- Author
- Arvidson, M.
- Title
- En sammanstallning av valdokumenterade brandforsok med bostadsspringkler. [Compilation of Experiences From Well-Documented Residential Sprinkler Fire Tests.]
- Coporate
- SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Boras, Sweden
- Report
- SP Report 2001:03, 2001, 33 p.
- Distribution
- For more information contact: SP Swedish National Testing and Research Institute, Box 857, SE-501 15 BORAS, Sweden. Telephone: +46 33 16 50 00, Fax: +46 33 13 55 02, Email: info@sp.se Website: http://www.sp.se/eng/default.htm
- Keywords
- sprinklers | residential buildings | large scale fire tests | test methods | NFPA 13D | NFPA 13R | UL 1626 | residential sprinklers
- Abstract
- ONLY ABSTRACT IN ENGLISH The objective of this report is to provide a better understanding of why residential sprinkler systems are designed in the way that they are, and have the capacities that they have. It therefore describes the series of tests that formed the basis of the concept of residential sprinklers, together with the associated fire test methods that are used. A further objective is to give a picture of present-day developments in the USA in this sector. The use of residential sprinklers was developed at the end of the 197Os, and there is probably no sprinkler concept that has been the subject of so many full-scale fire tests - although this in turn may well be due to the fact that this type of fire test is relatively inexpensive and easy to perform. In many cases, the tests have been very well instrumented and thoroughly documented, while other cases have been essentially demonstration tests. Residential sprinklers are designed and installed in accordance with the recommendations in NFPA 13D and 13R. Determination of system capacities is based on sprinkler tests that were carried out in Los Angeles in 1979 as part of the Los Angeles Sprinkler Test Program. These tests formed the basis for the residential sprinkler concept that we know today. The minimum water flow rates and maximum coverage areas that were established by these tests were introduced in the 1980 revision of NFPA 13D and have been the norm since then. Both NFPA 13D and 13R allow the use of type-approved ("listed") sprinklers with lower water flow rates and larger coverage areas than given in NFPA 13D and 13R. This has meant that there are now a large number of different sprinkler manufacturers and sprinkler types listed for different coverage areas and water flow rates. The manufacturers' instructions and/or UL's approval list must therefore always be consulted prior to an installation. This development has been questioned, ahhough it has resulted in the production of less expensive systems as a result of different sprinkler manufacturers aiming for, and developing, sprinklers with as low water pressures and/or flow rates as permissible. It has been decided to revise the UL 1626 fire test method that is currently used, in order to improve its repeatability and reproducibility. One of the effects of this will be that all residential sprinklers that have been listed by UL will have to be retested. It is likely that higher water flow rates will be needed in order to meet the requirements of the revised test method, which would be a healthy development. At the same time, it must be realised that residential sprinklers cannot be designed such that they can successfully tackle all fires that can occur in a residential building, as this would push up the costs of such systems. Determination of design and capacity must strike a balance between performance and cost.