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Product GPU
28 May 2003
Fire test summary HI-FOG GPU systems for protection of light hazard (US) occupancies.
Test standard
FMRC Draft performance requirements for fine water spray systems for the protection of light
hazard occupancies.
Summary
The performance of three different HI-FOG GPU systems was evaluated for protection of light
hazard (US) occupancies as defined in the Factory Mutual Loss Prevention Data Sheet 2-8N.
These occupancies include spaces like high-rise offices, hotels and residential applications, i.e.
spaces that in Europe are classified as Ordinary Hazard 1. The fire scenarios included three open
space tests and one large compartment test. All fires were successfully suppressed within the 10
min test period, as was verified by the temperatures during the test and damages observed after
the test.
Conclusions
The HI-FOG fire protection systems powered by the Gas-driven Pump Unit (GPU) and summarized
below were shown to meet the performance requirements set by Factory Mutual Research
Corporation for the protection of light hazard (US) occupancies.
Sprinkler
Type
6.4
2.5
1.35
Spacing (m)
3.5
0.8
0.6
0.5
K-factor (lpm/bar1/2)
Installation
A
(1
N t
Vp
(1
A=
750
500
250
Marioff Corporation Oy reserves the right to revise and improve its products and recommended system configurations as it deems necessary without notification. The information contained herein
is intended to describe the state of Hi-fog products and system configurations at the time of its publication and may not reflect the product and/or system configurations at all times in the future.
HI-FOG
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1. Introduction
Factory Mutual Research Corporation has provided a fire test procedure for evaluating the performance of fine water
sprays against fires representative to light hazard occupancies like high-rise offices, hotels and residential applications. The procedure is almost identical to that of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) Res.A.800 (19) to the
relevant parts.
Four fire suppression tests in accordance with the FM procedures were conducted for three different HI-FOG Gasdriven Pump Unit (GPU) systems.
2. Test arrangement
The tests were carried out in the big test hall of the fire technology laboratory of VTT, the Technical Research Centre
of Finland. Two different test arrangements were constructed in the hall under a 10 m x 10 m adjustable ceiling. The
actual fire test procedure was the same for both scenarios.
The fire was first started with a standard igniter, then the fire was allowed to proceed freely till the first sprinkler was
automatically activated. From the first activation the test was continued for 10 min, after which any remaining fires
were manually extinguished, and the damages were evaluated. To pass the tests, certain test-specific damage and
temperature criteria apply. To further verify the suppression and control, test-specific target sprinklers are not allowed
to operate.
Large compartment
A schematic view of the large compartment arrangement with the simulated furniture in the corner is shown in Figure
1. The fuel package represents an ultrafast fire growth. A homogeneous square array of four sprinklers is to be fitted
in the compartment and, hence, the spacing between the sprinklers defines the compartment size. One test is to be
conducted in the compartment. For the three different HI-FOG sprinklers the compartment size was 64 m2, 49 m2 and
36 m2.
Open space
A schematic view of the open space arrangement with the four-sofa fuel package is shown in Figure 2. The test is
conducted three times at one ceiling height: with the ignition (i) under one sprinkler, (ii) between two sprinklers, and
(iii) between four sprinklers. The ceiling was set at 3 m or 5 m height depending on the system tested.
3. HI-FOG system
The three tested HI-FOG fire protection systems consisted essentially of up to four sprinklers of types 1B 1ME 6MF 10RA,
1B 1MC 6MC 10RA and 1B 1MB 6MB 100A and the Gas-driven Pump Unit (GPU). The sprinkler heads were equipped
with a 57 oC glass bulb. The sprinkler locations are shown in Figures 1 and 2. A typical pressure curve of the GPU
discharge is shown in Figure 3.
4. Results
All tests were passed: the fires were suppressed as required, i.e. both the temperatures and the damages were kept
below the acceptance criteria and no target sprinklers operated.
,
3,0/3
5/4,0
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Sprinkler
Target sprinkler
3 ...
4m
,
3,0/3
5/4,0
m
3,0/5,0 m
HI-FOG
Sprinkler
Pressure (bar)
Target sprinkler
Time (min)
NOTE: The tests described form the basis for the FM approval.
A complete description of the tests and their results are given in the
Test Report No. RTE10322/98, VTT Building Technology, August 1998 and
Test Report No. RTE11165/99, VTT Building Technology, October 1999
Marioff Corporation Oy, P.O. Box 86, Virnatie 3, FIN-01301 Vantaa, Finland,
tel +358 9 870 851, fax +358 9 8708 5399, e-mail info@marioff.fi, www.hi-fog.com