WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS

Transformer Protection [High velocity water spray

system]
 The protection to the transformer depends on the type,
size , location, cabling, cooling system, obstructions
like tap changers, cable boxes, projector characteristics
etc., . The ribbings, electrical clearance etc., are also
important areas to be considered before designing a
spray system. The important parameters for the design
of spray system are as below:
 Design density for protection 10.2 LPM/M2.
 Protection to the transformers shall be by using rings
of projectors around transformers every 3M of height
 Projectors shall be so placed in the piping that the
spray patterns should intersect on the surface of the
transformer and associated equipment.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
• Bottom of equipment shall be protected if they are
300mm above ground level.
• Detectors are required around the equipment for
actuating the deluge valve
• Projectors shall be located so as to between 500 to
800mm from the equipment
• Radiators, cooler banks, conservators shall be protected
by projectors
• The pressure within the network shall not be less than
3.5 bars anywhere and not more than 5 bars and velocity
in the feed pipes shall not exceed 10M/sec.
• If transformers are not separated by baffle walls as per
rules, water demand for all the transformers falling
within prescribed distance (according Kva rating) shall
be shall decide the pumping capacity and water
requirement.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
MEDIUM VELOCITY SPRAY SYSTEMS

General area protection

Density of water spray depends upon the
following factors :

· controlled burning of spilt liquid

· exposure protection of plant and its structure
· ceiling height of the risk
· area of the fire involved
· type of containers holding the liquid
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
The density of application is derivable from a
standard graph if the ceiling height of the area, flash
point of the liquid in use and the area of the shed are
known. As high as 20LPM/M2 density is often used
for protection in this application.
Selection/Installation of the sprayers and the
network are as per the guidelines below:

• there shall be one sprayer for every 9M 2 area of the

risk
• the distance between the adjoining sprayers shall
not exceed 3M anywhere
• the distance between sprayer and the boundary shall
not exceed 1.5M anywhere
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
• The discharge cone angles of the sprayers
depends on the ceiling height (normally between
75° to 120°)
• upper floors (perforated) and structural steelwork
(staggered on each side) for every 3M height can
be protected by sprayers at a density of
10.2LPM/M2
• Roof wetting is also required for every 9M2 area of
roof
• underside of the obstructions (if more than 1M
width), underside of the vessels (if more than
300mm above floor level), tops of the vessels (if
more than 5M below the roof sprayers),
pumps/valves/manifolds etc. shall be individually
protected at a density of 10.2LPM/M2
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Design hydraulics

• For the protection of large sheds, it is permissible to

divide the risks into zones of not less than 6M width
and all zones falling within 6M of any affected zone
shall discharge water spray simultaneously
• Each zone shall be so designed that pressure at
most unfavourable sprayer is not less than 1.4 bars
and that at most favourable sprayer is not more than
3.5 bars and under such conditions velocity at
distribution pipes shall be within 5M/sec.
• The aggregate pumping capacity shall be
determined by the largest demand arising out of
combination of deluge valves when zones
concerned operate simultaneously.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Protection of Horizontal storage vessels

Density of water application

· The complete exposed storage area of the

storage vessel shall be sprayed at a
density of 10.2 LPM/M2.
· It is also necessary to protect the
supporting legs of the vessels and the
product pipe within the bund at the same
density
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Selection /installation and sprayer network

