THERMAL SCIENCE
International Scientific Journal
Thermal Science - Online First
online first only
Discussion of thermal activation on heat collection plate of sprinkler heads
ABSTRACT
Heat collection plates (HCP) are installed above sprinkler heads in some tall halls in the Asia-Oceania region to give faster thermal actuation. In this study, experiments were thus conducted in a fire chamber to determine thermal activation times of sprinkler heads with and without HCP. Three HCPs with different diameters were selected and tested with pendent fast response liquid-in-bulb sprinkler heads. A total of 48 sprinklers heads were studied under different conditions of height and pool fire size. HCP was found to reduce sprinkler activation time in a fire chamber test by up to 61%. Thermal activation time of sprinkler heads was also investigated by the common plunge test in a wind tunnel. Results indicate that activation was delayed by 5%, 18% and 221% on average by the three HCPs. An HCP of pie plate shape with small diameter would alter the physical scenario of heating up the heat sensing element of sprinkler heads assumed in the plunge test. Therefore, the effect of HCP cannot be appropriately assessed in a wind tunnel.
KEYWORDS
PAPER SUBMITTED: 2023-04-02
PAPER REVISED: 2023-06-06
PAPER ACCEPTED: 2023-06-09
PUBLISHED ONLINE: 2023-09-02
- Ivanov, M.L., Chow, W.K., Fire Safety in Modern Indoor and Built Environment, Indoor Built Environ, 32 (2023) 1, pp. 3-8
- NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2019 edition. National Fire Protection Association, USA
- BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 Fixed Firefighting Systems - Automatic Sprinkler Systems - Design, Installation and Maintenance. British Standards Institution, UK, 2019
- Fire Services Department, Codes of Practice for Minimum Fire Service Installations and Equipment and Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Installations and Equipment. Hong Kong, 2022
- Chow, W.K., Performance of Sprinkler in Atria, J Fire Sci, 14 (1996) 6, pp. 466-488
- Yang, K.H., Yeh, T.C., Design Analysis and Experimental Investigation of the Smoke Management System Performances of an HSR Station, Int J Architectural Science, 6 (2005) 3, pp. 106-113
- Chow, W.K., et al., Numerical Studies on Atrium Smoke Movement and Control with Validation by Field Tests, Build Environ, 44 (2009) 6, pp. 1150-1155
- Chow, W.K., On the Evaporation of Sprinkler Water Spray, Fire Technol, 25 (1989), pp. 364-373
- Arnott, M., et al., Application of a Judgement Method to Regulatory Impact Assessments for Sprinkler Protection to English High-Rise Residential Buildings, Fire Mater 45 (2021) 6, pp. 811-822
- Lin, S.L., et al., Effect of Heat Collector Plate on Thermal Sensitivity of Sprinkler Heads in Large Terminal Halls, J Build Eng, 25 (2019) 100787
- NRC Information Notice 2002-24: Potential Problems with Heat Collectors on Fire Protection Sprinklers.
- Tsai KC, et al., Validating the Function of Absorber Plates for Auto-Sprinkler System Activation, Proceedings of 10th Asia-Oceania Symposium on Fire Science and Technology 2015, Springer Science+Business Media Singapore, 2017, pp. 851-857
- Chow, W.K., Cheng, A.C.K., Preliminary Studies on Thermal Sensitivity of Fusable Links with a Wind Tunnel, Int J Engineering Performance-Based Fire Codes, 9 (2007) 1), pp. 1-6
- The Standard for Installation of Fire Safety Equipments based on Use and Occupancy. Taiwanese Regulation, Taipei, Taiwan, 2011
- Heskestad, G., Smith, H.F., Plunge Test for Determination of Sprinkler Sensitivity. FMRC 3A1E2.RR, Factory Mutual Research Corporation, Norwood, MA, December 1980
- Theobald, C.R., Thermal Response of Sprinklers Part I. FRS Heated Wind Tunnel, Fire Saf J, 12 (1987) 1, pp. 51-63
- Melinek, S.J., Thermal Response of Sprinklers - A Theoretical Approach, Fire Saf J, 3 (1988) 2/3, pp. 169-180
- Chow, W.K., Ho, P.L., Thermal Response of Sprinkler Head. Build Serv Eng Res Technol, 11 (1990) 2, pp. 37-47
- US 5497834A. Sprinkler Head with Plate for Absorbing and Indicating Shocks Thereto. United States Patent Number 5497834, 12 March 1996
- Chow, W.K., Wu, H.H., Thermal Sensitivity of Fusible Links for Hotel Projects, J Applied Fire Science, 14 (2009-2010) 2, pp. 123-132
- Liu, J.S., et al., Analysis of the Effectiveness of Heat-Collection Plate, Procedia Eng, 135 (2016), pp. 160-169
- Liu, H., et al., Critical Assessment on Operating Water Droplet Sizes for Fire Sprinkler and Water Mist Systems, J Build Eng, 28 (2020) 100999
- National Fire Protection Association, NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2019 Edition, USA.
