- Author
- Underwriters Laboratories, Incorporated
- Title
- International Foam-Water Sprinkler Research Project. Task 4. Palletized Storage Fire Tests 1 Through 13. Technical Report.
- Coporate
- Underwriters Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, IL
- Sponsor
- National Fire Protection Research Foundation, Quincy, MA
- Report
- Technical Report; Task 4, February 1992, 197 p.
- Contract
- PROJECT-91NK14873/NC987
- Keywords
- sprinklers | fire tests | sprinkler systems | heptane | pallet storage | foam extinguishing systems | warehouses | spill fires
- Identifiers
- Class IB flammable liquid; closed-heat foam-water sprinkler systems; metal containers; plastic containers
- Abstract
- A series of 14 fire tests involving the protection of 1 and 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.