Water Mist v Sprinklers 15 th November 2018 Gary Howe EngTech FIFireE MIFPO Senior Fire Protection Engineer Zurich Risk Engineering Photo source: Stuart Lloyd, Zurich
Zurich Fire Protection BS8489 FIA WG CEN14972 NFPA750 BS9999 FSH 18/02 BS7273 IFE SIG IFE journal contributor Photo source: Gary Howe, Zurich. 2
Water mist the challenges Competency: Installers Designers Fire & Rescue teams Building control officers Buyers Budgets: Fire engineers Main contractors Local Authority Value Engineering: Value engineered systems Replacement for sprinklers Innovative solutions on the market Design Competency Non listed components Absence of independent fire test data Unprotected areas Confusing sprinklers and water mist O rings Inability to verify design Unreliability of power supply Objectives not clearly defined Exceeding test data parameters DIOM Challenging architectural features Installation: Competency Absence of project management Witness and discharge testing No testing of sequence of events Installation of systems where no test protocols exist 3
Mitigation of flashover Escape to a place of safety Reduce room temperature Life safety Maintain tenable conditions 4
Photo source: BS7974 BSi 5
Water Mist Water mist may be acceptable where proven by suitable and realistic fire tests that reflect the risk to be protected and the risk or features should not change Can all areas of a building be protected from one manufacturer s system? It s apparent that not all water mist systems are considered equal 6
Water Mist The View of an Insurer Challenges and restrictions Water Mist is a bespoke solution which requires performance testing to demonstrate capability for individual risks, applications or situations. Installation standards are manufacturer specific for proven applications and components are not interchangeable Application specific solutions may not offer flexibility for change Application specific solutions may not be suitable for complete property protection 7
Water mist standards NFPA 750 BS8458 BS8489 CEN14972 FM/ANSI 5560 VdS SP DNV IMO 8
Water Mist LH/OH Occupancies Machinery Spaces System: Wet pipe system using automatic nozzles Mist Characteristics: Relatively larger droplets, with sprays designed to promote upper gas layer cooling and fuel wetting System: Deluge system using open nozzles Mist Characteristics: Relatively smaller droplets with high momentum to promote mixing and evaporation Photo source: Stuart Lloyd, Zurich & Johnson Control 9
The basics Our basic approach to water mist: Is it in service? Will it work? Is it designed right? 10
Fire Protection Specialist Support Concept to completion of project Specialist knowledge of systems, standards and industry best practices, for your project to attain the most suitable level of protection for property insurance purposes. Fire Protection Project Concept Review A preliminary review of a proposed facility / occupancy, conducted at an early stage in the project. Fire Protection Specification Review A review of a proposed fire protection design (e.g. sprinklers, fixed fire protection, water supply, fire detection) Fire Protection Plan Review A detailed review of plans (e.g. sprinkler drawings, hydraulic calculations etc.) Fire Protection Systems Installation On-site Assessment A site visit by Zurich Risk Engineering at one or more stages during the installation of the fire protection systems to identify deviations from the specification Fire Protection Acceptance Tests Witnessing fire protection acceptance testing on-site. Photo source: Gary Howe, Zurich. 11
Our approach Is it in service? Will it work? Is it designed right? Valves open? Power at pump? Impairments? Solenoid fitted? Water in tank? Town main water supply available? 12
Photo source: Gary Howe, Zurich. 13
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Our approach Is it in service? Will it work? Is it designed right? Service and maintenance Weekly testing Pumps achieving rated duty Dry systems trip tested Pre action systems mechanical and electrical elements tested together Deluge systems tested Cause and effect matrix tested? 16
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Our approach Is it in service? Will it work? Is it designed right? 28
BS8489-1 29
BS8458 Residential & domestic 30
Water Mist FPA RISCAuthority Questionnaire (UK) Intended as a tool to gather evidence to scrutinise the suitability of a water mist system. Developed and used by major insurers to evaluate proposals Zurich, ACE, Allianz, Aviva, AXA, HDI Gerling, Liberty Mutual, QBE, RSA, Tokio Marine & Travellers www.thefpa.co.uk Image source: Fire Protection Association (FPA) The RISCAuthority publishes through the FPA as indicate at their web page <<http://www.riscauthority.co.uk>>. 31
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The terms approved, certified, and listed are used interchangeably A product certification body who has been: Evaluated by a third-party accreditation body Qualified to perform self-accreditation of the product tests they conduct A test protocol: Used for the evaluation of a product Which is acceptable to Zurich A third party codes and standards: Recognized by Zurich for property assessment purposes Along with additional Zurich insights where provided Guidelines Acceptable to Zurich for property assessment purposes with sufficient instructions for: design, installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, and maintenance of listed products Image source: Rich Gallagher, The Zurich Services Corporation 33
Case Studies Water mist Sauna Industrial Oil Cooker College / School 34
Example water mist for saunas Local application for inception hazard Photo source: Gary Howe, Zurich.
