Fast response sprinklers in patient room fires

The Center for Fire Research conducted a series of tests which examined the use of automatic sprinklers in patient room fires. The fullscale fire tests were conducted in a patient room, corridor, and lobby test arrangement. Center for Fire Research National Engineering Laboratory National Bureau of Standards Note: This paper is a contribution of the National Bureau of Standards and is not subject to copyright.     

Studies of the effects of particle size on the flow characteristics of dry chemicals

The author has studied the effects of particle size on the flow characteristics of several types of dry chemicals in hose lines and fixed pipe systems. The results have permitted him to draw certain conclusions regarding optimum sizes to maximize flow rates and minimize pressure losses. Note: This paper was presented on May 17, 1972 in Philadelphia, Pa. at the 76th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association.     

Ability of small-scale tests to predict full-scale smoke production

In testing the smoke production by interior finish materials, an attempt was made to correlate the results of a number of standard and nonstandard tests. Comparison of full-scale results and test results indicates that very limited correlation exists. Note: Dr. Christian’s current address is Underwriters’ Laboratories, Inc., Northbrook, Illinois.     

Studies of building fires with models

To study the behavior of materials in building fires, the authors suggest that a practical approach is one that combines model tests with full-scale tests to verify their findings. They discuss a program in which just such an approach was used. Note: This paper was presented at the 70th annual meeting of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers at Chicago, Ill., May 18, 1966 as part of a program arranged by the Chicago Chapter of the SFPE.     

Fighting fires in oil storage tanks using base injection of foam — part II

This paper compares the characteristics of protein and fluoroprotein foams for base injected application to fires in oil storage tanks. Part II discusses the fire tests and their results. Note: This paper was presented at the 81st Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Washington, DC on May 17, 1977.     

The use of AFFF in sprinkler systems

This paper reports the results of a series of fire tests to measure the effectiveness of a 1% aqueous film forming foam concentrate against flammable hydrocarbon fires when applied through conventional, automatic, wet-pipe sprinkler systems using closed sprinklers. Note: The author presented this paper at the NFPA annual meeting held in Chicago, Illinois in May 1975.     

Foam fire protection of liquid propellants

The search for a practical, effective extinguishing agent for fires involving water-soluble amines has resulted in the development of a new type of foam. The authors report on tests which confirm the effectiveness of the new extinguishant. Note: This paper was presented at the 70th annual meeting of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers at Chicago, Ill., May 20, 1966.     

Liquid nitrogen as a powerplant fire extinguishant

Though liquid nitrogen may be a somewhat less efficient fire extinguishant than certain other agents, its presence in quatities sufficient to inert aircraft fuel tanks may justify its use for protecting aircraft powerplants. The author reports the results of preliminary tests conducted by the FAA. National Aviation Facilities Experimental Center Federal Aviation Administration Department of Transportation Note: The author presented this paper at the 73rd Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in New York City on May 13, 1969.     

Research on friction reducing agents

Experiments with long chain, linear polymers have resulted in an additive that reduces friction losses in fire fighting handlines. Some of the work done suggests a potential application of such a product in automatic sprinkler systems. Note: An adaptation of a paper delivered by the author to the Society of Fire Protection Engineers’ Seminar No. 2 held in conjunction with the 76th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Philadelphia, May 18, 1972.     

Hydraulic studies of fire hose

Based on a series of experiments using fire hose and nozzles in stock at the Lawrence Radiation Laboratory, simple pressure loss versus flow equations have been developed. The pressure losses are found to be noticeably lower than those given in fire stream tables currently in use. Note: The work reported on in this paper was performed under the auspices of the U. S. Atomic Energy Commission.     

A novel fire test for pipe insulation

The author discusses the development of fire tests for pipe insulation that are intended to provide more realistic use conditions than traditional tests for the fire hazard of materials. Note: The author presented this paper at the 80th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association, held in Houston, Texas, May 1976.     

