- Author
- Chicarello, P. J. | Troup, J. M. A.
- Title
- Fire Tests of Records Storage in a Fixed Shelving Module Under the Protection of Large-Drop Sprinklers. Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Factory Mutual Research Corp., Norwood, MA
- Sponsor
- General Services Administration, Washington, DC
- Report
- FMRC J.I. 0E1N0.RR; RC80-T-45, June 1980, 101 p.
- Distribution
- Available from National Technical Information Service
- Contract
- GS-00-B-2237
- Keywords
- records storage | fire tests | sprinklers | paper | spacing | joists
- Identifiers
- paper records; computer tapes; large-drop sprinklers; catwalks; cardboard boxes; storage module; shelving
- Abstract
- This report covers three large-scale fire tests, with large-drop sprinklers, conducted in a records storage module typical of those found at General Services Administration records storage facilities. In the first test, the storage module was stocked with paper records in cardboard boxes. In the second and third tests, the storage module included plastic computer tapes as well as paper records. The storage module consisted of two double rows of multiple tier, steel shelving separated by a 30-in. aisle. In the third test, an expanded metal catwalk was installed in the aisle at an elevation of 7 ft 1 in. The overall dimensions of the module were approximately 35 ft x 12.5 ft x 14 ft high. The tests showed that when the module is stocked with paper records, computer tapes, or a mixture of the two, large-drop sprinklers installed on a spacing of 10 ft x 10 ft and operating at a minimum pressure of 25 psi will provide excellent fire control and will limit the fire damge to a comparatively small area in the vicinity of the ignition point. In the absence of catwalks, the sprinklers will also provide excellent ceiling protection and exposed structural steel bar joists will not be endangered; but if catwalks are installed, the protection for exposed structural steel bar joists will be marginal. Detailed descriptions of the fire tests, together with the results and conclusions, are contained in the report.