- British Standards Institution, BS EN 12845:2015+A1:2019 Fixed Firefighting Systems - Automatic Sprinkler Systems - Design, Installation and Maintenance, UK, 2019
- Novozhilov, V., Application of Heat-Balance Integral Method to Conjugate Thermal Explosion, Thermal Science, 13(2009), pp. 73-80
- Jia, Z.W., et al. Propagation Law of Flame in a Pipeline Produced in Gas Explosion Numerical Analysis and Experimental Verification, Therm Sci, 25 (2021), pp. 2199-2204
- Hung, H.Y., et al., Observation on a Fire Whirl in a Vertical Shaft Using High-Speed Camera and Associated Correlation Derived, Therm Sci, 25 (2021) 2, pp. 1001-1012
- Zatao-Samedi, O. et al., Effect of Ratio between Incoming Cool Air and Outgoing Hot Gases on Behaviour of Compartment Fire, Therm Sci 25 (2021) 1A, pp. 221-228
- Xi, Y.H., et al., Numerical Simulation on Temperature in Wood Crib Fires, Therm Sci, 25 (2021) 4A, pp. 2621-2636
- Ho, H-H., et al., Numerical Studies on an Accidental Flash Fire at a Water Fun Park by FLACS software, Therm Sci, 26 (2022) 2C, pp. 1721-1732
- Wang, Y., et al., Wind Action on Whirling Flame Characteristics, Therm Sci, Appeared online first, 10 September 2022
- ISO 6182-1:2021, Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler systems — Part 1: Requirements and test methods for sprinklers. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland
- ISO 6182-7:2020, Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler systems — Part 7: Requirements and test methods for early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland
- ISO 6182-10:2014, Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler systems — Part 10: Requirements and test methods for domestic sprinklers. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland
- ISO 6182-13:2017, Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler systems — Part 13: Requirements and test methods for extended-coverage sprinklers. International Organization for Standardization, Geneva, Switzerland
- Legislative Council Panel on Manpower Safety in the Use of Tower Cranes on Construction Sites, LC Paper No. CB(2)2480/07-08(01), Labour and Welfare Bureau, Labour Department, July 2008
- Hong Kong Housing Authority, Safety & Health Circular No. 10/2009 Alert on Safe Handling of Tower-Crane Lifting Operations, 9 July 2009
- The Standard, One Hospitalized as San Po Kong Fire Burns for More Than Four Hours, 28 January 2023 www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/199666/
- Chow, W.K., On the Fire Safety Requirements for Existing Old Buildings, Int J Engineering Performance-Based Fire Codes, 9 (2007) 1, pp. 31-37 www.academia.edu/79723821/
- Lo, C., et al., Collapsed Tower Crane that Killed 3 Workers in Hong Kong Suspected To Have Had ‘Obvious Faults' at its Base, South China Morning Post, 7 September 2022 www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/society/article/3191621/tower-crane-collapses-and-knocks-container-8-workers-hong
- Kong, H., Lo, C., Mirror Concert Accident: Fallen Screen at Hong Kong Show Weighed Twice Value Reported to Authorities, South China Morning Post, 25 August 2022 www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3190162/weight-screen-fell-mirror-concert-and-injured-two
- The Standard, Bosses Could Be Fined HK$10m, Jailed Two Years for Safety Breaches as Latest Bill Passes, 19 April 2023 www.thestandard.com.hk/breaking-news/section/4/202780/
- South China Morning Post, Beijing District Official Apologises After Hospital Fire Kills 29 People, Injures Dozens, 19 April 2023 www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3217559/death-toll-beijing-hospital-fire-rises-29-dozens-injured
- South China Morning Post, Safety Checks at Skyscraper After Hong Kong Firefighters Battle Blaze for 9 Hours in Major Shopping District Tsim Sha Tsui, 3 March 2023 www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-and-crime/article/3212152/two-taken-hospital-after-major-fire-hits-skyscraper-under-construction-hong-kongs-tsim-sha-tsui