VdS

VdS Guidelines for Water Mist Systems 3883-6en

Fire Test Protocol for

Water Mist Systems
Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths

VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01)

Publisher and publishing house: VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH

Amsterdamer Str. 172-174

50735 Köln, Germany
Phone: +49 221 77 66 0; Fax: +49 221 77 66 341

Copyright by VdS Schadenverhütung GmbH. All rights reserved.

Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01)

VdS Guidelines for Water Mist Systems

Fire Test Protocol for

Water Mist Systems
Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths
This document is binding only if its application has been agreed on a case-by-case basis.
Otherwise, any consideration of this document is non-binding. An agreement for
application of this document is entirely optional. On a case-by-case basis, third parties
may also accept, at their discretion, other requirements that do not comply with this
document.

Content
1 General ..................................................................................................................... 4
1.1 Objectives ............................................................................................................. 4
1.2 Validity .................................................................................................................. 4
2 Normative references ............................................................................................. 4
3 Test scenarios ......................................................................................................... 5
4 Test criteria .............................................................................................................. 5
5 Test assembly ......................................................................................................... 5
5.1 Paint booth ............................................................................................................ 6
5.2 Car body ............................................................................................................... 7
5.3 Ignition source....................................................................................................... 7
6 Fire detection and fire extinguishment ................................................................. 8
7 Measured value recording ..................................................................................... 8
8 Test procedure ...................................................................................................... 10
8.1 Requirements for the test assembly ................................................................... 10
8.2 Test procedure pool fire ...................................................................................... 11
8.3 Test procedure spray fire/spillage....................................................................... 11

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1 General
1.1 Objectives
This test procedure is designed to assess the extinguishing ability of a water mist system
installed in paint booths, as it is used in the automotive industry for painting cars or
commercial vehicles.

The purpose of this test procedure is to verify that water mist systems tested according to
this procedure are sufficiently effective in this particular type of protection. The results do
not apply to any other than the applications specified below or to any greater room
heights.

In case of a positive result of the fire and extinguishing tests specified in this concept, the
water mist system to be approved can be used for protecting the following risks:

Automatically operated paint booths in which the following combustible liquids are used:

 combustible liquids with a flash point greater than or at least equal to that of the liquid
used in the fire test;
 liquids which are less hazardous as regards their ignitability or their fire behaviour.

The VdS project manager (or deputy) and staff member of the VdS Laboratories witness
the tests.

As a matter of principle, verification tests according to the test series shall also be carried
out. Moreover, a hydraulic calculation of the system with all relevant data (pressure at the
nozzle/sprinkler, etc.) shall be submitted to VdS Schadenverhütung.

Prior to testing, any questions or deviations from the test assembly, parameters or similar
shall be agreed with VdS Schadenverhütung.

The applicant shall outline the system to be tested in a schematic diagram and submit
this to VdS for preparation of the tests. The diagram shall include any components
required for the testing and any dimensions (e. g. lengths of pipes, distances of
nozzles/sprinklers, etc.).

1.2 Validity
These guidelines are valid from 1st July 2020.

Note: This is a translation of the German guidelines. If there are any discrepancies, the
German version shall be binding.

2 Normative references
These guidelines contain dated and undated references to other regulations (in
alphabetical order). The normative references are cited in the respective clauses, the
titles are listed below. For dated references, subsequent amendments to or revisions of
any of these regulations apply to these guidelines only when published by revision or
amendment of these guidelines. For undated references the latest edition of the
regulation referred to applies.

Prior to testing, any preconditions and requirements specified in the respective procedure
guidelines shall be fulfilled.

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Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01)

VdS 2344 Procedures for the testing, approval, certification and conformity assess-
ment of products and systems of fire protection and security technologies

VdS 2562 Procedures for the approval of new extinguishing techniques

VdS 3115 Procedures for the approval of new protection concepts

VdS 3188 VdS Guidelines for Water Mist Systems

3 Test scenarios
A typical paint booth and various fire scenarios are simulated for the test assembly.

The following scenarios are tested in different procedures:

 test assembly 1: spray fire

 test assembly 2: pool fire + spillage

Fuel shall be heptane. If substances are used in practice which have higher combustibility
than heptane, VdS shall be consulted. In this case, further fire and extinguishing tests
may be required.

