ANTIFREEZE IN SPRINKLER SYSTEMS SHOULD BE BANNED

Submitted by:
Muralla, Tricia Emanuel Anne T.

GENCHEMM2 AND RNW

GRADE 11 STEM 9
2nd semester, A.Y. 2018-2019

MARCH 18 2019
A solution of a water and an active antifreeze ingredient is flooded into wet pipe systems to
keep the water from freezing. These antifreeze solutions typically contain a mixture of water
and either propylene glycol or glycerin at specific ratios.There are some issues that are
connected with this solution propylene glycol and glycerin are flammable substances that can
ignite at a high enough concentration (Quick Response Fire Supply, 2018), In addition not all
solutions are mixed at proper proportions, and solutions that are do not always stay that way;
since water and the active ingredients have different densities (antifreeze is heavier), they
naturally tend to separate over time due to gravity. There are many incidents already
happened regarding with antifreeze solution, it states that it can really harm us humans. In
March, the NFPA issued a new set of TIAs (Tentative Interim Amendments) which establish
new approaches to the use of antifreeze in both new and existing residential occupancies, as
well as in non-residential occupancies

All new and existing systems are now required to have a placard, or tag, affixed to the riser
indicating the type of antifreeze, system volume, antifreeze concentration by volume, the date
and the name and license number of the contractor performing the work. Leading industry
manufacturers of fire sprinkler antifreeze products provide these tags at no charge.

There are advantages and disadvantages using antifreeze solution, one other advantage of
the anti-freeze system is that the interior of the piping will not scale as it would on a dry
system. The reduction in corrosion, then, will extend the life of the piping system. Also, the
anti-freeze system has a life safety advantage considering that, with dry systems, there is a
longer lag time (up to 60 seconds) for water to hit a spreading fire after a sprinkler fuses.
(Bromann Mark, 2009). On the other hand there are a lot of disadvantages, some
investigators infer, “Discharging a solution of glycerine-based antifreeze which was ignited by
the flames coming from the burning onions in the frying pan and resulting in the explosion of
the glycerine solution.” There was this incident in 2002 where ceiling-mounted heaters on the
outside porch of a Monmouth Beach, NJ restaurant set off sidewall sprinklers. They sprayed a
propylene glycol-water solution which resulted a flash fire, Several restaurant patrons
received medical treatment for smoke inhalation and thermal skin burns. And in 2010, a
mother and her three-year-old son suffered second- and third-degree burns when fire
sprinklers deployed in their Herriman, Utah apartment. A propylene glycol solution had
caused the fire to spread rapidly (QRFS, 2018). The sprinkler installation provide a guidance
for the use of antifreeze and there was change to the basic necessity until 2010, a fire
incident occurred in August 2009 in an apartment at Truckee, California that raised different
concerns about antifreeze solutions in sprinkler systems. On July 6, 2010 NFPA issued safety
alerts about the use of antifreeze for the protection of residential people it should be drained
and refilled with water.
 For all new systems, solutions containing glycerin are limited to 48% by volume, and systems
using propylene glycol are limited to 38%. The solutions must be factory premixed. This
provides a protection level of -16° F for systems with glycerin and -3° F for glycol. (Leavitt
Russ, 2013).

Regarding with this happenings antifreeze solution in sprinkler system should not be use
especially with those people who are living in a small apartment with children. NFPA has
issued a follow-up to its July 2010 safety alert to provide updated guidance on the use of
antifreeze in residential fire sprinkler systems. This safety alert was issued after an incident
with a residential fire sprinkler installation involving a grease fire in a kitchen which resulted in
a fatality and one other person been serious injure (NFP, 2018). However the bigger incidents
dealing with these existing systems using antifreeze solution for me, NFPA should find
another way or another solution regarding with sprinkler systems before going into coming
year’s cold season.