Analysis of Failed Dry Pipe Fire Suppression System Couplings from the Filene Center at Wolf Trap Farm Park for the Performing Arts

摘要

A detailed metallurgical analysis was performed on a number of gray cast iron couplings taken from a dry pipe fire suppression system at the Filene Center to verify the source of failure. The results of the analysis indicated that all of the specimens failed in a brittle manner due to the stresses induced by the expansion of freezing water. The available background information indicated that the ambient air temperature on the night of the failures was low enough to induce freezing in a relatively short time period.