· The protection network shall be in the form of horizontal

rows of sprayers connected by piping in rings. The
number of rows required is governed by the diameter of
the vessel from the sprayer application charts.
· The cone angles of the sprayers shall be normally
between 60° and 125°.
· The distance from the sprayers to the skin of the vessels
shall be 450, 550 or 650 mm.
· The spacing of the sprayers along the longitude depends
on the cone angle of sprayers as per the chart.
· All protuberances shall be protected by separate sprayers
having cone angle < 60°
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
· The dished ends of the vessels shall also be protected by
sprayers and the spacing depends upon the type of
dished ends.
· Two vertical feeders are required for feeding the horizontal
rings beyond a tank height of 10 M, one feeder will
suffice for tanks having a height of less than 10 M
Design hydraulics
· It shall be ensured that the running pressures from the
points of feed from the deluge valve into the bottom ring
is not more than 3.5 bars at most favourable sprayer and
not less than 1.4 bars at most unfavourable sprayer plus
static losses and an addition of 0.35 bars upto the most
unfavourable sprayers. The horizontal and vertical feed
pipes shall produce a velocity of not more than 10 M/sec.
· The water demand shall be for the largest vessel or group
of vessels installed within 15 M of each other.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Vertical storage vessel

Density of water application

· The complete exposed storage area of the

storage vessel shall be sprayed at a
density of 10.2 LPM/M2.
· It is also necessary to protect the product
pipe within the bund at the same density
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Selection /installation and sprayer
network
· The protection network shall be in the form
of horizontal rings at 3.5 M intervals and
vertical feeder mains for the rings
· The cone angles of the sprayers shall be
normally between 60° and 125°.
· The distance from the sprayers to the skin
of the vessels shall be 450, 550 or 650 mm.
· The spacing of the sprayers along the rings
shall not be more than 2.5 M when
measured along the tank
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
The conical/flat roof shall be protected by
sprayers with higher K factor to reduce
number of sprayers and hence the load on
the tank.
· All protuberances shall also be protected by separate
sprayers having cone angle < 60°
· The sprayers in successive rings shall be staggered
· The network piping shall consist of top rings and bottom
rings interconnected by vertical feed pipes at intervals not
exceeding 3.5 M
· For vessels longer than 10 M in length the network piping
shall be so arranged that there should be one feed from
the deluge valve into the lower ring for every 10 M.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
The sizing of piping of top and bottom rings as
well as vertical feed pipes shall be
determined by pre-calculated sizes shown in
the piping charts. Fully calculated pipe sizes
are also acceptable.

Design hydraulics :

· The network shall be so designed that

pressure at most unfavourable sprayer is not
less than 1.4 bars and that at most favourable
sprayer is not more than 3.5 bars and under
such conditions velocity in the feeder pipes
shall be within 5M/sec.
WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
· Vessels shall be located in individual dykes and
spaced 15M (or the diameter of the largest tank if
the same is more than 15 M) apart. In such cases,
the water requirement of the largest vessel shall
determine the pumping and storage
requirements. However, if a number of tanks are
located in a common dyke, the tanks located in a
common dyke which have the largest aggregate
shell surface area shall determine the pumping
and storage requirements. In case of tanks
located in separate dykes, but within a distance
of 15 M (or diameter of the larger tank is less than
15M) of each other, the shell surface area of all
such tanks shall determine the pumping and
storage requirements.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Spherical vessels
Density of water application

· The complete exposed storage area of

the storage vessel shall be sprayed at
a density of 10.2 LPM/M2.
· It is also necessary to protect the
product pipe within the bund at the
same density
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Selection /installation and sprayer
network
· The spacing of sprayers for various diameters of
the vessel for different cone angles of sprayers is
governed by charts and no sprayer shall be
farther than the distance selected from anyone of
the nearest 8 sprayers.
· The protection network shall be in the form of
horizontal and/or vertical rings and the number
of rings is governed by the spacing of the
sprayers.
· The cone angles of the sprayers shall be normally
between 60° and 125°.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
• The distance from the sprayers to the
skin of the vessels shall be 450, 550 or
650 mm.
• All protuberances shall also be
protected by separate sprayers having
cone angle < 60°
• The sprayers in successive rings shall
be staggered
• Solar cooling shall be provided
separately from the two or three rings
from the top at a density of at least
2LPM/M2.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Design hydraulics :
• The network shall be so designed
that pressure at most unfavourable
sprayer is not less than 1.4 bars and
that at most favourable sprayer is not
more than 3.5 bars and under such
conditions velocity in the feeder
pipes shall be within 10M/sec.
• The water demand shall be for the
largest vessel or group of vessels
installed within 15 M of each other.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Detection system

