Full-Scale Fire Tests With Automatic Sprinklers in a Patient Room. Phase 2.
Full-Scale Fire Tests With Automatic Sprinklers in a
Patient Room. Phase 2.
(4721 K)
O'Neill, J. G.; Hayes, W. D., Jr.; Zile, R. H.
NBSIR 80-2097; 88 p. July 1980.
Sponsor:
Department of Health, Education and Welfare, Washington,
DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
Telephone:
1-800-553-6847 or 703-605-6000;
Fax: 703-605-6900; Rush
Service (Telephone Orders Only) 800-553-6847;
Website:
http://www.ntis.gov
Order number: PB80-224298
Keywords:
health care facilities; hospitals; mattresses;
predictive models; smoke movement; sprinkler systems;
polyurethane foams; sidewall sprinkler systems
Abstract:
The Center for Fire Research conducted a series of
full-scale fire tests in a patient room and corridor
arrangement to examine the use of automatic sprinklers
in patient rooms of health care facilities. This is a
report of twenty-one (21) fire tests in which either
mattresses with bedding or clothing wardrobes served as
the burning items. These results indicated that
actuation of both pendant and horizontal sidewall
sprinklers in the patient room acted to cool and
redistribute the combustion products in the patient room
and in the corridor away from the flowing sprinkler.
This phenomena resulted in total obscuration throughout
the tests area. It was demonstrated that the use of a
fast response, (low thermal inertia) sprinkler resulted
in significanlty less smoke obscuration in the mattress
and bedding fires. Sprinkler spray distribution
measurements were made to develop criteria for the
position of privacy curtains with respect to the
automatic sprinklers in the patient room. Recommended
installation criteria are provided. Analysis of the
test results indicated that the combustible clothing
wardrobe fire resulted in room flashover in a
nonsprinklered test. In several tests with sprinklers,
flashover did not occur, however, estimated hazardous
thresholds for carbon monoxide were still exceeded in
the test area. It was determined that the combustible
construction of the wardrobe primarily contributed to
the high concentrations of carbon monoxide.
