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FIRE SERVICE AND GENERAL FIRE SAFETY TOPICS => Technical Advice => Topic started by: kurnal on January 20, 2014, 10:58:32 AM

Title: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: kurnal on January 20, 2014, 10:58:32 AM

I have a copy of a BRE document "The interaction of sprinklers and roof venting in industrial buildings: The current knowledge" by Heselden BSc FiFireE dated 1984.

Apart from ESFR sprinklers, where TB209 is very specific, does the Heselden document still represent the current knowledge or does anyone know of more recent written work on this topic?

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: wee brian on January 20, 2014, 02:27:23 PM

I think things have moved on since then.

There was a lot of argy bargy about it for some years, but not much has been said recently.

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: Tom Sutton on January 21, 2014, 09:50:37 AM

You could check out Colt I am sure they would be able to help. http://blog.coltinfo.co.uk/download-the-whitepaper-sprinklers-vs-smoke-ventilators/

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: John Webb on January 21, 2014, 10:09:31 PM

Work was undertaken by FRS/BRE in the 1990s which substantially replaces Alan Heseldine's 1984 paper. Publications include work done with Colt and published in 1993 under the title "Large-scale Experiments with Roof Vents and Sprinklers" - authors were P Hinckley  & G Hansell (Colts), N Marshall and R Harrison (FRS).

A look at the BRE bookshop may throw up other items. Best contact is probably Dr Corrine Williams at BRE (Mon-Weds).

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: kurnal on January 22, 2014, 05:26:04 PM

Thanks for your help. there is also a copy of a similar report with the same title available for download on the NIST site.

I am in the middle of an argument between a client and his insurer, the insurer is insisting that the vents be switched to manual and fusible links be changed to 30 degrees above sprinkler bulb temperature, the fusible links are currently are set to 68 deg same as the heads.

Whilst the vents can fairly easily be converted to open when the pumps cut  in, changing the fusible links on 150 vents is  not so easy.

As I read the reports the fusible links will be a less critical issue and worth arguing over. If the vent is over the fire, fusible link operation is unlikely to delay operation of sprinkler. If the vent is not over the fire the sprinklers are bound to operate first.

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: John Webb on January 23, 2014, 07:47:48 PM

Glad to have been of some help. I wasn't directly involved with this work so can't recall the fine detail, alas.

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: Tom Sutton on January 23, 2014, 08:05:57 PM

This subject has been discussed before http://fire.org.uk/forum/index.php?topic=4690.0

Title: Re: Interaction of sprinkler systems and roof vents
Post by: patrickhamblin on January 31, 2014, 02:18:53 PM

Take a look at FM Global datasheet 1-10, revised January 2011. It is freely available on the FM Global website.