Building frames—Effect on fire resistance of floor and ceiling assemblies

In many cases, fire endurance tests of seemingly comparable floor and roof assemblies have yielded different results. The author reports on a current study which, thus far, has involved analyzing thermal moments developed in floor assemblies due to fire exposure, evaluating the distribution of thermal forces to the adjacent building frame, and deriving the resultant reaction of the structure. He discusses techniques for determining the onset of structural collapse mechanisms, using mathematical expressions for the change in modulus of elasticity and yield stress as a function of temperature. Note: This paper was presented by the author at a symposium on methods and application of testing building materials for fire resistance held at the Armstrong Cork Company's Technical Center, Lancaster, Pa., June 24 and 25, 1965.     

Halon 1301 — Minimum concentrations for extinguishing deep-seated fires

Existing standards are rather specific about the concentrations of gaseous extinguishing agents needed to extinguish Class B fires. Such is not the case with Class A fires. The author reports the results of tests to support his contention that extinguishment requirements for common solid materials can be determined. Note: Presented at the 76th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association, May 17, 1972, Philadelphia, Pa.     

Fire behavior of interior finish materials

The advent of a multitude of new materials, many of which may have applications in the building construction industry, has stimulated an examination of current fire codes and tests with an eye toward changing our approach to them. Note: This paper was presented at the 74th Annual Meeting of the National Fire Protection Association in Toronto, Canada, on May 20, 1970.     

The spread of fire in corridors

Full- and quarter-scale experimental fires in corridor-room assemblies, using various combinations of floor, wall, and ceiling lining materials, yielded some interesting results. Between the small-and large-scale tests, there were marked differences in the relative effects of floor coverings and ceiling linings. Note: This paper is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council of Canada and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division.     

Extinguishment of natural gas pressure fires

Several series of tests have been performed to compare the effectiveness of sodium bicarbonate-base and potassium bicarbonate-base dry chemicals in extinguishing natural gas fires. The author describes the methods used to analyze test data and recommends specific dry chemical application rates for extinguishing such fires. Note: Copies of the motion picture records of the tests may be borrowed from The Ansul Company and the Safety First Products Corporation.     

A portable IR system for observing fire thru smoke

A comparatively recent development in electronic technology holds promise for providing a practical means for locating and following the progress of forest fires. Early tests indicate that a prototype system has advantages and a sensitivity that surpass conventional television systems. Note: Mr. Maxwell is stationed at Riverside, California.     

Zum Einfluss bohrlochinterner hydraulischer Verluste auf Wasserstandsreaktionen Packer-induzierter Auffülltests

Packers, which are frequently used to initiate well response tests, often imply significant non-linearities due to hydraulic head losses developing across this measurement equipment. These non-linear head losses are usually neglected in an analysis of such tests. The present work investigates the impact of a packer on well response tests based on a set of specifically designed overdamped slug tests. For the analysis of this set of slug tests, a generalised non-linear Hvorslev-style model is employed. We comment upon how wellbore-internal non-linear hydraulic head losses can experimentally be identified and subsequently be modeled. The presented example shows that the occurrence of significant packer-induced non-linear head losses must not be neglected in subsequent data analysis in order to arrive at meaningful aquifer parameters. Finally, design criteria are outlined that a packer test design has to comply with in order to minimize hydraulic head losses related to the measurement equipment.     

Experimental study on moisture and fire endurance

The author describes the test procedure for, and the results of, many small-scale fire tests conducted during a recently reported study that was made to provide information for numerically evaluating the effect of moisture on fire endurance. He concludes with an equation for calculating the fire endurance of a building element at a given moisture content when its fire endurance at some other moisture content is known. Note: This paper is a contribution from the Division of Building Research, National Research Council, Canada, and is published with the approval of the Director of the Division. The author wishes to thank E. O. Porteous for his assistance in conducting the experimental work.     

Flammability tests for cellular plastics—Part II

In our last issue, the author examined the requirements of various tests employed to determine the flammability of cellular plastics. Here, he discusses a system of four tests used by Union Carbide, and the thinking behind its application for product evaluation and as research and development tool. Union Carbide Corporation Note: Based on a paper titled “The Flammability Characteristics of Cellular Plastics” delivered by the author at the May 1967 Polymer Conference at Wayne State University and subsequently published in the September 1967 issue ofIndustrial & Engineering Chemistry, Product Research and Development.