Simplex Smoke and Heat Detector Performance Field Demonstration Test Results

IRE JOURNAL and Heat Detector Performance Demonstration Test Results compliments of the January 1984 Fire Journal 78 No 1 Copyright National Fire Protection Quincy MA Reprinted with permission Plaza MA 01441 0001 USA with permission January 1984 Fire Journal Vol 78 No 1 Fire Protection Quincy MA and Heat Detector Performance Demonstration Test Results A DROUIN E COTE P E demolition service hotel and fire protection witnessed a series of 11 demonstration conducted September 8 10 an old hotel Ft Lauderdale Florida purpose of the fire tests was to observe the operation a retrofit automatic sprinkler installed with sprinklers and polybutylene pipe and to observe the perlbrmance of smoke and heat detec various locations in the five test rooms installed previous article described sprinkler performance article will discuss the performance of smoke and detectors during 11 tests fire tests were designed to simulate common hotel scenarios The following scenarios were chosen for test series A Arson a hotel room B Flaming started in a wastepaper basket a hotel guest room C Arson fire involving in a hotel guest D Hotel corridor tests maid cart and ar E Fire in maid cart in a hotel storage room a hotel guest F Smouldering started were conducted fire floor of a vacant five story conditions during at the time of the test series five rooms on the hotel 8P87 and relative humidity hotel was not air test series included heights in the guest rooms and corridor were 8 5 inches and ceiling height in the storage room was feet 2 inches Walls and ceiling were noncombustible on concrete Drouin Manager of Industry Affairs at Simplex Time Recorder Gardner Massachusetts Mr Cote is NFPA Assistant Vice for Engineering Arthur E Cote of a Field Test of a Retrofit Sprinkler FIRE JOURNAL Vol 77 No 3 May 1983 p 93 JOURNAL numbers 1 provides additional on test num fire test methods furnishings and ventilation use of the eleven fires were flaming started and two smouldering started fire progressed from the smouldering stage the flaming stage Test 9 was terminated after with no visible smoke and no detectors operated smouldering System Design test room was equipped witha series of detector consisting of a 135 heat detector a photoelectric smoke detector an ionization each cluster A typ cluster detector Figure shown total of 42 detectors 14 clusters was installed as in Figure 2 The smoke detectors used in these were at random and not to be extra sensitive The average sensitiv 1 Typical detector cluster 1 windows in both windows in Test 3 to guest room windows closed Test 7 Ceiling of Ceiling Wall below Ceiling of Ceiling Wall bekw Wall h w to guest room windows closed 3 7 Test 11 as Test and windows in Test 10 as Test 1 mineral poured edge of bed on floor to drapes 5 Yz gallon poured on at entrance room and on bed rolled news provided in both tests through at bottom of wastepaper igniting and crum newspaper as Room 1 10 but with additional u of acetone over cloth and suitcase 10 4 oz acetone based polish was spread clothing and A cig lighter Room Dimen Nos x x x x wall to wall drapes vinyl covered end table double bed box spring with fabric and two rubber pillows pillow cases as Room 1 vinyl wall attached wall behind Dra in Test 3 fiberglass cloth sheer draperies Test 7 were rayon acetate 8 poly as above but chairs end table and cloth identical in Room 1 10 were added as Tests 1 5 but with chairs lamp table 10 of clothing 65 35 cotton dumped bed A suit was placed top of wall to carpeting Test 8 a hotel maid was located corridor as Test 6 x 4 1 gallon flammable acetone 25 mineral poured on Flaming provided 8 same Test 6 windows in both Test 8 windows 1 and 3 other of closed were open Ceiling Ceiling Ceiling continued on next page JOURNAL 35 Nos Room Dimen Typical hotel x 1 continued fire placed hole at of trash igniting windows Ceiling of x Guest 2 energized on bed pillow 9 energized watt iron on bed pillow windows in both Test 2 in 3 were Ceiling of Ceiling Wall below cart plastic filled newspaper and plas shower cur Linen were on of the cart as Room 1 without lamp table 2 Room 1 205 206 Room 2 203 4