New Sprinkler Protection

Technologies for High Bay Storage -

The Next Generation of In-Rack Sprinklers
Sultan M. Javeri
European Regional Director NFPA

LOGO

1
30 years ago, we started trying to
eliminate in-rack sprinklers
1975 2000 2025
are they
coming back?

LOGO ORADOR 2
 Ceiling-Only Protection Schemes

The pursuit of increasing building heights

with ceiling-only protection schemes has
resulted in the following:
Creation of larger K-Factor storage
sprinklers
Increased hydraulic sprinkler system
demand
Minimum Water Demand of Ceiling-Only NFPA 13
Criteria for Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Today, construction of higher storage occupancy
buildings are possible using technologies like
Automated Storage and Retrieval Systems (ASRS)
 Automated Storage Retrieval
System

High bay warehouses are rack

supported structures
Utilize Automated Storage
Retrieval System (ASRS) for
commodity handling
Heights can be in excess of 40m
Ceiling only sprinkler protection is
not an option
Precision of ASRS allows for use of
in-rack sprinklers without fear of
inadvertent activation
 Ceiling-Only Protection Limitations

Ceiling-only sprinkler protection up

to 14.65m Carton Unexpanded
Group A plastics
Specific Application UL Listing
More hazardous commodities
present an increased challenge to a
sprinkler system
Tires
Exposed Group A plastics
Aerosols
Combustible Liquids
Flammable Liquids
Typically require in-rack sprinklers
to be provided at lower storage
heights
 NFPA 13 (2016) Exposed Expanded Group A
Plastics

ESFR protection for Exposed

Expanded Group A Plastics with
vertical barriers spaced at 5m and
2.4m minimum aisle width
Rack storage of Exposed Expanded Group A
Plastics
ESFR Protection
MAX. Building Height 12.2m
Storage Height 10.6m
Sprinkler Type K360 ESFR
No. of Heads 12
Pressure 4.1 bar
Sprinkler Demand 8,869 lpm
Hose Demand 946 lpm
Total Demand 9815 lpm
 NFPA 13 (2016) Exposed Expanded Group A
Plastics

Residual damage with protection system going into NFPA 13 edition

2016
 NFPA 13 (2016) Rubber Tire Storage

NFPA 13 allows ceiling-only

protection up to 30 for
rubber tyre storage on racks

Rack storage of Rubber Tyres on Portable

Racks
ESFR Protection
MAX. Building Height 12.2m
Storage Height 9.1m
Sprinkler Type K360 ESFR
No. of Heads 12
Pressure 5.2 bar
Sprinkler Demand 9,910 lpm
Hose Demand 946 lpm
Total Demand 10,856 lpm
 NFPA 30 (2015) Combustible Liquids

NFPA 30 has no criteria for

ceiling only protection of
Class II Combustible Liquids
in 200 litres metal drums
stored in racks
Rack Storage of Class II Combustible
Liquids in 55 Gallon Metal Drumns
ESFR Protection Design Criterion
Max. Building Height ???
Storage Height ???
Sprinkler Type ???
No. of Heads ???
Pressure ???
Sprinkler Demand ???
Hose Demand ???
Total Demand ???
 Why are in-rack sprinklers a better
option?

Sprinklers located closer to a rack

storage fire is an advantage
Sprinklers have the potential to
activate when a fire is smaller and
requires less water to control
Building geometry does not affect
sprinkler protection in two key areas:
Building height
Roof slopes greater than 2 in 12
Obstruction rules for ceiling sprinklers
do not apply to in-rack sprinklers
In-rack sprinklers are intended
specifically for areas that have
obstructions
 New In-Rack Protection Option in NFPA 13
2016 ed.

Design criteria for in-rack sprinklers

minimum K-115 quick-response
Horizontal barriers installed at a maximum
vertical interval of 3.6m and are
constructed from:
12mm plywood
22 gauge metal
Protection for these hazards:
Group A Plastics
Expanded
Unexpanded
Cartoned
Exposed
Class I through IV Commodity
Similar to Scheme 8-9A from FM Global
Data Sheet 8-9
 New In-Rack Protection Option in NFPA 13
2016 ed.

= Horizontal Barrier
` = Longitudinal Flue Space Sprinklers
= Face Sprinklers

Plan View

26 In-Rack Sprinklers!
Elevation View
 New In-Rack Protection Option in NFPA 13
2016 ed.

The new in-rack design criterion has two significant drawbacks:

The installation can be costly due to the number of in-rack sprinklers and the
amount of piping required
For double and multiple-row racks, in-rack sprinklers are located between each
pallet load at the face of the aisle where they can be vulnerable to damage
These two concerns are common with conventional in-rack sprinkler technology, as
well as new NFPA 13 2016 Edition

The next generation of in-rack sprinklers offers

substantial improvement in both areas
 Introducing N-Rack-EC

Performance based in-rack sprinkler

design criteria
Design criteria validated through a
series of large scale fire tests
Extended coverage, both horizontally
and vertically
Featuring Reliable N252 EC
(SIN RA0842) Pendent Extended
Coverage Storage Sprinkler
Flat spray pattern
25.2 K-factor provides high flow rate
at low pressure
Patent Pending
 N-Rack-EC Spray Pattern Using Reliable
N252 EC

522 lpm per flowing N-Rack-EC sprinkler!

