This is a follow-up to our November 2020 article on the development of fluorine free firefighting foams, Comparison Testing of the New “Fluorine Free” Firefighting Foams. AFFF: Aqueous film forming foam For over half a…
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Water alone is typically not effective in controlling or extinguishing fires involving low flash point ignitable liquids. As a result, foam/water mixtures, utilizing Class B firefighting foams referred to as Aqueous Film Forming Foams (AFFF)…
Read MoreHigh pressure hydraulic, gear and bearing lubrication and rolling fluids are used to operate rolling mills that process primary metals. Mill rolls are driven by large several thousand horsepower motors. Rolling mills are computer controlled…
Read MoreIndustrial fryers are used in the food industry to produce all kinds of pre-cooked foods and snacks including french fries, chicken wings and tortilla chips just to name a few. Large fryers can contain up…
Read MoreFM Global recently updated their Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 8-9, Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities (July 2019 edition), to include ceiling-only sprinkler designs for ceiling heights up to 50…
Read MoreViking’s Model VK514 ESFR Storage Sprinkler is now FM Approved to provide ceiling-only protection for storage up to 50 ft. under ceilings up to 55 ft. in height. Key sprinkler data is as follows: K28.0,…
Read MoreAs the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states, “NFPA 13 is the industry benchmark for design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. NFPA 13 addresses sprinkler system design approaches, system installation, and component options…
Read MoreKidde recently identified a potential product safety issue related to certain models of its fire extinguishers. As a result, the company is voluntarily recalling these extinguishers. The recall involves 134 models of Kidde fire extinguishers…
Read MoreIn 2015 and 2016 two large warehouse property fires occurred to General Electric (GE) in Louisville, KY and Gap in Fishkill, NY. GE Louisville, KY Fire – Appliance Park Fire Occurred April 3, 2015 An…
Read MoreFire stopping materials are used to retain the integrity of fire rated construction by maintaining an effective barrier against the spread of flame, smoke, and hot gases through penetrations in fire rated walls and floor…
Read MoreWater tanks for fire protection (whether suction tanks for fire pumps, pressure tanks or gravity tanks) are sometimes needed where: a water utility cannot provide adequate flow, pressure and/or duration for a site, if it…
Read MoreIron and steel sprinkler piping, particularly dry pipe sprinkler systems, are subject to blockage and degraded flow performance by internal corrosion and tuberculation of the interior of the piping. We are all familiar with common…
Read MoreThe Viking Corporation has introduced the next size in Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) technology with their model VK514 sprinkler head. This pendent head has a nominal Kfactor of 28.0 (404 metric), with a 1in.…
Read MoreCounterfeit equipment and materials, no matter whether it is currency, watches or medicine, affect the reliability of the end user’s systems as well as the reputation of the authentic manufacturers. Automatic sprinkler heads are no…
Read MoreYou might think that since you have smoke detection and/or heat detection in your building that it is almost as good as having sprinkler protection to protect your property. Is there really that much difference…
Read MoreThe old requirement/standard for the installation of pressure relief valves was only for gridded systems. Since 2010, NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems requires relief valves for all wet-pipe systems. The current…
Read MoreRecent studies by Liberty Mutual and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) have shown that sprinklers are the most effective way to reduce loss of life and property damage in industrial occupancies (warehouses and manufacturing facilities).…
Read MoreIn the 2011 Edition of NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, the frequency of exercising electric motor driven fire pumps was changed from weekly to monthly; exercising of diesel engine…
Read MoreBreak tanks are utilized in fire protection systems for three main reasons: As a backflow prevention device between the jurisdictional water supply and the fire pump suction. In this case the jurisdiction chooses not to…
Read MoreFlue spaces are necessary for rack storage arrangements to allow heat from a fire to quickly vent vertically. This is critical in order to help ensure the ceiling-level sprinklers will operate as quickly as possible.…
Read MoreIn times gone by, sprinkler heads came in basic flavors, with a few relatively limited options and permutations available: 1/2 inch orifice, 17/32 inch orifice, low, medium, or high temperature. Today, like much else in…
Read MoreYou may have a wet or dry chemical system in the hoods above cooking equipment in your kitchen. Both of these systems should be tested at least semi-annually by a service technician per NFPA 17A,…
Read MoreMany jurisdictions have adopted NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, to help ensure that sprinkler systems are properly inspected and maintained. Many property insurance companies often require that this standard…
Read MoreIf the temperature can or will be below 40°F, the sprinkler piping or heads need to be protected against freezing. There are several methods of automatic sprinkler protection that should be evaluated. Antifreeze Because water…
Read MoreProcessing, handling and storing of combustible dusts within enclosed equipment (i.e., mixers, blenders, mills, separators, cutting tools, holding bins, dust collectors, cyclones, etc.) can easily create an explosive atmosphere that could be ignited by tramp…
Read MoreBooster pumps are often needed to boost the pressure of the city water supply to make it adequate for sprinkler system designs. However, an unintended result could be obtaining pressures that are too high. This…
Read MoreFM Global Data Sheet 3-26, Fire Protection Water Demand for Nonstorage Sprinklered Properties, is used to determine sprinkler system designs and hose demands for non-storage occupancies, which are not considered storage occupancies in facilities. FM…
Read MoreOur previous articles in October 2004 and August 2006 touched on the subject of the need for heat and smoke vents in fully sprinklered facilities. We wrote about engineering and fire testing research versus Building…
Read MoreHVLS fans were originally used in Australia in the dairy industry to help keep humidity low for the cattle. When the original design was introduced in Australia, it was mandatory for the HVLS fans to…
Read MoreThe term fire pump is often used to describe both a fire pump and a booster pump. While the pumps themselves can be the same in both instances, the terms describe different arrangements. A fire…
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