MINUTES OF CONFERENCE CALL National Sunroom Association FOAM PANEL STORAGE SUBCOMMITTEE. Tuesday, February 27, :00 p.m.

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1 MINUTES OF CONFERENCE CALL National Sunroom Association FOAM PANEL STORAGE SUBCOMMITTEE Tuesday, February 27, :00 p.m. Eastern Time ROLL CALL Those Present Dan Ochstein, Chairman Lyndon Johnson Tony Bouquot Tim Gaumer - Champion Enclosure Suppliers - Harvey Industries, Inc. - Patio Enclosures, Inc. - Plymouth Foam Also Present Dan Walker - NSA / Thomas Associates, Inc. INTRODUCTION Mr. Walker mentioned that there are several handouts that were previously sent to members for this discussion, which are attached to these minutes. Mr. Ochstein explained the situation with his company s insurance coverage, asking the others to share their experiences. He said the insurance company referenced NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems for Group A plastics storage. He said the insurance company referenced Factory Mutual (FM) requirements from fire tests they have previously run. He said there are three issues at hand: 1) FM does not recognize the modified (fire retardant additive) foamed plastics that are use by the sunroom industry, 2) FM does not recognize any additional performance enhancement from the aluminum skins that are laminated to the foam, and 3) The problem cited by insurance companies with regard to burning foamed plastics is that the effluent gas given off by the foam makes it difficult for sprinklers to suppress. He added that these gasses do not typically appear until after a certain temperature threshold is achieved in the fire. He asked if it would be possible to use sprinklers that would trigger at a lower temperature, so that the gasses would not become a factor in a fire. He explained that the sprinkler requirements are a function of the type of commodity being stored, the height of the commodity, the height of the ceiling in the building, and whether or not the commodity is considered to be a stable or unstable stack. 1

2 Several other members mentioned they are seeing the same kind of requirements being mandated by their insurance companies. It was mentioned that the capacity of the sprinklers would need to be doubled to meet the requirements listed in NFPA 13. It was mentioned that no data has been presented by the insurance companies regarding the specific tests that were run, and how they correlate to the type of foam typically used by the sunroom industry. Mr. Walker mentioned he has several contacts at Factory Mutual, as well as several fire protection engineers who are active in the NFPA process. Mr. Walker said he would contact someone at FM to ask if they will provide the specific test report used to create this requirement. Mr. Walker asked the group whether this issue was common among all insurance companies or just Factory Mutual, or if it was also an issue covered by the International Fire Code. The response was that it was primarily a Factory Mutual only requirement. Someone mentioned most sunroom manufacturers have fire test data for their panels that might be useful in the discussion. It was mentioned that the garage door industry has similar products that are stored in much the same way. Mr. Walker said he would contact the Door and Access Systems Manufacturers Association (DASMA), which is also managed by Thomas Associates, Inc. Mr. Walker said he also has a contact at the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) that he would speak with. The group specifically asked Mr. Walker to find out if there are two tests in the FM criteria, one for cartoned commodities and one for exposed commodities. Mr. Walker said he would report back to the group after he has had a chance to make some contacts. NEXT CONFERENCE CALL The next conference call would be scheduled for a future date and time at the call of the Chairman or NSA staff. ADJOURNMENT On motion made, seconded and carried, the teleconference was adjourned. DJW/jlb nsa 3/7/07 Attachments Respectfully Submitted, THOMAS ASSOCIATES, INC. (These minutes were reviewed by legal counsel prior to distribution) 2

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5 Attachment #1 Insurance companies rates are based on the amount of risk there is. EPS Foam storage is one risk out of many risks in a facility. Other high risks are: o Smoking inside a facility recommend only designated areas for smoking outside. o Flammables should be stored in proper containers o Welding Hot work permits and training o Contractor training especially with welding o Lack of preventative maintenance on equipment o Many others There is a risk of EPS storage and rates may go up but being proactive with items like above may reduce the rates. All storage guidelines / Codes / Standards are controlled by the NFPA. Interpreting NFPA can be difficult and is often interpreted differently by different people. NFPA 13 - Develop the understanding it takes to select from an ever-expanding number of sprinkler options while you comply with the latest requirements in the 2007 edition of NFPA 13. In the new Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, top authorities share their knowledge of changing technology and how the 2007 Standard ensures a competent system. From NFPA Website NFPA 1 Uniform Fire Code Protect the public from hazards with all the extra information you need to comply smoothly and efficiently with NFPA 1: UFC. The 2006 NFPA 1: Uniform Fire Code Handbook supports your efforts with the complete 2006 Code text plus expert commentary highlighted in red. Hundreds of detailed, two-color graphics provide hands-on examples of Code application. From NFPA Website Note: There are EPS Manufacturing plants running today that do not have sprinklers. They probably are paying high insurance rates and will be restricted by local building officials when they want to expand.