 Large Scale Test Series
Summary

Test 1 Test 2 Test 4 Test 5 Test 6 Test 7 Test 8

Double Row Double Row Double Row Double Row Double Row Multi Row Double Row
Rack Rack Rack Rack Rack Rack Rack
Exposed Cartoned Cartoned Cartoned Class II Exposed Cartoned
Expanded Unexpanded Unexpanded Unexpanded Combustible Expanded Unexpanded
Plastic Plastic Plastic Plastic Liquid Plastic Plastic
8 Aisle 8 Aisle 4 Aisle 4 Aisle 6 Aisle 4 Aisle 4 Aisle
Horizontal Horizontal Continuous Continuous Continuous Continuous Continuous
Barriers at 20 Barriers at 30 Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal Horizontal
ft. Elev. ft. Elev. Barriers at 20 Barriers at 30 Barriers at 15 Barriers at 20 Barriers at 30
ft. Elev. & 40 ft. Elev. ft. Elev. & 30 ft. Elev. ft. Elev.
ft. Elev. ft. Elev.

17. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

Test Parameters
Storage Type Double Row Rack
Commodity Type Exposed Expanded Group A
Plastic
Pallet Type 2 Way Entry, Stringer,
Hardwood
Horizontal Barrier 3/8 inch Plywood at 20 ft.
Within Rack Elevation
Storage Height 35 ft.
Ceiling Height 40 ft.
Clearance 5 ft.
Aisle Width 8 ft.
Ignition Location Between 2 Ceiling and In Rack
Sprinklers (Face of Commodity
in Aisle Space)

18. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

Ceiling Sprinkler System

Sprinkler Type K=16.8 ESFR Pendent
Deflector to Ceiling 14 in.
Ceiling Sprinkler 10 ft. x 10 ft.
Spacing
Temperature Rating 212F
Sprinkler Response QR (Link)
Sprinkler K-Factor 16.8
Discharge Density 1.19 gpm/ft2
Discharge Pressure 50 psi

19. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

In-Rack Sprinkler System

Sprinkler Type K=25.2 Extended Coverage
Pendent
Deflector to Bottom 7.5 in.
of Horizontal Barrier
Sprinkler Spacing 8 ft. 3 in.
(Centered on the rack bays)
Temperature Rating 212F
Sprinkler Response QR (Link)
Sprinkler K-Factor 16.8
Discharge Flowrate 138 gpm per sprinkler
Discharge Pressure 30 psi

20. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

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 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012
Plan
View
8 aisle 8 aisle

8-3 On
Center
(Typical)

Ignition
4-3 to edge of upright Location

22. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012
Elevation
View

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 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

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 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

Sprinkler
Operation
Sequence

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 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

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 N-Rack-EC Test #1 August 8,
2012

27. 5-Nov-16
 Comparison

NFPA 13 2016 Edition

In-Rack Sprinkler
Protection Option
With Horizontal Barriers
Vs.
Reliable N-Rack-EC
Performance Based
Design Criteria
28. 5-Nov-16
 New In-Rack Protection
Option in NFPA 13 2016 ed.
= Horizontal Barrier
` = Longitudinal Flue Space Sprinklers
= Face Sprinklers

Plan View

26 In-Rack Sprinklers!

Elevation View
29. 5-Nov-16
 N-Rack-EC Typical Layout

= Horizontal Barrier
` = Longitudinal Flue Space Sprinklers
= Face Sprinklers

Plan View

2 In-Rack Sprinklers!
Elevation View

30. 5-Nov-16
 Comparison

NFPA 13 2016 Edition

Ceiling only protection for
EEP
Vs.
Reliable N-Rack-EC
Performance Based
Design Criteria

31. 5-Nov-16
 Comparison

NFPA 13 ceiling only protection requires

9,815 LPM water demand
N252 EC in-rack system requires 6300 LPM for
the ceiling and hose protection.
The in-rack demand is 1527 LPM not required to
be added to the ceiling demand
 Comparison

With new technology In-Racks Ceiling only protection

 N-Rack-EC Spray Pattern Using Reliable
N252 EC

522 lpm per flowing N-Rack-EC sprinkler!

N-Rack-EC Spray Pattern Using Reliable
N252 EC
 Questions

36. 5-Nov-16