilment of 10 components (71.42%), However, 3 components (21.42%) consisting of fire extinguishers, evacuation directions, and assembly points have been implemented but have not met the standards, and 1 component (7.16%) has not been implemented at all, namely the main gate. Suggestions for the preparedness of the Rumah Ilmu in dealing with disasters include increasing the number of fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and rescue facilities, such as installing emergency lighting, adding an area for assembly points, checking periodically related to exit door locking, and arranging an evacuation plan. Additionally, disaster mitigation education should be provided through training, educational videos, and posters to staff and visitors.

Effect of benzotriazole on the existing pits of copper tube in fire sprinkler system

In this paper, two leaking tubes were investigated among copper tubes injected with 200 and 400 ppm benzotriazole after 8 years of usage. The electrochemical tests were conducted in simulated pit-out and pit-in environments (i.e., regions outside and inside of the pit) to determine the effect of benzotriazole on the propagation of an existing pit. The electrochemical analysis results showed that 200 and 400 ppm benzotriazole exhibit relatively lower inhibition efficiency in an acidic simulated pit-in environment because of the difficulty of forming a protective film and the benzotriazole cationization.

Spray Characteristics Analysis of Fire Sprinkler Spray with Image Processing

Sprinkler systems are effective in suppressing fires during their initial stages. The ability of a sprinkler to suppress a fire is contingent on the density, size, and velocity of the droplets it emits. In this study, a high-speed camera was employed to measure the size and velocity of droplets generated by a sprinkler head with a K-factor of 80. To capture images of the sprinkler spray, two acrylic partitions were placed 3 cm apart, with the sprinkler head positioned in the center. A light source was positioned behind the spray, and images were recorded at a resolution of 1024 × 1024 pixels and a speed of 4000 fps. During the image processing phase, bounding circles were drawn using the mean of the major and minor axes of the droplets, and these circles were used to calculate the diameter, velocity, and momentum of the droplets. It was observed that smaller droplets were predominantly present closer to the sprinkler head, while larger droplets were more prevalent in regions farther away. The larger droplets exhibited higher velocities and momentum. As the vertical distance increased, droplet velocity and momentum also increased, primarily due to the influence of gravity.

A Comparative Expected Value Analysis Study to Determine the Cost Benefit or Cost Effectiveness of Early Discharge, Medical Transport, Home Health as Well as Home Care Devices, Services and Technologies in The United States

It was found that Amazon products (Alexa™, Echo™, Halo™), EMRs, fire extinguishers, genome sequencing test, on-line pharmacies, remote patient monitoring, provided economic value, while emergency medical service membership programs, fire alarm subscription services, helicopter emergency medical services, home fire insurance policies, home fire sprinklers, and home security systems were not found to have provided economic value. Tele-health (virtual office visits) would provide economic value if most tele-health visits replaced existing in-person visits and the low cost virtual didn’t drive demand for unnecessary visits. Robotic surgery technologies provide economic value if fully utilized (high patient demand to reduce overhead costs per procedure) in a facility with little excess capacity as long as it did not compete with non-robotic surgical offerings at the present facility. AEDs provide economic value if appropriately placed in high demand locales based on future probability of use.

Experiment study of fire characteristics in full-scale bedrooms under different vents and sprinkler conditions

The risk of fire in residential buildings is relatively high, with a significant number of incidents and loss of life reported. This study aimed to examine fire scenarios in bedroom by conducting real scale experiments with different set-up of vents and using realistic fuel loads. Five full-scale compartment fire tests were conducted, and a sprinkler system was installed in one of the rooms. The experimental setup, fuel arrangement, and instrumentation are described, and the fire characteristics was analyzed based on visual observations and temperature data processing. The performance of the fire detectors and sprinklers in the tests are discussed. The influence of opening size on the peak temperature, heat release rate, and the constant coefficient of Kawagoe law are estimated and analyzed. Furthermore, a non-dimensional neutral plane height was found to have strong relationship with the constant coefficient of Kawagoe law.

Machine learning driven smart fire safety design of false ceiling and emergency response

In modern buildings, false ceilings are widely used for building services systems and aesthetic purposes, but they also pose challenges in terms of fire safety. A fire accident typically results from the failure of multiple safety measures or components. In many fire accidents, fire and smoke reached the false ceiling and kept spreading in the interstitial space without any detection. This study first generates a numerical database of false ceiling fire scenarios by varying the room dimensions, false-ceiling leakage area, fire size and locations. Then, a smart model based on machine learning to predict the fire smoke motion below and above the false ceiling is developed. The trained model is capable to predict the activation time of fire detectors and sprinklers for any given false ceiling design and fire scenario. This methodology enables a designer to generate multiple fire scenarios and determine the available safe egress time (ASET) for performance-based fire engineering designs especially in terms of fire detection time. In case of a real fire, with the data feed from the fire sensor network, the trained machine learning model can further predict the critical building fire events with the false ceiling, such as multi-compartment fires, smoke in the evacuation path, and structural failures. This work proposes a smart framework for improving the building fire safety design of false ceilings and the sensor-driven fire forecast to support firefighting.It enhances the emergency response processes by enabling dynamic risk assessment through prediction of critical events.