6 Attachment #2 EPS Flammability Properties Raw expandable polystyrene resin, expanded polystyrene pre-puff, and expanded polystyrene molded products must be considered combustible when directly exposed to fire of sufficient intensity and heat. Therefore, they should not be stored or installed near open flame or ignition sources. The modified grades of expandable polystyrene contain flame-retardants designed to decrease flammability due to accidental ignition from a small flame source. The expanded polystyrene molded from these resins have been tested in numerous small scale fire tests and meet the requirements of the nation s building codes and applicable industrial, federal, and state requirements. THE RESULTS OF THESE TESTS ARE NOT INTENDED TO REFLECT HAZARDS UNDER ACTUAL FIRE CONDITIONS. Flammability Characteristics Recommended Maximum Use Temperature: 165ºF (75ºC) Melting Point: As a thermoplastic, polystyrene does not exhibit a true melting point. It will begin to soften at about 212ºF (100ºC) and, as more heat is applied, melting occurs. Flash Ignition Temperature: The lowest initial temperature of air passing around a molded sample of EPS at which a sufficient amount of combustible gas is evolved to be ignited (ASTM D 1929). Self Ignition Temperature: The lowest initial temperature of air passing around the specimen at which, in the absence of an ignition source, the self-heating properties of the EPS lead to ignition or ignition occurs of itself. (ASTM D1929) Potential Heat of Building Materials A property-type measurement of the heat that could be potentially released Grade 40 from building materials when exposed to high heat exposure of 1382ºF (750ºC). (NFPA 259) 698ºF (370ºC) 752ºF (400ºC) 17,000 17,500 BTU Taken from Huntsman Website We generalized the Potential Heat number because different resins have different ratings.

7 Risk Logic Inc. Page 1 of 3 11/27/2006 Plastics The 1946 film "It's A Wonderful Life" was one of the best movies ever made. It starred Jimmy Stewart as George Bailey. A friend of George's was Sam Wainwright played by Frank Albertson. Sam was a recent college graduate and he wanted George to work with him and become rich with this new product called "Plastics." Sam made a fortune with making plastic hoods for airplanes during WW II. Plastics have evolved considerably since the 40's and their initial introduction to household and building materials. Now plastics can be found everywhere and in every home, office, warehouse or building. Today four kinds account for approximately 70% of all plastics production in the United States - polystyrene, polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyvinyl chloride. Plastics are made from petroleum. Crude oil and natural gas are refined into ethane, propane and hundreds of other petrochemical products. Ethane and propane are "cracked" into ethylene and propylene, using high-temperature furnaces. A catalyst is combined with ethylene or propylene in a reactor, resulting in a powdered polymer. The polymer is combined with additives in a continuous blender, extruded and then melted. The plastic is then cooled and then fed to a pelletizer that cuts the product into small pellets. The pellets are then used in processes such as extrusion, injection molding and blow molding to make millions of plastic products. Generally plastics are determined by heat of combustion using a one gram sample of a product burned in a calorimeter. Paper has a heat content of approximately 7,000 btu/lb, wood is about 10,000 btu/lb. Most plastics are in the 15,000 to 22,000 btu/lb heat content range. Gasoline has a 22,000 btu/lb heat content rate. Plastics have two forms, unexpanded and expanded. Unexpanded plastics have a high density like a plastic tote and expanded plastics have a low density like foam packaging. The heat release rate for expanded plastics is generally greater due to the relatively low density and resulting high burning rate. FM Global Data Sheet 8-1 Commodity Classification defines plastics into three Groups A, B and C. Group A - High heat of combustion (btu/lb) and burning rate higher than Group B. Plastics such as Polystyrene and ABS are examples of Group A plastics. Group B - Heat release rates that are higher than ordinary combustibles but less than Group A. The heat of combustion may be as high or sometimes higher than Group A but the burning rate is lower than a Group A plastic. Plastics such as Polyethylene, Polypropylene, Polycarbonate, Acrylics are examples of Group B Plastics. Note: The heat release rate of Polystyrene is 440 lb/min and the heat release rate of Polypropylene is 233 lb/min.