Before the tests are carried out, the applicant shall verify that the fuel quantity is sufficient
for a minimum burning time of 20 minutes. For this purpose, a free-burn test shall be
carried out witnessed by VdS, in which the specified fuel quantity is burned and burning
time is recorded.

For both test assemblies, repeat tests shall be carried out to confirm the effectiveness of
the extinguishing system.

4 Test criteria
The tests are considered successful, when the following requirements are fulfilled:

 the fire shall be extinguished within the operating time

 no re-ignition shall occur within 10 minutes after extinguishment
 depending on the practical application, the temperatures shall not exceed the defined
values at specified measuring points. The threshold temperatures depend, among
other things, on the properties and quantities of combustible materials of the paint
booth (e. g. lining with foil) and shall be agreed with VdS beforehand.
 all fire pans can be successfully re-ignited after the test

The test duration is 15 minutes for a future operating time of at least 30 minutes.

5 Test assembly
The test assembly to be provided by the applicant shall be in accordance with the
following specifications and figures.

For the fire and extinguishing tests a paint booth shall be simulated whose size, shape
and materials correspond to those of a real paint booth.

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The test assembly shall include the following elements:

 paint booth
 car body according to IMO 1272
 several fire pans filled with fuel to be distributed in the room
 spray fire/spillage

5.1 Paint booth

The applicant shall provide the simulation of a paint booth corresponding to the following
requirements:

 dimensions and construction of the booth:

௅ height (h) and width (w) of the cabin shall be specified by the applicant. In a
sectional structure length (l) designates the length of one section in which there
are no fuels deviating from the test assembly or in which a modified risk is
protected
௅ the length of one section shall be defined by the applicant; the minimum length
shall be 20 m
 roof openings shall be located centrally above the car body
௅ size: 8 openings of 0,6 m x 1,2 m (0,72 m2) each

position and distance of the openings from each other acc. to Figure 5-1

The end faces of the assembly are open

roof openings
~1,0 m

~0,5 m

w
model of a car
body
l

Figure 5-1: Schematic diagram of test assembly

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Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01)

5.2 Car body

In the paint booth a car body shall be positioned which corresponds to the following
requirements:

 car body acc. to IMO 1272

 position in room centre (see Figure 5-1)
 fixed to the floor, i.e. secured against movement
 the car body shall not have any attachments such as mirrors, doors, windows, etc.
The same car body may be used for all tests, provided that the fire has not caused any
significant changes.

5.3 Ignition source

Several fire pans and spray fire shall be used, meeting the following requirements:

 fire pan 1:
௅ dimensions: 9,0 m x 0,6 m (0,54m2); height according to required fuel quantity
௅ material: steel
௅ fuel: heptane or according to prior specification, quantity ~10 l
௅ position: see Figure 5-2
 fire pan 2:
௅ dimensions: 1,0 m x 1,0 m (1m2); height according to required fuel quantity
௅ material: steel
௅ fuel: heptane or according to prior specification, quantity ~25 l
௅ position: see Figure 5-2
 fire pan 3:
௅ dimensions: 0,5 m x 0,53 m (0,265m2); height according to required fuel quantity
௅ material: steel
௅ fuel: heptane or according to prior specification, quantity ~5 l
௅ position: see Figure 5-2
 spray fire nozzle type 1:
௅ 2 nozzles at a distance of 0,5 m to the car body
௅ design discharge: 0,25 l/min (per nozzle)
௅ position: see Figure 5-3
 spray fire nozzle type 2:
௅ 1 nozzle at a distance of 0,5 m to the car body
௅ 1 m lateral distance to nozzle type 1
௅ design discharge: 2,2 l/min (per nozzle)
௅ position: see Figure 5-3
Note: If in future foils are to be used in the paint booths, fire pan 2 shall be lined with an
appropriate foil for the spray fire tests.

