1. Why In-Rack Sprinklers?
Tom Multer
Vice President, Product Technology
The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.

2. Higher buildings using automated storage and retrieval systems
As an industry, we have spent the last 30 years trying to eliminate in-rack sprinklers Are they coming back?
Higher buildings using automated storage and retrieval systems
More exposed plastic storage
Lower water demands by using horizontal in-rack barriers.
Using K- 360 ECs as in-rack sprinklers .

3. Fire Protection Research Foundation:
Project for Rack Storage of Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics
Outside the scope of NFPA 13
Ceiling sprinklers with vertical 4.8 m intervals

4. Testing carried out at Underwriters Laboratories (UL)
Standard fuel package for EEP tests using polystyrene meat trays.

5. Rack Storage of Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics Ceiling Height = 12
Rack Storage of Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics Ceiling Height = 12.2 m Storage Height = 10.7 m 10 mm Plywood Horizontal Barrier at 6.1 m Ceiling Sprinklers K-16.8 (240), 100°C 3.4 bar In-Rack Sprinklers K-25.2 (360)EC, 100°C 2.1 bar

6. Reliable Model N252 EC Pendent
K-360
UL Listed, FM approved as a ceiling application sprinkler
100°C version was used for all testing
Patented
The Model N252 EC Pendent Sprinkler is a component of the N-Rack-EC™ Fire Protection System – Patent Pending

7. 100mm clearance above commodity 50mm deflector distance below beam
Minimum:
100mm clearance above commodity
50mm deflector distance below beam
Target Array
1.2 m
aisle width
4.2 m
Spray 2.1 bar

10. 10 mm plywood barrier at 6.1 m level

11. N252 EC Sprinklers Centered in Longitudinal Flue and Centered Between Rack Uprights = 2.5 m on center.

12. The horizontal barrier was left open at the rack uprights and no sprinklers are installed in the transverse flue or at the face of the racks.

14. Results: Opened one (1) sprinkler at the ceiling @ 1 minute/2 seconds
3.4 bar and 830 L/pm
Opened two (2) sprinklers in the 49 and 52 seconds
2.1 bar and 520 L/pm each or 1040 L/pm total

15. Before

16. N-252 EC with Horizontal Barrier
After
N-252 EC with Horizontal Barrier

17. After
K-25 ESFR
with
Vertical Barriers

18. Proposed Design Ceiling In-Rack K-16.8 ESFR 100° 3.4 450 12 5400+
Temp
bar
L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
System Demand in L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR
100°
3.4
450 12
5400+
In-Rack
N-252 EC Pendent
2.1
520 3
1560+
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
The in-rack sprinkler demand would not be added to the ceiling demand because of the horizontal barrier. The system demand would be the ceiling demand at L/pm

19. 12.2 m ceiling and 10.7 m of storage Total System Demand in L/pm
Existing Ceiling Sprinkler Design (FM) for Exposed Expanded Plastics Stored in Open Racks with
12.2 m ceiling and 10.7 m of storage
Proposed
bar
L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in L/pm
Total System Demand in L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR & N252 EC In-Rack
3.4
450 12
950
6350+
FM DS 8-9
K-25.2 ESFR
5.2
830 20
1900
18, hours
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.

20. Total System Demand in L/pm
Proposed Design (NFPA ) for Exposed Expanded Plastics Stored in Open Racks using Vertical Barriers at 16’ Intervals m ceiling and 10.7 m of storage
Proposed
bar
L/pm per spr
No. of sprs calculated
Hose Stream in L/pm
Total System Demand in L/pm
K-16.8 ESFR & N252 EC In-Rack
3.4
520 12
950
6350+
NFPA 13
K-25.2 ESFR
4.1
740 15
12,050+
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.

21. Second Phase of Testing Cartoned Unexpanded, Group A Plastics
Primary Goals:
To reduce the number of in-rack sprinklers when compared to standard in-rack schemes and to reduce water demands.
To have a significant reduction of water demand for buildings up to 14.6 m high that can currently be protected by ceiling-only sprinklers.
Protect buildings higher than 14.6 m with low water demands.
Retrofit existing facilities, where the storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, without changing the existing ceiling sprinklers and/or increasing water flows or pressures.

