Ceiling-Only Sprinkler Layout for High-Piled Storage Fires
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current fire protection systems for storage, particularly for exposed expanded plastics in rack storage, lack effective solutions for high challenge commodities and often require additional accommodations like in-rack sprinklers and barriers, and are limited by height restrictions, failing to provide adequate protection at higher storage heights.
Innovation Solution
A ceiling-only fire protection system that uses a network of fluid distribution devices and detectors to identify and respond to fires with a controlled, fixed volumetric flow of firefighting fluid, eliminating the need for in-rack sprinklers and vertical barriers, and effectively addressing fires at heights beyond traditional standards.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional fire protection systems are used for rack storage of exposed expanded plastics, then fire control or suppression is provided, but additional accommodations like in-rack sprinklers and horizontal barriers are required, and storage height is limited to 40 feet beneath a 45 foot ceiling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes in-rack sprinklers and horizontal barriers from the fire protection system, retaining only ceiling-mounted sprinklers. This extraction simplifies the system while maintaining fire protection effectiveness for exposed expanded plastics in rack storage up to 40 feet high beneath a 45 foot ceiling.
Solution Approach 2:
The ceiling-mounted sprinkler system is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides fire suppression for various storage configurations (rack storage, palletized storage, solid-piled storage) and storage heights, eliminating the need for different system configurations for different storage types.
2Device complexity
If ceiling-only fire protection system is used, then system complexity is reduced by eliminating in-rack sprinklers and barriers, but fire protection effectiveness for high challenge commodities like exposed expanded plastics may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies sprinkler system parameters including operating pressure (minimum 50 psi at sprinkler outlets), flow rate (minimum 25 gpm per sprinkler), and spacing (maximum 20 feet on center) to ensure effective fire suppression of exposed expanded plastics using only ceiling-mounted sprinklers.
3Productivity
If storage height is increased beyond traditional limits, then storage capacity and productivity are improved, but fire protection standards require additional accommodations that increase system complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables dynamic storage height adjustment up to 40 feet by using ceiling-mounted sprinklers with sufficient flow and pressure to reach and suppress fires at elevated positions, eliminating the need for static structural accommodations like horizontal barriers that would limit storage height.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system provides enhanced fire protection by reducing the impact of fires on storage commodities, minimizing damage, and extending protection to higher storage heights without the need for additional structural barriers, thereby improving upon existing methods.
Implementation Method 1
a fixed volumetric flow of firefighting fluid is distributed to effectively quench a fire
Implementation Method 2
automatic sprinklers which can be either a fire suppression or fire control device that operates automatically when its heat-activated element is heated to its thermal rating
Data Source
AI summary
Fire protection systems and methods for ceiling-only high-piled storage protection. The systems include a plurality of fluid distribution devices disposed beneath a ceiling and above a high-piled storage commodity having a nominal storage height ranging from a nominal 20 ft. to a maximum nominal storage height of 55 ft. and means for quenching a fire in the storage commodity. The stored commodity to be protected may include exposed expanded plastics. The fluid distribution devices include a frame body having an inlet, an outlet, a sealing assembly, and an electronically operated releasing mechanism supporting the sealing assembly in the outlet.