The terms approved, certified, and listed are used interchangeably A product certification body who has been: Evaluated by a third-party accreditation body Qualified to perform self-accreditation of the product tests they conduct A test protocol: Used for the evaluation of a product Which is acceptable to Zurich A third party codes and standards: Recognized by Zurich for property assessment purposes Along with additional Zurich insights where provided Guidelines Acceptable to Zurich for property assessment purposes with sufficient instructions for: design, installation, commissioning, inspection, testing, and maintenance of listed products Image source: Rich Gallagher, The Zurich Services Corporation and the Danish Fire Laboratories. 36
Example water mist for saunas Local application for inception hazard Fire Test Protocol and Component Approvals 37
Case study Bakery Industrial oil cooker (deep fat fryer) Doughnut production 8m x 1.1m containing 2360L oil Photo source: Gary Howe, Zurich. 38
Test laboratory certification Photo source: Bureau Veritas. 39
Test laboratory certification Photo source: Danish Fire Laboratories. 40
Test laboratory certification Photo source: Lloyds Register. 41
Case study Community College
Case study water mist for a Community College Fire Protection Specification Review A review of a proposed fire protection design 43
Case study water mist for a Community College Proposal statements Confirm costs for design, supply, installation and commissioning of our approved low pressure water mist system to all relevant areas of the scheme 30 minute water supply duration based on 5 nozzles (72m2) to the commercial OH1 classified hazard The installation and design will be fully compliant to the relevant British Standards for this development with specific referral to BS 8489:2016 System proposed has been fully tested by BRE to both residential and commercial standards (BS 8458:2015 and BS 8489:2016) Low pressure water mist is an emerging technology very few companies that can provide a system that fully meets requirements of British Standards 44
Case study water mist for a Community College Proposal statements red flags Confirm costs for design, supply, installation and commissioning of our approved low pressure water mist system to all relevant areas of the scheme 30 minute water supply duration based on 5 nozzles (72m2) to the commercial OH1 classified hazard The installation and design will be fully compliant to the relevant British Standards for this development with specific referral to BS 8489:2016 System proposed has been fully tested by BRE to both residential and commercial standards (BS 8458:2015 and BS 8489:2016) Low pressure water mist is an emerging technology very few companies can provide a system that fully meets requirements of British Standards 45
Case study Community College 46
Case study Community College Fire Test - partial Component - nozzle Design, Installation, Operation Manual (DIOM) 47
Take away messages Zurich Recognized Solutions Methodologies is a powerful tool to evaluate existing and proposed installations. It is based on basic fundamental criteria that should be expected to provide a suitable level of compliance and protection Zurich s goal is beyond Life Safety we also want Property Protection systems. People can escape a fire safely The building can be occupied quickly after an event Businesses can re-start operations from the same location Your objective may be a different one is it fully considered? Effective use of Zurich Recognized Solutions methodologies will involve challenging what is proposed, claimed, interpreted and believed already. Peel back the layers investigate the scope of standards and approvals 48
Is it designed right? Is it in service? Will it work? 49
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Any questions Gary Howe EngTech FIFireE MIFPO gary.howe@uk.zurich.com Photo source: Stuart Lloyd, Zurich