11/19/2012

HydraulicCalculationof InRackSprinklers
KennethE E.Isman Isman,P P.E. E F F.S.F.P.E. S FPE VicePresidentofEngineering

AIACESProgram#:NFSATV1512 Provider#:G131 1.5LU/HSW

NationalFireSprinklerAssociationisaRegisteredProviderwithTheAmerican InstituteofArchitectsContinuingEducationSystems(AIA/CES).Credit(s) p ofthisp program g willbereported p toAIA/CES / forAIA earnedoncompletion members.CertificatesofCompletionforbothAIAmembersandnonAIA membersareavailableuponrequest. ThisprogramisregisteredwithAIA/CES forcontinuingprofessionaleducation. Assuch,itdoesnotincludecontentthatmaybedeemedorconstruedto beanapprovalorendorsementbytheAIAofanymaterialofconstruction oranymethodormannerofhandling,using,distributing,ordealinginany materialorproduct. Questionsrelatedtospecificmaterials,methods,andserviceswillbe addressedattheconclusionofthispresentation
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CopyrightMaterials
ThispresentationisprotectedbyUSand InternationalCopyrightlaws.Reproduction, distribution,displayanduseofthe presentationwithoutwrittenpermissionof TheNationalFireSprinklerAssociationis prohibited.

ProgramDescription
Thehydrauliccalculationproceduresforinrack sprinklersareverydifferentfromtheprocedures forceilingsprinklers.Determinationofthe numberofsprinklersthatmightopenifthereisa fireaswellasthelocationofthemostdemanding sprinklers p canbeachallenge. g Next,theuser needstobedetermineiftheinracksprinkler demandneedstobeaddedto(andbalanced with)theceilingsprinklerdemand.Procedures willbeprovidedforallofthesestepsinthe calculationprocessaswellasadiscussionof decisionsthatcanbemade(sprinklerselection, pipesizingandpipelocation)tomakethesystem asefficientaspossible.
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NationalFireSprinklerAssociation2012

LearningObjectives
Attheendofthisprogram,participantswillbeableto: 1. Calculatethecorrectnumberofinracksprinklers fordifferentcommoditiesbeingprotected. 2 Select 2. S l tthe th correct tlocation l ti of fthe th in i rack ksprinklers i kl tobecalculated. 3. Correctlyapplytherulesregardingthebalancingof inracksprinklerdemandswithceilingsprinkler demands. 4. Calculatethesizethepipefeedingtheinrack systemtobemostefficient.

HydraulicCalculation ofInRackSprinklers
Assumptions/discussion Howmanysprinklers? Wherearethey? Minimumflowandpressure? Calculationtechnique Balancetoceilingsprinklers? Makingthedesignmost efficient

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Assumptions
Youvealreadydecidedtouse inracksprinklerstoprotectthe commodity Youvealreadydecidedhow manylevelsofinrack sprinklerstoinstall Youvealreadydecidedwhere thepipingisgoingtogo

Assumptions
Wereusingthesectionnumbers fromthe2010editionofNFPA 13inthisprogram Previouseditionshavesimilar rules justthesectionnumbers rules, havechanged Forthe2013edition(which mostpeoplehavenotseenyet) therulesaresimilar,buthave beenclarifiedwheresomeholes existed

HydraulicCalculations
Performedtotellyou
Whatpipesizewillbebest? Willthewatersupplyprovidethe flowandpressurenecessaryto control/suppressafire?

Howmanysprinklerswillbeopen?
NFPA13
ClassIIVCommodity GroupAPlastics Rubbertires

NFPA30 Flammable l bl and d CombustibleLiquids NFPA30B Aerosols Willdependon:

Numberoflevelsofinracks Typeofsprinklersattheceiling

NFPA13 2010
ClassIIVCommodity(Chapter16)
Storage25ftandless(16.2) Storageover25ft(16.3)

ClassIIVCommodity
Storageupto25ft(16.2.4.3.1)
IfspraysprinklersorCMSA sprinklersattheceiling
1levelprotectingClassI,IIorIII:6 sprinklers 1levelprotectingClassIV:8sprinklers 2ormorelevelsprotectingClassI,II orIII:10sprinklers(5onthetoptwo levels) 2ormorelevelsprotectingClassIV: 14sprinklers(7onthetoptwolevels)

GroupAPlastics(Chapter17)
Storage25ftandless(17.2) Storageover25ft(17.3)

RubberTires(18.5)

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Example1 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks

