Effects of Water Sprinklers on the Performance of Low Level AFFF aircraft Hangar Fire Suppression Systems

摘要

A series of full-scale fire tests was conducted to evaluate the effect that overhead water-only sprinklers have on the effectiveness of a low level AFFF fire suppression system. The combined overhead water-only sprinkler and low level AFFF system is being considered as a new protection scheme for U. S. Navy aircraft hangars. The results show that the operation of overhead water sprinklers up to 10.2 Lpm/sq m (0.25 gpm/sq ft) does not degrade the performance of a low level system during AFFF discharge (4.0 Lpm/sq m (0.1 gpm/sq ft)). Based on the results of these tests, the design criteria for Navy hangar protection may be revised to incorporate AFFF application from only the low level system, combined with overhead closed-head guide response water sprinklers.