Foam dry riser suppression system

[terry martin]

Has anyone heard of a foam dry riser being used as a suppression system in a enclosed car park/garage?

The car park is enclosed and forms part of the ground floor of the building, the car park is 25mx15m and has suitable mechanical ventilation.

I know this system is used in large diesel/oil storage tanks, but have never heard of it being used in this manner

A few concerns immediately spring to mind.

1. The system would rely on the FRS
2. The crews could not start to apply foam unless they have sufficient stock to          complete the task, no appliance holds that much.
3. You would have to effectively fill the garage up to have any effect.

personally i think this is an attempt at a cost saving exercise, i think they would be better of with a sprinkler system. They argue that they have used them before with no objections.

[kurnal]

Is there a system of nozzles in the proposal? It seems a crazy proposal- sledgehammer and nut springs to mind.
Broadcast a valuable limited firefighting resource everywhere instead of focussing it on the fire?

Cant see any reason to install sprinkers / fire mains in the scenario described in any case. Ventilation should normally suffice under current building regulations.

[John Webb]

If it does feed into sprinklers in the car park are these ordinary sprinklers or foam-making sprinklers? I've only ever come across these fitted to protect particular machinery rooms or flammable-liquid storage areas.

Have you actually been able to trace where the system goes to? Is it possible this foam system was installed to cover a fuel storage tank and/or boiler for central heating somewhere in the building and which has since been removed? (And the foam riser wasn't?)

[messy]

Terry

I assume it is in place (or proposed) as a compensatory measure. Is this the case and if so why?

[AnthonyB]

Is this a new build? Lots of older buildings that used to have boilers fired by oil had a foam inlet system to the tanks & boiler room, just open pipes with spreaders over the risk through which foam could be pumped, the inlet being designed & tapered to BS336 to accommodate most standard fire service foam making branches.

They don't really get fitted much these days, although I've seen water mist systems & flame detection used in a refurbished buildings derv generator tank room to provide cover (but without brigade involvement).

If a system is required then it usually would be sprinklers as foam inlets require brigade attendance & to be effective in a car park would need a complex piping system

[terry martin]

this is not a new build, the foam dry riser is shown on the original plans, but does not show for what purpose. I do agree that a suppression system is not required, it appears the owners of the building are requesting a suppression sytem be installed (they probably have a few v.nice cars). this is the designers solution.