Example1 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks
PlanView

PlanView

ElevationView DoubleRowRacks

ElevationView DoubleRowRacks

Example1 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks
PlanView

ClassIIVCommodity
Storageover25ft(16.3.4.3)
IfspraysprinklersorCMSA sprinklersattheceiling
1levelprotectingClassI,IIorIII:6 sprinklers 1levelprotectingClassIV:8sprinklers 2ormorelevelsprotectingClassI,IIor III:10sprinklers(5onthetoptwo levels) 2ormorelevelsprotectingClassIV:14 sprinklers(7onthetoptwolevels)

ElevationView DoubleRowRacks

Calculate10sprinklers:5onthetoptwolevels

ClassIIVCommodity
Anystorageheight(16.3.3.5)
IfESFRsprinklersattheceiling
Calculate8sprinklersononelevel

GroupAPlastics
Storageofanyheight(17.2.4.3 forupto25ft;17.3.4.3for over25ft)
IfspraysprinklersorCMSA sprinklersattheceiling
1level:8sprinklers 2ormorelevels:14sprinklers(7onthe toptwolevels)

IfESFRsprinklersattheceiling: calculate8sprinklers(onone level)

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RubberTireStorage
18.5.3and18.5.1
If1levelofinracksprinklers, calculate12sprinklers Ifmorethan1level,calculate likeplastics(Chapter17)
14sprinklers(7onthetoptwo levels)

Whatifyoudonthaveenough inracksprinklersonalevel?
Calculateallofthesprinklers withinarack,including sprinklersonotherlevels,but youarenotrequiredtojump theaisle SeeExample2
SameasExample1 Supposedtocalculate10 sprinklers,5oneachlevel Only7sprinklersineachrack

Example2 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks
Calculate7 Sprinklers

MinimumFlowandPressure?
NFPA13
ClassIIVCommodity GroupAPlastics Rubbertires

Aisle

NFPA30 Flammable l bl and d CombustibleLiquids NFPA30B Aerosols Willdependon:

Typeofsprinklersattheceiling

ElevationViewDoubleRowRacks

ClassIIVCommodity
Storageupto25ft(16.2.4.4)
IfspraysprinklersorCMSA sprinklersattheceiling
15psiminimum

Example1 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks
PlanView

21.7gpmat15psi

21.7gpmfork5.6sprinkler 31.0gpmfork8.0sprinkler 43.4gpmfork11.2sprinkler Whichwouldyouchoose?

Calculate10sprinklers:5onthetoptwolevels

ElevationView DoubleRowRacks

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ClassIIVCommodity
Storageover25ft(16.3.4.3.1)
IfspraysprinklersorCMSA sprinklersattheceiling
Minimum30gpm

ClassIIVCommodity
Anystorageheight(16.3.3.5)
IfESFRsprinklersattheceiling 50psi,mustusek8.0sprinklers 56.6 56 6gpmat t50psi i

28.7psifork5.6sprinkler 14.1psifork8.0sprinkler 7.2psifork11.2sprinkler Whichsprinklerwouldyou choose?

GroupAPlastics SpraySprinklersatCeiling
Forstorageupto25ft,depends ontheinrackconfiguration selectedfromtheFigures:
Figure17.2.1.2.1(b)&(f):15psi Figure17.2.1.2.1(c), 17 2 1 2 1(c) (d)and(e):
15psiwhensprinklersareatevery otherflueintersection 15psifork8and30psifork5.6 whensprinklersareateveryflue

GroupAPlastics ESFRSprinklersatCeiling
Mustusek8.0 60gpm(17.3.3.4.1) 56.3psi

Forstorageover25ft:
30gpmregardlessofsituation

RubberTireStorage
18.5.4
30psi 30.7gpmfork5.6sprinkler 43.8 43 8gpmf fork8.0 8 0sprinkler i kl 61.3gpmfork11.2sprinkler

HydraulicCalculation ofInRackSprinklers
Assumptions/discussion Howmanysprinklers? Wherearethey? Minimumflowandpressure? Calculationtechnique Balancetoceilingsprinklers? Makingthedesignmost efficient

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CalculationTechnique
Justlikewithceilingsprinklers
Startatmostremotesprinkler withflowandpressure Workbackwardstothewater supplyaddingpressure increasesduetofrictionloss Addflowsfromotheropen sprinklersencounteredonthe way Adjustforelevationchanges

