Thanks,
This gives me a starting point. 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Sincaglia
Sent: Tuesday, January 16, 2007 7:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: NFPA 30 (03ed) - curbs

How would you determine the "expected discharge" from the sprinkler system. 
Dewayne 


Ahhhh...the loaded question!!  

First, I have to say you should check your local codes.  The IFC requires spill 
control to handle the largest spill plus 20 minutes of suppression water.  
However, if you have other performance goals you may need to alter this...but 
keep in mind that the local code will be your minimum.

Now, the fun part and the point that will no doubt spawn debate all day.
How do you determine the amount of water you need to retain?

I've seen two schools of thought with lots of modifications.

The first, simplest, and probably the most common method to do this is to 
perform your normal hydraulic calculations and simply take the total flow rate 
produced by the design basis and multiply by the code's 20 minutes.  This gives 
you a volume figure (gallons) and then you size the curbs around the 
containment area to hold it.  Some people include the hose stream allowance, 
some don't....I say you should include it.

However, one always needs to remember that our normal means of doing hydraulic 
calculations does not calculate actual output.  So if you use the calculation 
method above, you are likely only providing 10-15 minutes of containment.  
Which brings me to the better alternatives...provided your calculation software 
has the capability and you have accurate water data.

Most hydraulic programs can do what is called a supply calculation.  It 
essentially performs a hydraulic calculation that has no safety factor.
i.e. what will the water supply actually push though the pipes if the entire 
coverage area is flowing.  Generally speaking this flow rate is 15-20% higher 
than your demand calc, but can really be all over the place depending upon your 
water supply and your base sprinkler design.

Now, I generally like this method as it makes a lot of sense to people when you 
explain how you got your answers.  However, as the forum has been kicking about 
for days now...Hazen-Williams overestimates friction losses at higher pipe 
velocities.  For our normal demand calculations this is no big deal as it 
provides an additional level of safety in our designs.  But in the supply mode, 
particularly at higher velocities, the fiction loss is overestimated, therefore 
the water discharge gets underestimated as the flow gets artificially choked by 
the friction inherent in the Hazen-Williams method.  

For what it is worth, I personally don't think that the errors in the supply 
calculation using Hazen-Williams is all that big a deal.
However, I have never done any studies or seen any data to support that.
I just know that my figures are still slightly lower than what the actual 
output will likely be IF the entire coverage area where to activate AND the 
water supply remains the same.

So that is how I would handle it...Using the supply calculation method.
But I am sure that many others have many other opinions.  So let the games 
begin.  

So that I can salt the wound a bit....If you are the code consultant, how do 
you estimate the containment required when no one has even started the 
sprinkler designs yet?  I have my method...What is yours?

Now for real work...


Paul Sincaglia, P.E.
President
Firesafety-Solutions, Inc.
440.247.3770

 

-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Tom L
Sent: Monday, January 15, 2007 6:40 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: NFPA 30 (03ed) - curbs

Dewayne,


So do you have a foam system or not? If you do then curbs without drainage is 
OK If you have a water only system then u will need drainage with the curbs.

Review figure 6.8.5 on page 57 of NFPA 30, 2003 edition, it will indicate IF 
you need to provide spill containment OR liquid spread control. Curbs are used 
if you have a closed head foam system to control the spread of the product 
mixed with the water (section 6.4.2.5). If you have a water only sprinkler 
system and you have a Class I-IIIA liquid then, you need to provide liquid 
spread control as per 6.8.5.1.


Take a look at FM data sheet 7-29 it has more up to date sprinkler protection 
requirements then NFPA 30/ 2003 edition.

Regards

Tom

Chubb Insurance

>From: "Dewayne Martinez" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Reply-To: [email protected]
>To: "SprinklerFORUM" <[email protected]>
>Subject: NFPA 30 (03ed) - curbs
>Date: Mon, 15 Jan 2007 10:51:03 -0600
>
>Section 6.4.2.5 deals with curbs, scuppers, special drains, ect....and 
>states that "If a drainage system is used, it shall have sufficient 
>capacity to carry the expected discharge of water from the fire 
>protection systems and hose streams."
>If there is only curbs does this apply since there is technically no 
>drains?  If so, what is the proper way to determine the expected 
>discharge?
>Thanks,
>Dewayne
>
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