Antifreeze Solutions and Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems March 12, 2013
Session Outline History of Antifreeze in the standards Science of Antifreeze Incidents involving i antifreeze in sprinklers Initial Response Research and Data Projects Current Status Ongoing Committee Activity
History of Antifreeze
History of Antifreeze Limited Size (20 sprinklers) Dilution i recommended dd Glycerin, Ethylene Glycol and Diethylene Glycol, Carbon Tetrachloride
History of Antifreeze Propylene Glycol added 40 sprinklers Appendix Language (small systems) Storage protection changes Combustibility noted in Annex NFPA 13D NFPA 13R
Science of Antifreeze Freeze protection ti Combustibility Miscibility Flashpoint Variables
Incidents Involving Antifreeze BthlME Bethel, 1997 Monmouth, NJ 2002 Denver, CO 2006 Truckee, CA 2009 Herriman, UT 2010
Overview of Issue NOT a sprinkler device problem it is a problem with the is antifreeze solution, which when atomized becomes a flammable liquid (as opposed to being non combustible in it s liquid state) This is a Life Safety concern not a freeze protection concern
Research and Data Projects FPRF Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Phase I UL Fire Test Data Summary for Residential Sprinklers Discharging i Antifreeze Mixtures FPRF Antifreeze Solutions in Home Fire Sprinkler Systems Phase II
Test Video
Initial Research Findings Antifreeze solutions with concentrations of propylene glycol exceeding 40% and concentrations of glycerin exceeding 50% have the potential to ignite when discharged through automatic sprinklers. Both the 40% propylene glycol and 50% glycerin solutions demonstrated similar performance to that of water alone for fire control throughout the series of tests.
Research and Data Projects Based on the results of this research, antifreeze solutions of propylene glycol exceeding 40% and glycerin exceeding 50% are not appropriate for use in residential fire sprinkler systems. Consideration should be given to reducing the acceptable concentrations of these antifreeze solutions by an appropriate safety factor.
TIAs Round 1 (Aug 2010) Prohibited the Use Of Antifreeze in New Residential Systems Prohibited the Use of Antifreeze in the Dwelling Unit Portion of Mixed Occupancy Buildings Did Not Address Commercial Did Not Address Existing
Initial NFPA Safety Alert No New Residential Systems (TIA) Test System Use Oh Other Methods Where Possible Utilize Lowest Concentration Possible Premixed Solution
TIAs Round 2 (March 2011) NFPA 13 Required Annual Testing (See NFPA 25) Limited Concentration to 38% PG and 48% Glycerine in New Systems Allowed ESFR systems to use 45% PG w/listing Factory Premixed Solutions NFPA 13R See NFPA 13
TIAs Round 2 (March 2011) NFPA 13D Required Annual Testing Limited Concentration to 38% PG and 48% Glycerine in New Systems Limited Concentration to 40% PG and 50% Glycerine in Existing Systems Factory Premixed Solutions
TIAs Round 2 (March 2011) NFPA 25 (Existing NFPA 13 and 13R Systems) Required Annual Testing Existing Solutions Limited to 40% PG and 50% Glycerine Newly Introduced Solutions Limited to 38% PG and 48% Glycerine Allowed ESFR systems to use 45% PG w/listing Factory Premixed Solutions
Residential to Standard Spray Logic Smaller Droplet Size Increased Atomization Less Penetration to Seat of Fire
Standard Spray Testing 50% Glycerine Solution Standard Spray Sprinklers 30 3.0 MW Fire 8 to 20 Foot Ceiling Heights
TIAs Rounds 3 (Aug 2012)
TIAs Rounds 3 (Aug 2012) NFPA 13 Listed Solutions only Listing Must Show that the Solution Will Not Ignite ESFR Listing Still Acceptable NFPA 13R See NFPA 13
TIAs Rounds 3 (Aug 2012) NFPA 13D New Listed Solutions only AHJ Exception for Specific Areas Must Link Specific Area to Test Data NFPA 13D Existing Systems See March 2011 TIA
TIAs Rounds 3 (Aug 2012) NFPA 25 All Non Listed Out by 2022 Always Less than 30% PG and 38% Glycerine Never Above 40% PG and 50% Glycerine Sometimes When A Deterministic Risk Assessment Supports a Value In Between
TIA Round 4 (Oct 2012) Risk Assessment Factors 1. Occupancy use group per NFPA 13 2. Ceiling height 3. Antifreeze solution concentration and type 4. Maximum system pressure 5. Sprinkler type, including k Factor 6. Potential and actual fuel load (Christmas trees) 7. Type of structure (construction types) 8. Size of structure t 9. Ability of the sprinkler system to control the fire 10. Occupied spaces -vs- unoccupied spaces
Current Status NFPA Standards Council Decision NFPAs Sprinkler Standards d 2013 Editions i NFPAs ITM Standard 2011 Edition NFPA s Current Safety Alert
More Information http://www.nfpa.org/antifreeze