1. rechter Randright marginmarge droitemargine destraHigh challenge warehouse case study – SummaryFebruary 19, 2010Richard GallagherMichael GollnerZurich Services Corporation 2. ObjectivesReview the results of the high challenge warehouse workshopRecognize participantsExplain the project backgroundReview case Given informationQuestionSummarize the eight presentationsRecap the overall findings 3. Case study participantsSchirmer Engineering Dan O’Connor, Garner PalenskeRolf Jensen and Associates Richard Bukowski FPI Consortium Warde Comeaux Telgian Tracy BellamySummit Fire Protection Sean Merkel, Ryan Bierwerth Hughes Associates Jerry Back, Joe Scheffey, Dan GottukUCSD Michael Gollner WPI Ali Rangawala Creative FPE Solutions Jonathan PerriconeXL GAPS John Frank 4. BackgroundNFPA 13 basis: Automatic sprinklers control or suppression a fireFinal fire extinguishment by the fire serviceToday’s warehousesHigh challenges to both sprinklers and fire serviceRecent fire experienceNot always reasonable to expect manual interventionFoundationAddressing research to support potential changes to NFPA standards. 5. Workshop approachBasis for workshopTheoretical Case StudyPresentationsSix leading FPE companies share innovative design conceptsOne presentation on novel approach to manual fire suppressionOne presentation addressing need to step back further and understand commodities and storageFormat20 minute presentationsPanel Q&A 6. Case Study Warehouse62/4/2010High Challenge Warehouse Case Study 7. 2/4/20107High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyGeneral conditionsWho - XYZ CompanyWhat - New warehouseWhere - Rural region of US 8. 2/4/20108High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyFacility parametersTwo attached buildingsLow Bay100’ x 150’ x 35’ tallHigh Bay55’ x 150’ x 65’ tall 9. 2/4/20109High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyFacility constructionRoof –Noncombustible steel deck on steel bar joistHigh bay rack supported roofExterior walls – Insulated metal panelInterior wallsBetween Low Bay and High Bay150’ longReinforced concrete blockUp to Low Bay roofFloors – Reinforced concrete 10. 2/4/201010High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyPublic protectionPublic fire serviceVolunteer departmentXYZ Company is first storage facility in districtPublic waterExtending main 3 miles to siteLimited flow60 psi static / 20 psi residual / 800 gpm flowing 11. 2/4/201011High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyPrivate protectionWater supplyTwo fire pumps – one electric, one dieselGround water suction tankDetached fire pump house 300 feet from building 12. 2/4/201012High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyStorage commodityGroup A plasticsUnexpandedIn cartonsNonencapsulatedConventional wood palletsPallet loads 4’ x 4’ x 4’ 13. 2/4/201013High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyStorage configurationWorkshop focusThe High Bay warehouseHigh bayMultiple row rack (4 pallets deep) flanked by double row racksRacks are separated aisles5 ft wideArray 23 pallets long & 13 pallets highNominal 6” flues around each pallet loadTiers 5’ tallElevation View 14. 2/4/201014High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyStock handlingLow BayIndustrial trucksHigh BayAutomatic storage and retrieval system (ASRS)Two ASRS systemsOperate in 5 ft wide aislesPhoto source: FEMA 15. 2/4/201015High Challenge Warehouse Case StudyThe challengeLocal fire chief has made it clear that in the event of a fire -Will enter building to save peopleWill not enter building to save propertyQuestion: As the fire protection engineer of record, what fire protection design will be proposed to achieve final fire extinguishment without fire service intervention?Photo source: FEMA 16. Summary of case study presentations 17. Summary formatIgnition - Sources of ignitionAgent - Extinguishing mediaDetection/ Release - Method of detection and releaseASRS - Uses for ASRSFailure - Noted failure concerns for methodComments - Additional commentsWhere no data provided – marked “NA” and grayed-out 18. Schirmer EngineeringIgnition - Arson, electrical, etc.Agent - Water - ESFR high zone at intersection of flues & over aisles ESFR low zone at intersection of flues One level in-racks in each zone 1600 gpm either zone Horizontal barrier between high and low zones CO2 - Low zone for redundancy (higher exposure area) Local application, can pipe long distances, can handle flammable liquids and electrical fires, no pumps, Use a 30-60 second discharge Divide low zone into sections (CO2 volume calculations)Detection/ Release - Sprinkler fusible element, In-rack linear/spot heat detectionASRS - NAFailure - NAComments - Test ESFR configuration, locate in flues, avoid water ricochet Test low zone detection concept Develop CO2 nozzle Technology proven and can implement today 19. Rolf Jensen and AssociatesIgnition - NAAgent - Water mist Zoned vertically (vertical risers) Spray either side of pallet and one side of adjacent pallet High velocity exhaust fans on outside walls - Produce airflow perpendicular to aisles to distribute water mist - Maintain visibilityDetection/ Release - In-rack linear heat detection to locate fire ASRS - Use self-contained foam skid IR camera guided nozzle Not for primary suppression due to response time Failure - NAComments - Low bay is typical for ESFR Critical to maintain longitudinal and transverse flues High bay ceiling sprinklers to protect building 20. FPI ConsortiumIgnition - ASRS (lights not usually in use) electrical rails top and bottom, fires involve ASRS unit and spreads to storageAgent - High expansion foam – submerge in 4 min 13 foam generators 30 minute duration 100,000 gallons water for 30 minutesDetection/ - Heat detection -ceiling & in-rack spot heat detection Release Ceiling 15’ x 15’, in-rack 10’ vertical & 8’ horizontalASRS - Not