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In-Rack Sprinkler Systems for Warehouses

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This document discusses warehouse fires and pre-fire planning. It begins by providing background on FM Global, a mutual property insurance company founded in 1835. It then discusses the evol…

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  • Introduction to Warehouse Fire Safety
  • About FM Global
  • Warehouse Fire Scenario
  • Challenges in Fire Protection
  • Importance of Pre-Fire Planning
  • Controlled Fire Management
  • Sprinkler Protection Overview
  • Evolution of Sprinklers (IRAS)
  • Current Guidance on Fire Safety
  • Recent IRAS Testing
  • Future Directions in Fire Safety
  • Summary and Next Steps
  • FM Global Logo and Sign-off

FM Global

Warehouse Fires &


Pre-Fire Planning
Gary Keith
Vice President
Engineering Standards Manager
FM Global

FM Global
 Mutual Property Insurance Company – 1835
 250 Standards
 Technically-Based:
– Research
– Engineering Standards
– FM Approvals
FM Global

What Would You Expect?


 Building: circa 1960; ~ 750,000 sq. ft.
 Original occupancy: machine shop
 Current occupancy: 20 ft. rack storage-plastic parts
 Sprinklers: original ceiling-only system
 Water supply: manual-start pumps

Fire starts at approximately 0700 hours…


FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


“As warehouse configurations increase in height,
include more complex rack storage configurations
and continue to expand the volume of plastic
packaging and commodities, the challenge to provide
adequate fire protection is one that must always
evolve.”
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning

“Hey, it’s only property –


that’s what insurance is for!”
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 Occupant Life Safety
 Firefighter Safety
 Loss to Property Tax Base
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning

“What could be the most


challenging warehouse fire?”
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 “The Controlled Fire”
 Sprinklers working effectively
 Reduced visibility
 Difficult to ventilate
 Warehouse layout & difficult interior operations
 Exact location of the seat of the fire
 Coordinating sprinkler operation with manual
suppression
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 Agenda
 Warehouse Fire Protection
 New In-Rack Sprinkler Protection Option
 NFPA 1620 and FM Global Data Sheet 10-1
FM Global

Outline
 Evolution of in-rack sprinklers (IRAS)
 Current guidance for IRAS
 FM Global’s Recent IRAS Testing
 New guidance for IRAS
FM Global

Evolution:
In-Rack Automatic Sprinklers
(IRAS)
FM Global Background
Fire Protection Consortium for NFPA 231C

Testing with in-rack sprinklers started


on October 1, 1969 and ran through
January 13, 1976.
Over that time a total of 49 tests with
in-rack sprinklers were conducted
FM Global Background
Since 1968, close to 60 different projects involving
roughly 160 full-scale fire tests have been conducted
at FM Global involving in-rack sprinkler protection
Projects have included testing of:
 Aerosols  Nonwovens
 Carpet  Tires
 Distilled Spirits  Class 2, 3 and 4
 Flammable Liquids  Cartoned Plastics
 Hanging Garments  Uncartoned Plastics
 Lithium Batteries
FM Global

Today’s Guidance
FM Global Current Guidance
Ceiling-only protection is
available up to:

45 ft. ceilings
 Class 1-3
 Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics

40 ft. ceilings
 Cartoned Expanded Plastics
 Uncartoned Plastics
Trend towards higher
storage heights
FM Global Current Guidance
Maximum vertical increments for IRAS
 25 ft.  Class 3
 20 ft.  Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
 15 ft.  Cartoned Expanded Plastics
 10 ft.  Uncartoned Plastics

Maximum storage above IRAS


 Maximum 10 ft. above top level IRAS
FM Global Current Guidance
Hypothetical Warehouse
 Storage Height: 75 ft.
 Ceiling Height: 80 ft.
 Open-frame Double Row Rack
 Commodity: Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
FM Global Current Guidance
Hypothetical Warehouse X
X

X X
Option 1 IRAS Design: X

X X

 Longitudinal only X

X X
 K5.6, 165°F, QR X

 30 gpm X X

 7 levels of IRAS every 10 ft. X

X X
4ft. X
X X

10ft.
FM Global Current Guidance
Hypothetical Warehouse X
X

X X
Option 2 IRAS Design: X

 Longitudinal and face X

X X
 K5.6, 165°F, QR X

 30 gpm X

 4 levels of IRAS X

X X
4ft. X
X 20ft.
FM Global

Why is there resistance to install IRAS?


FM Global Why Resistance?

Vulnerable to Impact
FM Global Why Resistance?

High Cost of In-Rack Sprinklers


FM Global

FM Global’s Recent IRAS Testing


FM Global Research and Testing

Goal of the new IRAS test program:


 Maximize vertical increments
 Increase storage height above in-racks
 Independent ceiling and in-rack sprinkler designs
 Modular design

Which will result in:


 Less IRAS needed
 Reduce likelihood of in-rack sprinkler damage
 Reduce cost of in-rack sprinkler installations
FM Global

New protection guidance for IRAS


FM Global New Options

Maximum Minimum
Vertical Flow
Commodity # of Sprinklers K Factor
Spacing GPM
ft (m) (L/min)

CUP and Less 65 (250) 6 > K14 (200)

30 (9) CEP 100 (380) 6 > K14 (200)

UUP/UEP 120 (455) 10 (5 + 5) > K22 (320)

40 (12) CUP and less 120 (455) 6 > K22 (320)


FM Global Current Guidance
Hypothetical Warehouse X
X
New IRAS Design: X

 Longitudinal and face X

X

X
K25.2,165°F, QR X

 120 gpm X

 1 level of IRAS X
40ft.
X
4ft. X
X
FM Global New Options
Key Benefits
 Cost
− 25-40% savings

 Performance
− Fire suppression
− Taller higher hazard storage
− Reduced water demand

 Fewer Sprinklers in the Rack


FM Global Summary

 Unlimited Storage Height


 Virtual Floor Concept
 Independence of In-Rack
and Ceiling
Virtual Floor
 Maximized Storage Above
Topmost In-Racks
 Unlimited storage heights
 Water flow < ceiling
FM Global

What’s Next?
 Data Sheet 8-9 Storage Protection
− Released in July 2015

 NFPA 13
− Plan to submit Public Input next cycle
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 Agenda
 Warehouse Fire Protection
 New In-Rack Sprinkler Protection Option
 NFPA 1620 and FM Global Data Sheet 10-1
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 NFPA 1620
– Standard for Pre-Incident Planning
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning

 FM Global Data Sheet 10-1


– Pre-Incident Planning with
the Public Fire Service
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning

 Fighting Fire in Sprinklered Buildings


– Original: early 1990s
– State Fire Academies
– Two Revisions
FM Global

Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning


 Our “Recommendation”
 Identify Target Warehouse Locations
 Adopt NFPA 1620: Department Policy or Local
Regulation (be familiar with FM Global Data Sheet 10-1)
 Develop Co-operative Partnership:
 Warehouse Owner/Operators
 Property Insurance Carriers/Risk Consultants
FM Global

FM Global Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning Gary Keith Vice President Engineering Standards Manager
FM Global FM Global Mutual Property Insurance Company – 1835 250 Standards Technically-Based: – Research – Engineering Sta
FM Global What Would You Expect? Building: circa 1960; ~ 750,000 sq. ft. Original occupancy: machine shop Current occupan
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global
FM Global “As warehouse configurations increase in height, include more complex rack storage configurations and continue to
FM Global Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning “Hey, it’s only property – that’s what insurance is for!”
FM Global Warehouse Fires & Pre-Fire Planning Occupant Life Safety Firefighter Safety Loss to Property Tax Base

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