ANALYSIS OF FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM ON THE MULTIFUNCTIONAL LABORATORY BUILDING OF AR-RANIRY STATE ISLAMIC UNIVERSITY BANDA ACEH INDONESIA

Fire can occur if three main elements are met, namely heat, oxygen, and fuel or it is called the fire triangle. Risks arising from fire incidents can be minimized by a fire protection system and the reliability of building safety systems. To ensure that the two systems run optimally, an evaluation and examination are needed on the existing conditions based on the applicable safety technical standards. This study aims to determine the existing condition of the applied fire protection system and to determine the reliability of the building safety system in the Ar-Raniry Multifunctional Laboratory Building. This research was conducted using a quantitative descriptive method. Research data collection was carried out using observation and interview methods. The observation method for existing conditions was carried out using a checklist compiled based on the Indonesian Minister Public Works’ Regulation Number 26/PRT/M/2008 of 2008 for fire protection systems and fire protection code from the National Standardization Agency of Indonesia Number Pd-T-11-2005-C on the reliability of building safety systems. The results show that the fire protection system in the UIN Ar-Raniry Multifunction Laboratory building was in the Enough category, with a value of 3.25. This is due to the absence of several active fire protection instruments such as fire extinguishers, sprinklers, and hydrants. Addionally, from the results of the reliability of the building safety system for the UIN Ar-Raniry Multifunction Laboratory building, it is in the Enough category with a value of 63.02. This is caused by the absence of emergency lighting and water sources as a source of hydrant water.

Experimental Study on the Characteristics of Sprinkler Discharge Obstructions in Upper Logistic Rails

In the early stage of a fire, sprinklers system of water-based fire-extinguishing systems, which are harmless to the human body, are the most widely used for fire control and suppression in manufacturing factories. The logistic carrier transport in modern manufacturing companies has been almost fully automated and sprinklers are installed around them all over the world. In the presence of an obstruction, a base plate around the upper logistic rail secures the separation distance from the obstacle of more than three times the width of the obstacle, as required by fire regulations (National Fire Technical Code 103 and National Fire Protection Association 13). However, if this cannot be achieved, the fire sprinkler should be more than 600 mm from the base plate, and the opening ratio of the base plate should be less than 70% in an upper logistic rail. This requires sprinklers to be positioned away from obstructions at a minimum of three times the maximum dimension of the obstruction. This study analyzed the sprinkler discharge obstruction from the base plate around the upper logistic rail using the UL standard for sprinkler water spray for the logistic rail area of manufacturing factories. The results can contribute to mitigating fire risks and safety problems.

Arduino based Fire Detection and Water Sprinkler

In this project, a Arduino-based automatic fire detection and water sprinkler system that can keep an eye on a building, an industry, and a residence is described. This project is crucial to the upkeep and supervision of all environments that are safe, including anything destroyed by fire. However, the numerous fire detection (fire extinguisher) systems that are now in use are both expensive and outmoded. As a result, it is not within the means of the people with low incomes. Making a low-cost fire control system is the primary goal of this project. The system was created as a result of inspiration to create a small system that was built on the core principles of control, security, and safety

Innovative passive aeration process for synthetic deoxygenated water

ABSTRACT Aeration is a process of diffusing oxygen into water in order to stimulate the aerobic bacteria for starting wastewater aerobic treatment process. Zero energy aeration systems that do not require electric or mechanical power are known as passive aerators. A new technology for passive aerators using inverted bell siphon principle is innovated, which requires a lot less volume for its installation compared to other passive aeration systems as cascade, spray and perforated tray aerators. A laboratory experimental program investigated the inverted bell siphon system using deoxygenated water with almost zero dissolved oxygen concentration like anaerobic treatment effluent. The system is used to build water pressure through a distribution system used for scattering water in air to diffuse oxygen into it. Holed arm pipe with different hole diameters and numbers, showerhead, fire sprinkler and modified fire sprinkler were tested as distributors to reach the optimum type which verify good oxygen diffusion in water and ensure least possibility of clogging of distributors. Dissolved oxygen concentration was measured for each distributor water effluent. The experiments showed that the modified fire sprinkler achieved higher oxygen diffusion in water and best distribution, in addition to its geometry that prevents the distribution system from clogging.

Factors affecting water flux distribution of fire sprinklers and effect of water flux uniformity on fire suppression characteristics

The water flux distribution of the sprinkler spray is not uniform due to the spray formation mechanism impinging on the deflector. In this study, the effect of factors such as installation height, flow rate, and deflector design on the uniformity of the water flux was investigated by experiment. Then, the water flux distribution has been reproduced with simulation and compared with measured data. When the installation height was increased, there was no significant change in the water flux pattern, only radial direction mixing. The water flux distribution predicted by changing the installation height through simulation showed excellent reproducibility with an R2 value over 0.77. Increasing the flow rate maintained the water flux and its pattern near the sprinkler head, however increased the water flux away from the sprinkler head. The modified sprinkler deflector has a deep slot design that increases the water flux near the sprinkler head, which improves the water flux uniformity. Also, the large tines of the modified sprinkler deflector restored the flow after the frame arm, eliminating the effect of the frame arm.