8 Risk Logic Inc. Page 2 of 3 11/27/2006 Group C - Plastic products that incorporate heat of combustion and burning rates that are similar to Class 3 ordinary combustibles. Phenolics and Silicones are examples of Group C plastics. How do you determining if the commodity or storage arrangement is a plastic or not: - If more than 25% by volume is expanded plastic (ex. foam packaging), the commodity is Plastic. - If greater than 5% and less than 25% by volume is expanded plastic, the commodity may is Class 4. - If more than 15% by weight is unexpanded plastic (ex. plastic tote) the commodity is Plastic. - If between 5% and 15% by weight is unexpanded plastic the commodity is a Class IV. - If less than 5% by weight or volume is unexpanded or expanded plastic the commodity is Class 1-3. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems Edition has a slightly different definition for plastics than FM. NFPA 13 states in Chapter 5 the following: - A Class IV commodity shall be defined as the following: - a. A product that is partially or totally Group B plastics - b. Consists of free flowing Group A plastic material - c. Contains within itself or its packaging 5% to 15% by weight of 5% to 25% by volume of Group A plastics - A Plastic commodity can be classified as Group A, B or C and have more than 15% by weight or 25% by volume of plastic - NFPA Group A materials = FM Group A & B materials - NFPA Group B materials = FM Group C materials Plastics are much more hazardous than ordinary combustibles (Class 1-4 commodities) for three main reasons: - A plastics fire develops extremely high temperatures up to 2000 F. (Some as high as three times more than a fire with paper or wood). At 1400 F. the physical property characteristics of steel start to fail. Building collapse is a concern with a plastics fire. - A plastics fire exhibits a very high burning rate. The flammability of plastics is much

9 Risk Logic Inc. Page 3 of 3 11/27/2006 higher than that of ordinary combustibles. - A plastics fire gives off especially thick, dense smoke and toxic fumes. The smoke makes it extremely difficult for public fire personal to control the fire with hose streams. Installing an automatic sprinkler system is the best form of protection to control a plastics fire. There are two factors that as especially important in designing protection. These are 1) the storage arrangement, and 2) the type of sprinkler protection provided. Solid-pile and palletized storage with 12-in. flue space between stacks will burn more fiercely than a close-pile-array, with 6-in. spaces between stacks because air access in the open array promotes fire growth and heat radiation between stacks. For rack storage, the abundance of flue spaces and the stability afforded by the racks to hold the commodity in place will result in a fire hazard more severe than solid-piled and palletized storage. Usually protection afforded by ceiling sprinklers needs to be supplemented by in-rack sprinklers in many cases to assure adequate fire control. Some suppression mode automatic sprinklers can offer adequate protection without in-rack sprinklers. Plastics are used everywhere in our day-to-day life. Therefore most warehouse occupancies today are classified as plastics and need to be protected with a superior sprinkler system and in most cases. Also the public water supply will need to be supplemented with a booster pump to meet the increased automatic sprinkler demand for the plastic storage. Providing adequate sprinkler protection for a plastic warehouse is a difficult task. There are so many variables that need to be taken into consideration to provide adequate protection. The best advice is to have a fire protection engineer be involved early in the design phase. We at Risk Logic are available to assist you in your sprinkler system design. References: The High Challenge Risk Stored Plastics published by Factory Mutual Global P7742 FM Global Data Sheet 8-1 Commodity Classification The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems Edition

10 Understanding the Hazard Suppression Mode Sprinkler System Installation Issues fm Understanding the Hazard This series of publications is designed to help you understand the everyday hazards present at your company s facilities. For more information on how you can better understand the risks your business and operations face every day, contact your FM Global engineer. UTH topic categories: Construction Equipment Fire Protection Human Factor Natural Hazards Process Hazards Hazard or Risk? Equipment, construction and storage features within your warehouse can cause suppression mode sprinklers to fail, resulting in a possible uncontrolled fire and catastrophic damage to your facility. Your FM Global engineer can help you understand the risk your company may face as a result of this hazard. This brochure is made available for informational purposes only in support of the insurance relationship between FM Global and its clients. This information does not change or supplement policy terms or conditions. The liability of FM Global is limited to that contained in its insurance policies. The Hazard Since their inception in the late 1980s, suppression mode sprinklers (commonly referred to as ESFR sprinklers) have become a highly popular means of providing warehouse fire protection. This is due, in large part, to the flexibility they offer in configuring storage arrangements because, very often, they eliminate the need for in-rack sprinklers. To be successful, however, suppression mode sprinklers must (1) operate quickly while a fire is relatively small, and (2) discharge a large volume of water at high enough momentum to penetrate the fire plume and reach the vertical surfaces of the burning commodity. Anything that delays the operation of these sprinklers, or inhibits their ability to deliver a sufficient amount of water to the burning commodity, can result in their failure to suppress or control a fire. And, an uncontrolled fire in a warehouse is likely to result in total loss of the facility. Therefore, it is imperative that the guidelines in FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 2-2, Installation Rules for Suppression Mode Automatic Sprinklers, be strictly followed to ensure a facility s sprinkler protection is not compromised. Science of the Hazard During a fire, hot gas rises to the ceiling and then fans out horizontally. To operate quickly, sprinklers must be located the correct distance from the ceiling so they are within this hot gas layer. Placing them too close to the ceiling, or too far below it, will increase the time it takes for them to operate. Sprinkler operation time can be delayed by ceiling structural members that prevent hot gas from moving across the underside of the ceiling. Construction types that create this scenario include those with solid supporting members, such as steel beams, wooden trusses and concrete double tees. Draft curtains tend to affect the gas layer in the same way.