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VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01) Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths

Fire pan 1
Fire pan 3

Fire pan 2

Figure 5-2: Location of the fire pans

car body
1 m² fire pan

Nozzle 2
Nozzle 1 Nozzle 1

Figure 5-3: Location of the spray fire nozzles

6 Fire detection and fire extinguishment

The test assembly does not specify the positioning of automatic fire detectors. The
extinguishing system is activated manually after a specified pre-burn time. Additional
monitoring of the fire test room by means of an automatic fire detection and fire alarm
system is permitted.

7 Measured value recording

The measured values are recorded by means of

 thermo elements
T [°C] number and positioning of thermo elements according to Figure 7-1 and
Figure 7-2

 pressure transducer
P [bar] pressure at hydraulically most unfavourable nozzles in the pipework;
further points as required

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 volumetric flow
Q [l/min] water volumetric flow of extinguishing system

Note: prior to testing one nozzle shall be subjected to volumetric measurement in

order to determine the ‘k’ value.

 time measurement
t [mm:ss] time recording over the entire test duration, with the following times
being recorded:

௅ start of data recording

௅ ignition of initial fire
௅ activation of extinguishing system
௅ extinguishment of flames
௅ end of extinguishing process
௅ end of data recording

Measured variable Temperature

­ 3K 0qC d T  300qC
Measuring uncertainty uT r®
¯1 % v. Mw 300qC d T d 1200qC

Pressure Flow

uP r 1 % v. Mw u D r 2 % v. Mw

Mw measured value

u T / up / u D : uncertainties

The tests shall also be recorded by video.

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VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01) Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths

Figure 7-1: Positionining of thermo elements (side view)

Figure 7-2: Positioning of thermo elements (top view)

8 Test procedure
Two scenarios are tested to verify the effectiveness of the extinguishing system to be
approved:

 pool fire
 spray fire + spillage

8.1 Requirements for the test assembly

The following minimum requirements apply to the test assembly that the extinguishing
tests are carried out with:

 sufficient ventilation in the fire test room

 if volumetric flows are to be taken into account in practice, these shall be simulated in
the fire and extinguishing tests

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Part 6: Protection of Paint Booths VdS 3883-6en : 2020-06 (01)

Designation Ignition source Extinguishing system

VdS_01 Pool fire
VdS_02 Repeat test
Water mist system
VdS_03 Spray fire
VdS_04 Repeat test

Table 8-1: Designations of the tests

Note: If sufficient ventilation is not granted from a VdS point of view, O2 measuring points
may have to be installed in the test assembly.

8.2 Test procedure pool fire

1. fire load/assembly:
௅ assembly in accordance with clause 5 and prior specification
௅ pouring in of fuel
2. start of data recording and video recording
3. ignition of all fire pans
4. manual activation of extinguishing system after 30 seconds pre-burn time
5. 15 minutes after operation of the first sprinkler the water supply is discontinued and
the test is finished. If necessary, damping down operations are carried out.
6. the data recording and video documentation are then finished
7. re-ignition test of the fire pans
8. test evaluation

8.3 Test procedure spray fire/spillage

1. fire load/assembly:
௅ assembly in accordance with clause 5 and prior specification
௅ fuel type and quantity in accordance with prior specification
2. start of data recording and video recording
3. activation of nozzles 1 and 2 without ignition (spillage)
4. deactivaton of nozzle type 2 and ignition of the two nozzles type 1 after 3 minutes
Note: It is important to make sure that both the nozzles and the discharged fuel in fire
pan 2 are ignited.
5. activation of the extinguishing system 30 seconds after deactivation of nozzle type 2
6. 15 minutes after activation of the extinguishing system or 14 seconds after
extinguishment of both spray fires the water supply and, if applicable, the spray fire is
discontinued. If necessary, damping down operations are carried out.
7. the data recording and the video documentation are then finished
8. test evaluation

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