used, returned to home base and shutdownFailure - Doors and openings must close False release of foam (cross-zone possible)Comments - Sprinklers not considered due to environment impact 21. TelgianIgnition - ASRS or lighting at elevated locationAgent - Water Design an in-rack sprinklers, quick response Need horizontal barriers above in-racks, perhaps each tier Use waterflow to locate fire verticallyDetection/ Release - Fusible sprinkler elementsASRS - Locate fire using thermal imaging Relocate stock to safe area Handle wet and damaged loads (enclosed unit)Failure - NAComments - Need in-rack sprinkler design guidance - In-rack response time - In-rack water distribution 22. Summit Fire ProtectionIgnition - NAAgent - Water Develop suppression mode in-racks Increased clearance for larger orifice in-rack sprinklers Fire barriers to provide fire confinement 300,000 gallons – 2 hour durationDetection/ Release - Fusible sprinklers elementsASRS - Under fire conditions, ASRS not availableFailure - NAComments - Introduce ESRF into racks Evaluate all changes over time (personnel turnover, commodities, maintenance, etc. 23. Hughes AssociatesIgnition - NAAgent - High expansion foam Zoned system, 4 quadrants, barriers wire mesh/noncombustible fabric Curtains strips to allow ASRS passage Safety factors of 2+ compared to NFPA requirements 20,000 gallons water – 30 minute durationDetection/ - In-rack linear heat detection Release Flame detection for open spacesASRS - Apply skid mounted fire suppression system Remove pallets of stock around fire Evaluate extinguishment – video monitoring Remove pallets of damaged stockFailure - Fire at zone interface, Openings between zones, Collateral damage to stock remote from fireComments - Goals include low complexity, reasonable cost, rapid control, extinguishment, minimum fire damage, and minimum collateral damage 24. WPI, UCSD, Creative FPE SolutionsIgnition - NAAgent - NADetection Release - NAASRS - NAFailure - NAComments - Must start at a more fundamental level Develop method to quantify warehouse fire control, suppression, or extinguishment Limits to “modeling” and “small scale testing” Need new intermediate-scale test - Determine water application rate for suppression - Will discuss further in a few slides 25. XL GAPSIgnition - NAAgent - Water Mobilize remote special fire fighting team Need 12 hours (remote response, size-up, extinguish, overhaul) Sprinklers controlling fire during this time Need 900,000 gallons waterDetection/ Release - Fusible sprinkler elementsASRS - Fire fighter access to upper tiersFailure - NAComments - Interim solution until an engineered solution available Specialized fire team responding from central location Similar to private emergency services such as urban search and rescue, oil wells, oil tanks Skills to verify building stability, locate fire, work vertically, apply agent 26. Summary of work Ignition scenarios Proposed solutions Design challenges Gaps Manual intervention 27. Identified ignition scenariosASRS equipmentPower rails top and bottomPower on stacker craneCan introduce ignition source at any levelLightingIgnition exposure at roofArsonAnticipate low level exposure2/4/201027High Challenge Warehouse Case Study 28. SolutionsManual fire suppression – an immediate solutionXL Gaps Test & validate current sprinkler suppression practicesWPI, UCSD, Edinburgh, and Creative FPE Solutions.Sprinklers – modify current designs – ESFR inracksSummit Fire ProtectionTelgianSprinklers (2 levels ESFR) & CO2SchirmerHigh expansion foamFPI ConsortiumHughes AssociatesWater mistRJA2/4/201028High Challenge Warehouse Case Study 29. Design challenges Water sourcesReliability / redundancyVolume / durationCost of system due to rural locationEnvironmental concernsRelease of contaminated waterRecycling of used waterHazard of commodityDefining the hazard of a commodityCommodities changing or introducing unknown commoditiesIn-rack sprinkler placement and type (ESFR) highly specific to fuel type, configurationAvoiding complex designs Can collateral damage be limited to limit business impact2/4/201029High Challenge Warehouse Case Study 30. GapsTest methodologiesThere are no methods, currently, to quantify warehouse fire control, suppression or extinguishment.A test methodology is needed to ensure adequacy of current and new design conceptsHow much suppressant?Length of discharge?Limitations in full scale, small scale testing and modeling demand a new approach – small scale commodity classification verified by intermediate scale testing and large scale modeling/testing for validation 31. GapsDesign approach – WPI et al2/4/201031High Challenge Warehouse Case Study2. SprinklerFlow CharacterizationDetermine limits of current sprinkler protection systemsAnalyze the warehouse fire problem in pieces1. Characterize sprinkler spray2. Droplet losses from geometry, plume, radiation, etc.3. Suppression/Extinction interaction between film/drops and fireBenefits:Design fixed system to provide suppression or extinction for any tested materialsUtilize current sprinkler infrastructure and modify deficient systems if necessarySprinkler SprayPLUME1. Classification of CommodityFIRE 32. GapsDesign approach – WPI et alEngineering Approach to Warehouse Fire Protection Design32 33. GapsTechnologyIn-rack sprinkler designNo sprinkler designed to respond quickly in a rackNo sprinkler designed to distribute water in a rackNo suppression mode in-rack sprinklerHardening of ASRS for use during fire eventCarry self-contained extinguishing system skidIdentify fire location within arrayVerify fire control/suppression progressRemove adjacent stock to isolate fireRemove wet or damaged stock 34. GapsManual intervention - the immediate solutionWater suppliesAre durations sufficient (2 hours vs. 12 hours)Thorough pre-emergency planningSafe work plan 35. Questions or comments?2/4/201035High Challenge Warehouse Case Study