4.1 Design Objectives.

In general, water spray shall be considered effective for

any one of or a combination of the following objectives (see Chapter 7):

(1) Extinguishment of fire

Extinguishment of fire by water spray is accomplished by cooling, smothering from produced

steam, emulsification of some liquids, dilution in some cases, or a combination of these
factors.

(2) Control of burning

Control of fires is accomplished by an application of water spray to the burning materials,

producing controlled burning. The principle of control can be applied where combustible
materials are not susceptible to complete extinguishment by water spray or where complete
extinguishment is not considered desirable.

(3) Exposure protection

Effective exposure protection is accomplished by application of water spray directly to the

exposed structures or equipment to remove or reduce the heat transferred to them from the
exposing fire. Water spray curtains are less effective than direct application but can, under
favorable conditions, provide some protection against fire exposure through subdivision of
fire areas. Unfavorable conditions can include such factors as windage, thermal updrafts,
and inadequate drainage.

(4) Prevention of fire

Start of fire is prevented by the use of water sprays to dissolve, dilute, disperse, or cool
flammable materials or to reduce flammable vapor concentrations below the lower
flammable limit (LFL).