Sprinkler Fire Suppression Algorithm for the GSA Engineering Fire Assessment System.
Sprinkler Fire Suppression Algorithm for the GSA
Engineering Fire Assessment System.
(1663 K)
Madrzykowski, D.; Vettori, R. L.
NISTIR 4833; 41 p. May 1992.
Sponsor:
General Services Administration, Washington, DC
Available from:
National Technical Information Service
Order number: PB92-187145
Keywords:
sprinklers; fire suppression; crib fires; fire tests;
fuel load; free burning fires; heat release rate;
sprinkler activation
Abstract:
A study was conducted to develop a sprinkler fire
suppression algorithm for use with sprinkler activation
time models. Large scale experiments were performed to
determine the heat release rate (HRR) of selected office
fuel packages with and without sprinklers operating.
Eight different fuel packages were evaluated. The
results from these experiments were used to develop a
time dependent HRR reduction factor. The sprinkler fire
suppression algoithm consists of multiplying the HRR
reduction factor by the HRR at the time of sprinkler
activation yielding an expected upper bound to the HRR
at a given time after sprinkler activation, Q(t), for
office furnishing fires that are not heavily shielded.
This sprinkler fire suppression algorithm can be thought
of as a "zeroth order" fire suppression model for "light
hazard" occupancies with a sprinkler spray density of
0.07 mm/s (0.1 gpm/ft2) or greater.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899