Detection is required only at three

locations as follows:
• A minimum of 3 under the lower pole
nearer to product piping;
• A ring of detectors at equator level
spaced at not more than 2.5M
• A minimum of 3 at the upper crown near
protuberances as far as possible.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Cable galleries
Density of application
Water shall be applied at a rate not less than
12.2LPM/M2 of the exposed area of cable racks.
Every three cable trays of same size shall be
reckoned as a single tray for density calculation.
Pressure requirement
In view of the deep penetration required for cable
fires, a minimum pressure required at a remotest
sprayer shall not be less than 2.8 bars.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Installation requirements
· Spacing of sprayers shall be normally
within 3 M and from the boundary the
sprayer shall not be located at more
than 1.5 M.
· If the height of the cable trays exceed
2.5M, sprayers shall be provided below
the at the lower level.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS

Design hydraulics
· It is permissible to divide the risk into several zones
each fed by separate deluge valve. At least 2 zones
shall simultaneously operate at any time.
· Each zone shall be hydraulically so designed so as to
produce a pressure of at least 2.8 bars at the remotest
sprayer.
· Aggregate pumping capacity shall be determined by
the largest demand arising out of combination of
deluge valves when zones concerned operate
together.
· Water demand shall be equivalent to 40 minutes run of
the installed pumping capacity.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS

Conveyor protection
Design density
10.2LPM/M2 of the exposed area of the
conveyor
Pressure requirement
Minimum of 1.4 bars at the
hydraulically unfavourable sprayer
and not more than 3.5 bars at
hydraulically favourable sprayer
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
Installation requirements
· The sprayers shall be installed in rows at the
ceiling level above the center of each
conveyor belt spaced at not more than 4M.
· From the boundary of the conveyor, sprayer
shall not be located at more than 2 M.
· Sprayers shall be provided for the protection
of bottomside of the conveyor belts.
Design hydraulics
· It is permissible to divide the risk into several
zones each fed by separate deluge valve. At
least 2 zones shall simultaneously operate at
any time.
· Each zone shall be hydraulically so designed
so as to produce a pressure of at least
minimum of 1.4 bars at the hydraulically
unfavourable sprayer and not more than 3.5
bars at hydraulically favourable sprayer
· Aggregate pumping capacity shall be
determined by the largest demand arising out
of combination of deluge valves when zones
concerned operate together.
· Water demand shall be equivalent to 60
minutes run of the installed pumping
capacity.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
DETECTION SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS [both High
velocity and Medium velocity water spray systems]
Requirements for the detection system cover only
for sprinklers. [Other types of detectors are also
acceptable]

 Sprinkler pipeline shall not be less than 25mm anywhere in the

system
 Detection pipeline volume shall not be less than 0.01M3.
 Pressure in detection piping shall not be less than 3.5 bars.
 Detection system shall trigger the deluge system within 20 seconds.
 Temperature rating of the detector shall be 30° more than the
ambient.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
 Detection piping shall be preferably independently
supported.
 Detection pipework shall not make a loop around the
transformers.
 Detectors shall also be in rings and except in case of
spherical vessels, the number of sprinklers shall be
equal to the number of sprayers.
 Detectors shall also be provided for the product
pipes for the outdoor tankage protection
 Detectors shall be installed so as to be within 300mm
of the tankage skin.
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
DELUGE VALVES
• Shall be located 6M away from the facility protected.
• Masonry enclosures shall be provided around the
deluge valves.
• The load on the deluge valves shall be within
following limits:

Valve size (in mm) LPM

150 13,500
100 5,000
80 1,150
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
WATER RESERVOIR
High velocity water spray system
The capacity of the reservoir shall be equivalent to 40
minutes run for the installed pumping capacity
[installed pumping capacity in M3/hr X 0.67]
Medium velocity water spray system
The capacity of the reservoir shall be equivalent to
90 minutes or 150 minutes run for the installed
pumping capacity depending upon the aggregate
hold up of flammable fluid/solvent in vessels/tanks at
one location respectively less or more than 200 Tons
at one location [one location means - all the storage
vessels situated within 50M of each other]. { installed
pumping capacity M3/hr X 1.5 or 2.5}
 WATER SPRAY SYSTEMS
FIRE PUMPS AND PRIME MOVERS (High velocity and Medium
velocity water spray systems)
• The pumping capacity i.e. the pressure and flow required to
supply the most favorable and unfavorable areas shall be
calculated and the pump characteristic shall be adequate
enough to meet the flow demand for the latter.
• Pumps with negative suction may be considered for High
velocity spray systems. Otherwise for water spray systems, the
pumps shall have flooded suction.
• The pump house and the electrical substation feeding the
pumps for the spray systems shall be located at least 30M
away from equipment/vessels handling and/or storing
flammable fluids/solvents and/or gases.
• Fuel requirements for the diesel prime movers of the pumps
shall be 1 hour for the high velocity systems and 3 hours for
medium velocity systems.
 Foam System

Foam is a blanking agent and the

principle of extinguishment is
oxygen exclusion by smothering,
coupled with the prevention of
hydrocarbon fuel vapors being
released and the cooling effects of
the water content.
 Foam System

Therefore it is mainly used for fighting fires on

flammable liquids. In modern foam systems,
concentrate is mixed with water, usually in the ratio from
1% to 6% and passed through an aerating device so
creating a foam which can have expansion ratios
varying from
7.5% to 20 Low expansion
20 to 250 Medium expansion
250 to 1000 High expansion
 Foam System
 The water pressure available on a hydrant ring main
being used for foam making shall be limited to within
8 to 10 bars due to the difficulty in handling the hose
lines at high pressures.
 Foam compound shall be chemically neutral (pH 6.5
to 7.5) . Several types of foams such as protein,
fluroprotein, alcohol resistant, film forming
fluroprotein, Aqueous film forming foams are
available for different types of application. Foam
system can be effectively used for both fixed and
floating roof type tanks.
 The density of application shall be 5 LPM/M2 of the
exposed surface area of the liquid. The number of
pourers, types of pourers and other design
parameters are detailed in NFPA specifications and
the design of the system shall comply with these
specifications.
 Foam System
• The quantity of foam required is different
for variety of risks and different types of
tanks. The application time is also
specified in NFPA.
• The stock of foam compound to be
maintained shall be equivalent to at least
two times the requirement of the tank
needing maximum quantity of foam.
 Water Mist System
Important tool in the fire brigade
personnel
Water in the form of fine spray is
recognized tool in Marine application for
decades.
Safety of life at Sea (SOLAS) uses this
technology for years.
This technology has suddenly assumed
prominence due to its recognition as
one of the Halon alternatives.
 Water Mist System
 Water Mist is three dimensional fighting
agent
 Mist removes heat from the fire source
and in this process it evaporates and
expands about 1600 times, leading to
reduction of oxygen at the source of
fire.
 NFPA and Australian standards
organisations have brought out detailed
specifications on design and installation.
Indian Standard is also ready for
publication
 Water Mist System
 Low Pressure system (12 bars and less)
 Intermediate pressure system (12 bars to 35
bars)
 High pressure system (In excess of 35 bars)
 Single fluid system (Utilizing a single piping
system to supply each nozzle)
 Twin Fluid system (Utilizing water and
atomizing media separately supplied to and
mixed at the nozzle)
 Water Mist System
• Quality of water
<25 microns –Deionised water
25 t0 100 microns – Filter and strainer at
each nozzle in addition to main
supply
101 to 8 mm -- do
• Health considerations