A wet-pipe fire protection sprinkler system was evaluated for underground ammunition storage. The storage configuration evaluated was four stacks of ammunition boxes; eight boxes wide, nine boxes high and four boxes deep. The individual stacks were separated by 3.5 feet (1m). Selected boxes in each stack contained propellants, pyrotechnics and other highly combustible materials. The sprinkler system used pendent Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) K-25, 165 F (74 C) sprinkler heads, manufactured by Tyco, to provide a discharge density of 0.6 gpm/ft2 (24.4 lpm/m2). The system consisted of 20 sprinkler heads. Test fires reflected three potential scenarios: (1) spilled diesel fuel ignition around the base of a box stack, (2) spontaneous ignition of propellant due to loss of stabilizer inside ammunition boxes, and (3) an internal ignition of illumination flares (pyrotechnic composition) from munitions in proximity of the stored ammunition. These tests evaluated the sprinkler system ability to effectively operate, control the fire, and extinguish the fire before adjacent stacks were impacted. Results showed that ESFR K-25 pendant sprinkler heads will operate and inhibit fire spread when exposed to the types of fires conducted. The system will rapidly and thoroughly wet the storage boxes to extinguish and contain fires.
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