11 What You Can Do at Your Facility Talk to your FM Global engineer about the construction, equipment and storage arrangement features of your facility to determine if they negatively impact the performance of your suppression mode sprinkler system. If so, work with your engineer to determine what steps can be taken to rectify the situation, and establish a priority system for each step. If there are ceiling-level obstructions that need to be removed or relocated, use a means that does not involve hot work. If hot work cannot be avoided, carefully follow the guidelines outlined on the FM Global Hot Work Permit. If a sprinkler system has to be impaired in order to implement a corrective modification, carefully follow the guidelines outlined on the FM Global Red Tag Permit. Prevent the introduction of new sprinkler obstructions by implementing controls to monitor and approve changes to piping and equipment near the ceiling, such as utilities, conduits, lighting and HVAC equipment. Roof slope, also, can have a negative impact on the operation of suppression mode sprinklers. Under a relatively flat roof, hot gas at the ceiling spreads horizontally in a circular pattern. As the slope of the roof is increased, however, the pattern becomes skewed, with the gas moving away from sprinklers directly over the fire and toward sprinklers located at a higher elevation. The operation of these upperlevel sprinklers will have no impact on the fire, allowing it to grow. Another factor that will delay the operation of suppression mode sprinklers is the loss or reduction of the hot gas layer. Automatic heat and smoke vents (H&SVs), ridge vents and exhaust vents are all elements that allow hot gas from a fire to escape. Air currents within a facility also can affect a sprinkler s response time. With little or no air movement, the plume from a fire rises straight up to the ceiling, causing sprinklers directly over the fire to operate first. However, if air movement is strong enough (greater than 5 ft./sec. [1.5 m/sec.]), it will fan the plume away, delaying sprinkler response or causing sprinklers located some distance from the fire to operate first. Once a sprinkler operates, a sufficient amount of water must be delivered through the fire plume to the surface of the burning commodity to achieve fire suppression. Water from a suppression mode sprinkler has two distinct distribution patterns: water distribution out to the side of the sprinkler (referred to as the sprinkler s umbrella pattern ) and water distribution directed straight downward. Objects that interfere with the distribution pattern of a sprinkler and significantly reduce the quality and efficiency of its water discharge are referred to as obstructions. Such obstructions can prevent fire suppression and lead to the development of an uncontrolled fire. Where are obstructions found? They can be located at or near the ceiling, or entirely below the sprinklers. They may be moveable or non-fixed lights, for example or they may be fixed, such as building structural elements and solid shelves in storage racks. How large must an obstruction be to interfere with suppression? Imagine the discharge of water from a fire hose hitting a 1-in. (25-mm) wide obstruction only a short distance away. Water would be sent in all directions except where you wanted it to go. Research conducted by FM Global has shown that an obstruction as small as 0.75 in. (19 mm) located below a suppression mode sprinkler can have a negative impact on the sprinkler s ability to suppress a fire. Full-scale fire testing has demonstrated that objects as small as 1.5 in. (38 mm) can prevent fire suppression. The size of the obstruction as well as its proximity to the sprinkler both have a major impact on the sprinkler s ability to deliver water to the fire. Storage arrangements also can cause suppression mode sprinklers to fail, by interrupting the flow of water down through the storage. The presence of open-top containers, blocked flue spaces, solid shelves within storage racks, and storage located too close to sprinklers all can prevent water from reaching a fire. Open-top containers are a particular problem because they collect the water from sprinklers, preventing it from penetrating to a fire at floor level. In addition to rack uprights and the stored materials themselves, other objects, such as conveyors, may run through the racks and block flue spaces.

