The principal requirements in this circular have the status
Policy Rule. The test methods in the appendix are Mandatory.
1 SCOPE
This test method is
for evaluating the effectiveness of fixed water-based local application fire-fighting
systems. The test method verifies the design criteria for vertical and horizontal grids of
nozzles. The test method is intended to evaluate maximum nozzle spacing, minimum and
maximum distance from the nozzle to the hazard, minimum nozzle flow rate in addition to
minimum and maximum operating pressure.
2 SAMPLING
2.1 The nozzles and other system components should be supplied by the manufacturer
with design and installation criteria, operating instructions, drawings, and technical
data sufficient for the identification of the components.
2.2 The flow rate for each type and size of nozzle should be determined at the
minimum and maximum nozzle operating pressure.
3 FIRE TESTS
3.1 Test principles
3.1.1 These tests are intended to evaluate the fire-extinguishing capabilities of
individual nozzles and grids of nozzles used as local application fire-fighting systems on
light diesel oil fuel spray fires.
3.1.2 The tests also define the following design and installation criteria:
.1 maximum spacing between nozzles;
.2 minimum and maximum distance between the nozzles and the protected hazard,
.3 the need for nozzles to be positioned outside of the protected hazard; and
.4 minimum and maximum operating pressure.
3.2 Test description
3.2.1 Test enclosure
3.2.1.1 The test enclosure, if any, should be sufficiently large and provided with
adequate natural or forced ventilation during the fire test to ensure that the oxygen
concentration at the fire location during the fire test remains above 20% (by vol) without
activation of the local application fire-fighting system.
3.2.1.2 The test enclosure, if any, should be at least 100 ‡uin area. The height of
the test enclosure should be at least 5 m.
3.2.2 Fire scenarios
3.2.2.1 The fire scenarios should consist of nominal 1 and 6 MW spray fires. These
fires should be produced using light diesel oil as the fuel as described in Table
3.2.2.1.
3.2.2.2 The fuel spray nozzles should be installed horizontally and directed toward
the centre of the nozzle grid.
3.2.2.3 The fuel spray nozzle should be located 1 m above the floor and at least 4
m away from the walls of the enclosure, if any.
3.2.3 Installation requirements for tests
3.2.3.1 The local application system should consist of uniformly spaced nozzles
directed vertically downward.
3.2.3.2 The system should consist of either a 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 nozzle grid, as
required.
3.2.3.3 The nozzles should be Installed at least 1 m below the ceiling of the
enclosure, if any.
3.2.3.4 The maximum spacing of the nozzles should be in accordance with the
manufacturers system design and installation manual
3.3 Test programme
3.3.1 The fire-extinguishing capabilities of the system should be evaluated for the
minimum and maximum separation distances (the distance between the nozzle grid and the
fuel spray nozzle). These distances should be as defined in the manufacturers system
design and installation manual.
3.3.2 Each separation distance should be evaluated against the two fire scenarios
(1 and 6 MW spray fires). Tests should be conducted with the fuel spray nozzles
horizontally positioned in the following locations :
.1 under one nozzle in the centre of the grid;
.2 between two nozzles in the centre of the grid;
.3 between four nozzles;
.4 under one nozzle at the edge of the grid (corner); and
.5 between two nozzles at the edge of the grid.
3.4 Test results and interpretation
3.4.1 The local application fire-fighting system is required to extinguish the test
fires within 5 minutes from the start of water discharge. If the fire re-ignites after
this five minute water discharge period the test is considered to be a failure.
3.4.2 The results of the tests should be interpreted as follows:
.1 Systems (utilizing a 3 x 3 nozzle grid) that extinguish fires referred to in
3.3.2.1 to 3.3.2.3 are considered to have successfully completed the protocol with the
condition that the outer nozzles should be installed outside of the protected area a
distance of at least 1/4 of the maximum nozzle spacing.
.2 Systems (utilizing either a 2 x 2 or 3 x 3 nozzle grid) that extinguish fires
referred to in 3.3.2.3 to 3.3.2.5 are considered to have successfully completed the
protocol and can be designed with the outer nozzles located at the edge of the protected
area. This does not prohibit the location of the nozzles outside of the protected area.
.3 The requirements stated in either 3.4.2.1 or 3.4.2.2 should be met for both the
minimum and maximum separation distances as well as the minimum and maximum operating
pressures.
.4 For installations which may be adequately protected using individual nozzles or
a single row of nozzles, the effective nozzle coverage (width and length) is defined as
1/2 the maximum nozzle spacing.
4. TEST PROCEDURE
4.1 Pre-burn time
Each fuel oil spray should be ignited and
allowed to burn for no more than 15 seconds prior to system operation.
4.2 Measurements
4.2.1 Fuel oil spray system
4.2.1.1 The fuel oil flow rate and pressure in the fuel oil spray system should be
verified prior to the test.
4.2.1.2 The fuel oil spray system pressure should be measured during the test.
4.2.2 Oxygen concentration at the fire location Oxygen concentration should be
measured at 100 mm below the fuel oil spray nozzle.
4.2.3 Water spray system pressure and flow rate The system water pressure and flow
rate should be measured using suitable equipment.
4.3 Operation of the fire-fighting system
4.3.1 The water spray system should be activated within the pre-burn time specified
in section 4.1.
4.3.2 The water spray system should be operated for a minimum of one minute after
fire extinguishment.
4.3.3 The fires should be extinguished within the 5 minutes of water
application.
4.3.4 The fuel oil spray should be operated for at least 15 seconds after fire
extinguishment.
4.4 Observations during the fire test
During the test, following
observations should be recorded:
.1 start of the ignition procedure;
.2 start of the test (ignition);
.3 time when the extinguishing system is activated;
.4 time when the fire is extinguished,
.5 time when the extinguishing system is shut off;
.6 time of re-ignition;
.7 time when the fuel supply to the nozzle is stopped; and
.8 time when the test is terminated.
5 TEST REPORT
The test report should, as a
minimum, include the following information
.1 name and address of the test laboratory;
.2 date of issue and identification number of the test report;
.3 name and address of applicant;
.4 name and address of manufacturer or supplier of the product;
.5 test method and purpose;
.6 product identification;
.7 description of the tested product:
.1 assembly drawings;
.2 descriptions;
.3 assembly of included materials and components;
.4 specification of included materials and components;
.5 installation specification; and
.6 detailed drawings of the test set-up;
.8 date of tests;
.9 drawing of each fire test configuration;
.10 measured water spray nozzle flow characteristics;
.11 identification of the test equipment and used instruments;
.12 test results including observations and measurements made during and
after the test:
.1 maximum nozzle spacing;
.2 minimum and maximum separation distances; and
.3 minimum and maximum operating pressures;
.13 deviations from the test method;
.14 conclusions; and
.15 date of the report and signature.