Effect of ventilation on the water spray pattern of automatic sprinkler heads. Report of Investigations/1993

Technical Report · Fri Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1993

OSTI ID:6169485

Smith, A C; Ryan, M W; Pro, R W; Lazzara, C P

The U.S. Bureau of Mines conducted a study to evaluate the effect of ventilation on the water spray patterns of automatic sprinkler heads. Experiments were performed in a rectangular tunnel with pendent, upright, pendent sidewall, and horizontal sidewall sprinkler heads at air velocities of 0, 150, 300, 500, and 800 ft/min. As the air velocities were increased, there were significant shifts in the total coverage areas and in the density distribution patterns, as well as in the maximum coverage densities, for all types of heads. The pendent and upright heads exhibited upstream shifts in total coverage in the direction of the airflow ranging from 4 to 6 ft, while the downstream coverage distances were extended up to 12 ft at the 800 ft/min airflow. The shift in upstream coverage distance for the sidewall heads ranged from 6 to 12 ft, while the downstream coverage was extended up to 22 ft at 800 ft/min. The results showed that airflow can have a significant effect on the coverage characteristics of automatic sprinkler heads and needs to be considered in the design of effective sprinkler fire suppression systems for ventilated areas.

• Research Organization: Bureau of Mines, Pittsburgh, PA (United States). Pittsburgh Research Center
• OSTI ID: 6169485
• Report Number(s): PB-93-189710/XAB; BUMINES-RI--9459
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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