- Author
- Underwriters Laboratories, Incorporated
- Title
- National Wholesale/Retail Occupancy Fire Research Project. Task 1. Protection of Flammable Liquids. Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL
- Sponsor
- National Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA
- Report
- Technical Report; Task 1, November 1992, 167 p.
- Contract
- PROJECT-92NK9354/NC987
- Keywords
- flammable liquids | sprinkler systems | sprinklers | fire tests | effectiveness | pallet storage | combustible liquids | ignition | heptane | spill fires
- Identifiers
- Class IB flammable liquid; metal containers; ignition scenario tests; display (hand-pick) fire tests; mixed rack storage (with or without) display fire tests; end use storage
- Abstract
- The National Fire Protection Research Foundation (NFPRF) is coordinating the National Wholesale/Retail Occupancy Fire Research Project to develop data on effective, cost-efficient fire sprinkler systems for the protection of flammable liquids in wholesale/retail occupancies. The Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code, NFPA 30, and the Uniform Fire Code 9UFC) presently limit the quantity, density and storage arrangements of flammable and combustible liquids in wholesale and retail sales occupancies. These requirements, along with UFC proposed changes, would impact the manner in which wholesale and retail occupancies display and sell products. 5 gallon metal and 5 gallon plastic containers filled with heptane, a Class IB flammable liquid, were conducted to investigate the use of closed-head foam-water sprinkler systems for the protection of such fuel packages. Quantities of fuel used in the fire tests varied from 160 to 1920 gallons; fuel storage densities ranged from 3.9 to 46.5 gal/ft², and storage heights ranged from 1.3 to 13 ft. Each fire test was initiated using a 10 gallon flammable liquid (heptane) spill fire. The results of the fire tests involving the 1 gallon metal F-Style containers of heptane, packaged four containers in a corrugated cardboard carton, indicated that the 10 gal flammable liquid spill fire could be suppressed by a closed-heat foam-water sprinkler system at a 0.40 gpm/ft² design density for storage heights up to 10 ft, 8 in. under a 27 ft ceiling prior to any container breaching or fuel loss. Fires involving 5 gallon metal containers of heptane could be suppressed by a closed-head foam-water sprinkler system design density of 0.30 gpm/ft² for storage heights up to 11 ft, 9 in. Plastic pour spouts on the containers safely vented and prevented container breaching. Fires involving 5 gallon plastic containers of heptane could not be suppressed by a closed-heat foam-water sprinkler system design density of 0.30 gpm/ft² using a one container, 19 in. storage height due to container breaching and flammable liquid spillage prior to foam-water discharge. Based upon the fire test results obtained with the palletized storage of 1 and 5 gallon metal containers of heptane, it is recommended that an additional series of fire tests be conducted involving rack storage configurations.