UV detection outside is a false trip waiting to happen. Had a job trying to diagnose an existing deluge system (tank farm) that kept false tripping. Installing contractor had used UV detectors and "tried" to shield them, (yeah good plan), anyway the culprit ended up being reflections from stainless steel pipe tags. The tags would be blown by wind and would sooner or later line up with the sun and a detector and set them off. If was a real head scratcher until we actually were there when it happened. Who woulda thunk.
As was previously written, the most effective means of detection for these systems is either linear heat detection or pilot operated systems. Make it deluge with fixed nozzles and forget the fancy oscillating monitors. It sounds cool but trying to establish proper and complete coverage can be an issue. If you have trucks parked you may have to also provide some tree mounted nozzles to spray under the trucks. Just depends on your arrangements. Remember K.I.S.S. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection Specialist Mechanical Department CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive PO Box 491, Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 [email protected] http://www.ch2m.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Kowkabany Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 3:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Loading Rack Protection There are two and one has 6 lanes and one has 8. I totally see what you are saying with the trucks acting as obstructions. I can see that on the 8 lane one that the monitors won't be practical and we'll have to go with overhead protection. I like your linear heat detection approach, but our client wants flame detection to get the extra fast reaction time for life safety purposes. Unfortunately, they have caused some pretty spectacular false trips before we cross-zoned them. Thanks for the feedback Jim. Steve Kowkabany, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Neptune Fire Protection Engineering LLC 616 Davis Street Neptune Beach, FL 32266 904-652-4200 Phone 904-212-0868 Fax -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jim Davidson Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 3:19 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Loading Rack Protection Steve, How many truck loading berths in the loading rack? If using oscillating monitors you have to be very careful of trucks and structure shielding the application of AFFF onto the fire. We use deluge systems tripped with linear type heat detector(Protectowire), to provide reliability we have crossed zoned two linear heat detection circuits. Each circuit is spaced 1/2 the UL listing spacing. The overhead deluge provides quick and complete coverage for the application of AFFF to the grade level fire including areas under the rack platforms and trucks and trailers. The last loading rack was for eight truck/trailer tankers at a time, with a product throughput of 16k barrels per month. Have a fire safe day. Regards Jim Jim Davidson Davidson Associates Fire Protection * Medical Gas * Code Consulting 302-994-9500 Fax:302-234-1781 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Kowkabany Sent: Thursday, July 09, 2009 12:31 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Loading Rack Protection Would anyone care to share what type of foam water suppression systems they have had success with in fuel loading rack applications with or without canopies? I have designed deluge sprinkler foam water systems activated by cross-zoned flame detectors in the past for racks with canopies, but I have a client who wants to look at oscillating ground sweep monitors to protect the area under the canopy. I kind of like that idea, because it gives first responders some ability to unlock the monitor and spray other adjacent areas. I'm leaning towards the monitors also now that I am comparing all facets of each system. Has anyone had any experience with other arrangements they prefer? Thanks very much, Steve Kowkabany, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Neptune Fire Protection Engineering LLC 616 Davis Street Neptune Beach, FL 32266 904-652-4200 Phone 904-212-0868 Fax _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.386 / Virus Database: 270.13.8/2227 - Release Date: 07/09/09 05:55:00 _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
