Gratings to all,
I would like in beginning, to all community of NFPA Xchange wish everything good and Happy New Year!
A few words of explanation, currently in my company we plan to install sprinklers system in warehouse of finish goods. Designer propose antifreeze system because ambient temperature can fall below 0 C degrees. In general, it sound very good, warehouse of finish goods is cold type not heated. But....
I know from point 7.6. that in ESFR sprinklers antifreeze can be used only in Listed sprinklers. I know that Viking provide such a sprinklers but what can be read in specification is that it is limited to Commodity Classification II or less. I attach file of sprinkler head.
Storage arrangement is mix of plastic and wood pallets (assume 50% of plastic to wood) with non burning goods (cans made from metal), there is 4 pallets one over another with carton/plastic layers (14 layers for one pallet as separators), some of the pallets wrapped with plastic foil lets say 25% of warehouse.
In my assessment commodity class will be higher than Class II and such a sprinkler is not in accordance with NFPA13. I would like to ask do I think right?
Second questions do you maybe know ESFR sprinkler for cold system (antifreeze) to use in higher commodity class than II? Do you maybe have some advice regarding the system?
Best regrds
Sebastian
Not sure if I would give you Class II?
Suggest hire fire protection engineer
Can you meet all the limits????::::
ESFRCold Storage System
Viking ESFR Sprinkler VK510 is also cULus Listed for use with a maximum 50% by volume factory premix propylene glycol and water antifreeze solution. This Listing is based on full-scale fire testing at Underwriter’s Laboratories. The following limitations of system design and application shall apply:
Storage Arrangements: Solid-piled, or open rack (single, double, multiple, or portable), palletized storage (pallets limited to wood), with no open-top containers or solid shelves.
Commodity Classification: Limited to Class II or less.
Maximum Storage/Ceiling Heights and minimum pressure requirements:
Storage height up to 35 ft. (10.7 m) with ceiling height up to 40 ft. (12.2 m) with a minimum system design pressure of 40 PSI (2.76 Bar). OR:
Storage height up to 40 ft. (12.2 m) with ceiling height up to 45 ft-3 in. (13.8 m) with a minimum system design pressure of 60 PSI (4.14 Bar).
Maximum System Volume of the Antifreeze Water Solution: Limited to 1,100 gallons (4 163 liters).
Minimum Temperature: -21 °F (-29.4 °C).
Maximum Percentage by Volume of Propylene Glycol: 50% mixed with water for antifreeze solution.
Where the minimum temperature in the area being protected is 8 °F (-13.3 °C) or above, 35% percent by volume of propylene glycol factory premixed with water must be used. Viking requires Firefighter Eliminator C premix 35% propylene glycol/water mixture with a freeze temperature rating (freeze point) of 2.4 °F (-16.4 °C).
OR:
Where the minimum temperature in the area being protected is between 8 °F (-13.3 °C) and -21 °F (-29.4 °C), the percentage by volume of propylene glycol must be 50%, factory premixed with water for antifreeze solution. Viking requires Firefighter Eliminator F type 50% propylene glycol/water mixture, with a freeze temperature rating (freeze point) of -26 °F (-32.2 °C).
Refer to data page 45a-j "Viking ESFR Cold Storage System" in the Freezer Storage section of the Viking data book.