Example1 ClassIII,2LevelsofInRacks
PlanView 21.7gpmat15psi

B A

54321 109876

ElevationView DoubleRowRacks

Calculate10sprinklers:5onthetoptwolevels

InRackCalculation

InRackDemand
AtPointC 235gpmat71psi

1.2 15.4 22.0

CeilingSprinklerDemand
Assumptions
ClassIIICommodity Encapsulated 4ftaisles HighTemperaturek8.0sprinklers

CeilingSprinklerDemand
Aftercalculation,ceilingsprinkler demandatPointCis:
665gpmat84psi

NFPA13requirements
Figure16.2.1.3.2(f);CurveC 0.345gpmpersqftover2000sqft Reduceby20%duetoextralevelof inracksprinklers(see16.2.1.3.4.4) Finaldensity/area:0.276gpm/sqft over2000sqft

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PutDemandsTogether
Ceiling
665gpmat84psi

BalancingtheFlows
BasicProcedure
1. Calculatethetwodemands separatelyfromthemost remotepointtothenode wheretheyconnect 2. Getthekfactorforthelower Q pressuresituation:

InRack
235gpmat71psi

Cantaddflowsunlessthe pressureisthesame Adjustingthelowerpressure situationtothehigherpressureis calledBalancingtheFlows

3. Applythekfactortothe higherpressuretogetthenew flow: Q K P 4. Addthetwoflowstogether

Example1
1. Calculatethetwodemands separately
a. InRacks:235gpmat71psi b. Ceiling:665gpmat84psi Ceiling: 665gpm at84psi

NodeC
ToCeilingSprinklers ToInRackSprinklers

2. GettheKfactorforthelower pressuresituation
Whichisthelowerpressure situation?

InRacks:235gpmat71psi

Example1
1. Calculatethetwodemands separately
a. InRacks:235gpmat71psi b. Ceiling:665gpmat84psi

Example1
3. ApplytheKfactortothe higherpressure

2. GettheKfactorforthelower pressuresituation
InRacksarethelowersituationin thiscase

Q K P 27.89 84 Q 256

Q 235 27.89 P 71

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Example1
4. Addtheflowstogether
InRacks:256gpmat84psi Ceiling:665gpmat84psi Total:921gpmat84psi

AddingFlowsFromInRack SprinklerstoCeilingSprinklers
Alwaysdoitunlessthestandard specificallysaysnotto Happensforsomeflammableand combustibleliquids(NFPA30)and aerosol(NFPA30B)arrangements
Manyinracksprinklers Manybarriersintheracks Ceilingsprinklersdontbecome involvedinfightingthefireunlessthe verytopoftherackisburning

HydraulicCalculation ofInRackSprinklers
Assumptions/discussion Howmanysprinklers? Wherearethey? Minimumflowandpressure? Calculationtechnique Balancetoceilingsprinklers? Makingthedesignmost efficient

MakingtheDesign MostEfficient
Systemswithinrackand ceilingsprinklersaremost efficientwhentheinrack demandmatchestheceiling p demandatthepoint p sprinkler ofconnection Issuesthateffectefficiency
Sprinklerselected Pipingsizes Distancespipeneedstoberun

CanwemakeExample1 moreefficient?
IndividualDemands
InRacks:235gpmat71psi Ceiling:665gpmat84psi

CanweMakeExample1 MoreEfficient?
IndividualDemands
InRacks:235gpmat71psi Ceiling:665gpmat84psi Couldincreasepipesizeinthe ceilingsprinklersystemtoget thedemanddownto71psi Coulddecreasethepipesizein theinracksystemtogetthe demandupto84psi

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InRackSprinklerSystem
10ftof2inchpipe 196ftof2-inchpipeandfittings -inchwill More2inchandless2 makethesystemmoreefficient Buthowmuchmore?

FrictionLoss
Flowtoinracksprinklers: 235gpm FrictionLossin2inch: 0.456psi/ft FrictionLossin2 inch: 0.192psi/ft
0.264psi/ftdifference

Needtomakeupa differenceof13psi (84 71=13)

FrictionLoss
13 49 0.264
Replace49ftof2inch pipewith2inchpipeand thepressuredemandfor bothwillbe84psi

FlowComparison
Totaldemandwith10ftof 2inch:921gpmat84psi Totaldemandwith59ftof 2inch:665+235=900gpm at84psi Saved21gpmbychanging49 ftof2inchpipeto2inch

HydraulicCalculation ofInRackSprinklers
Assumptions/discussion Howmanysprinklers? Wherearethey? Minimumflowandpressure? Calculationtechnique Balancetoceilingsprinklers? Makingthedesignmost efficient