12 Loss Experience Fortunately, FM Global clients have not had many fire losses at facilities where suppression mode sprinklers have been installed. Full-scale fire testing, however, clearly demonstrates the hazard created when sprinkler operation is delayed, or obstructions to water discharge are present. Testing by FM Global has proven that obstructions as small as 1.5-in. (38-mm) wide can mean the difference between successful fire suppression and a total loss of fire control. And, the closer obstructions are to sprinklers, the more profound their impact on performance. But What About heat and smoke vents (H&SVs) required by local codes and standards? Where local codes and standards mandate the installation of H&SVs in warehouses, manual H&SVs are preferred. If regulations require you to have automatic H&SVs, either use H&SVs that are FM Approved specifically for facilities protected by suppression mode sprinklers, or ensure the H&SVs are operated by fusible links having a higher temperature rating than that of the sprinkler. the fact that, due to snow-loading requirements for my new building addition, I have to use channel-type construction? Does this mean I can t use suppression mode sprinklers? It depends on the closeness of the structural members. One way of ensuring this type of construction does not delay the response time of the sprinkler system is to install sprinklers within each channel bay. However, for this to work, the discharge pattern of the sprinklers must not be obstructed by the structural support member. Have your FM Global engineer review the building s construction for compatibility with suppression mode sprinklers. the fact our current sprinkler system was considered acceptable by our previous insurance company, as well as other agencies that have toured our facility? Why is it not acceptable to FM Global? Suppression mode sprinklers were developed by FM Global. As a result, we are much more aware of the differences between suppression mode technology and the control mode technology that preceded it. Organizations with less understanding of these differences sometimes allow deviations from the installation guidelines that would have been acceptable for control mode sprinklers, but could cause suppression mode sprinklers to fail. Also, FM Global continues to conduct research and testing programs involving these sprinklers and, as a result, we may find conditions that could compromise your sprinkler system that other organizations are not even aware of yet. Suppression vs. Control It is important to understand the difference between suppression mode sprinklers and control mode sprinklers. Control mode sprinklers provide protection by pre-wetting combustible material around a fire, keeping the ceiling temperature cool enough to limit the number of operating sprinklers, and keeping the steel temperature of the facility cool enough to avoid structural failure. The goal of a control mode sprinkler system is not to suppress the fire, but simply to prevent its horizontal spread until the fire has consumed all the combustible material and dies out, or is extinguished by manual response. Suppression mode sprinklers provide protection by operating in the early stages of a fire and providing enough water to quench the fire on all reachable surfaces. The fire that remains on any surface shielded from direct water application (typically the bottoms of pallets) then can be extinguished manually.

13 Need More Information? Ask your FM Global engineer about the following: Video clips of fire tests showing effective and ineffective suppression mode sprinkler protection Suggested contract language for new or modified suppression mode sprinkler installations Ordering Information For Understanding the Hazard For additional copies of Understanding the Hazard publications, contact your FM Global engineer or client servicing team. For All Other FM Global Publications All other FM Global brochures and educational materials can be found in the FM Global Resource Catalog and ordered online at a single obstructed sprinkler? It s okay as long as adjacent sprinklers are unobstructed, right? No. Full-scale fire tests have proven that even a single obstructed suppression mode sprinkler can result in an uncontrolled fire, particularly if the first sprinkler to open is the obstructed one. suppression mode sprinklers that are more tolerant of ceiling-level obstructions? There are some upright sprinklers that are more tolerant of certain types of obstructions than pendent sprinklers. However, there are limitations to the storage commodities and building heights they can protect. Talk to your FM Global engineer to find out if these sprinklers are an option in your particular situation. new construction projects using suppression mode sprinklers? How can I ensure my sprinkler system gets installed correctly? Start with your architect. Make sure whoever draws up your plans takes into account the location and proximity of all building structural members, equipment systems and utility services to ensure they do not conflict with the guidelines provided in FM Global Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 2-2, Installation Rules for Suppression Mode Automatic Sprinklers. In fact, you should include specific contract language insisting on adherence to Data Sheet 2-2 in any legally binding agreement you sign, not only with the architects, but with both the general contractor and the sprinkler contractor as well. Sample wording is available from FM Global. Don t Let This Happen To You Or, for personal assistance worldwide, contact our U.S.-based customer services team: Toll-free: (1) (Canada and United States) By phone: +1 (1) By fax: +1 (1) fm P0477 Printed in USA (10/04) 2004 Factory Mutual Insurance Company All rights reserved. A single 1.5-in. (38-mm) wide object at the ceiling obstructed water application to this rack-storage fire, allowing the fire to grow too large for the suppression mode sprinkler system to handle. In the United Kingdom: FM Insurance Company Limited, 1 Windsor Dials, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 1RS Regulated by the Financial Services Authority.