22. To Date: Four Additional Fire Tests

23. Test 2 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective: By using a horizontal barrier at 9.1 m, the total water demand and pressure would be lower than existing ceiling-only sprinkler designs. Also to protect buildings higher than 14.6 m with one level of in-rack sprinklers.
Test 2
Ceiling Height
14.6 m
Storage Height
13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier
1 at the 9.1 m level
Ignition Point
At upright- face (aisle)
Ceiling Sprinklers
N 252 EC 18.2 m² and 2.1 bar
In-Rack Sprinklers
N 252 EC 100° 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated
3:01 minutes
In-Rack Spr. Operated
2 - 2:53 2:59
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil.
67° C

25. Ceiling In-Rack bar 2.1 520 6 3120+ N-252 EC Pendent 3 1560+
Proposed Design for Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics Stored in Racks up to and potentially over 14.6 m with Horizontal Barriers at the 9.1 m level
Ceiling
bar
L/pm per spr
No. of sprs . calculated
System Demand in L/pm
N-252 EC 18.2 m²/spr
2.1
520 6
3120+
The ceiling sprinkler design is based upon NFPA 13 and FM Global requirements for 9.1 m high ceilings with ceiling-only sprinkler protection.
In-Rack
N-252 EC Pendent 3
1560+
For comparison: Actual water demands will be higher based upon hydraulic calculations.
The in-rack sprinkler demand would not be added to the ceiling demand because of the horizontal barrier. The total system demand would be the ceiling demand at L/pm

26. Current UL Listings for 13.7 m High Buildings-Class 4/Group A Plastics
K22/K m²
Proposed Design N m²
Sprinkler demand
6440+ L/pm/7240+ L/pm
3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand
950 L/pm
Total demand
8390+ L/pm/8190+ L/pm
4070+ L/pm
Current UL Listings for 14.6 m High Buildings-Class 4/Group A Plastics
K22/K m²
Proposed Design N m²
Sprinkler demand
7550+ L/pm/8100+ L/pm
3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand
950 L/pm
Total demand
8500+ L/pm/9050+ L/pm
4070+ L/pm
Future Protection for 14.6 m+ High Buildings- Class 4/Group A Plastics
K22/K 25 ESFR
Proposed Design - N252 EC
Sprinkler demand NA
3120+ L/pm
Hose stream demand
950 L/pm
Total demand
4070+ L/pm

27. The Future of Storage Protection Tests 3, 4, & 5
24.4 m/36.4 m
18.3 m/27.3 m
12.2 m/18.2 m
6.1 m/9.1 m

28. Test 3 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective: By using multiple horizontal barriers at 6.1 m intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues.
Test 3
Ceiling Height
14.6 m
Storage Height
13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier
2 – 6.1 m level & 12.2 m level
Ignition Point
Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers
N 252 EC 18.2 m² and 0 psi
In-Rack Sprinklers
N 252 EC 100° 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated
3 – 20:40 21:15
In-Rack Spr. Operated
5 - 1:13 in 6.1 m level st in 12.2 m 13:40
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil.
235° C

29. Testing with a Continuous Barrier Across the Uprights
Tests 1, 2, & 3
Tests 4 & 5

30. Test 4 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective: By using multiple continuous horizontal barriers at 6.1 intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Test 4
Ceiling Height
14.6 m
Storage Height
13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier
2 – 6.1 m level & 12.2 m level
Ignition Point
Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers
N 252 EC 18.2 m² and 0 psi
In-Rack Sprinklers
N 252 EC 100° 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated
None
In-Rack Spr. Operated
4 – 6.1 m level only 1:26 1:36
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil.
28° C

31. Test 5 with Cartoned Unexpanded Plastics
Objective: By using multiple continuous horizontal barriers at 9.1 m intervals, high bay buildings may be protected with fewer in-rack sprinklers. No face sprinklers and no sprinklers in transverse flues. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Test 5
Ceiling Height
14.6 m
Storage Height
13.1 m on double row racks
Horizontal Barrier
1 – 9.1 m level
Ignition Point
Offset in Transverse Flue
Ceiling Sprinklers
N 252 EC 18.2 m² and 0 psi
In-Rack Sprinklers
N 252 EC 100° 2.1 bar
Ceiling Spr. Operated
None
In-Rack Spr. Operated
m level
Peak Steel Temp – Ceil.
28° C

32. View at 9.1 m Level Horizontal Barrier

33. In Conclusion:
For storage of exposed expanded plastics in double row, open framed racks: By installing a horizontal barrier at the 6.1 m level with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings up to 12.2 m high will have lower water demands than using ceiling-only sprinkler protection.

34. For storage of cartoned unexpanded plastics in double row, open framed racks: By installing a horizontal barrier at the 9.1 m level with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings up to 14.6 m high will have lower water demands than using ceiling-only sprinkler protection. Retrofit applications where storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, adding a horizontal barrier or barriers with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, may eliminate changing ceiling sprinklers or water supplies.

35. For storage of cartoned unexpanded plastics in double row, open framed racks:
By installing continuous horizontal barriers at 6.1 m to 9.1 m levels with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, buildings over 14.6 m high may be protected while reducing the number of sprinklers required by current in-rack schemes. Fires may be contained between barriers with no horizontal spread.
Retrofit applications of high bay buildings where storage commodities or methods of storage have changed, adding continuous horizontal barriers with the Model N252 EC Pendent, used as in-rack sprinklers, may eliminate changing ceiling sprinklers or water supplies while greatly reducing the quantity of in-rack sprinklers.

36. Thank
You!