Trusted above all.

The Fundamentals of Storage

Sprinklers
July 2021

Date: 30th July 2021 Water Based Suppression Solutions

Speaker: YC Pang - Chief Operating Officer
The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd
Place: Teams Meeting
© The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd
The Fundamentals of Storage Sprinklers

Objective
To understand the fundamentals of storage sprinklers and
codes used.

Agenda:
- K factor and Density
- Types of Sprinkler
- Types of Storage
- Codes & Standards
- Questions and Answers

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 Importance of K Factor and Density

K factor and Density Nominal Nominal Nominal Nominal

K-factor K-factor Orifice Orifice Size
• K-Factor – larger K allows higher flow (metric) (English) Size (mm) (in)
and produces bigger droplets. 20.2 1.4 6.4 1/4
27.4 1.9 8 5/16
• Density – Defines as amount of water 40.3 2.8 9.5 3/8

discharged onto 1 m2 of area within 60.5 4.2 11 7/16

one minute (Lpm/m2, mm/min) 80.6 5.6 12.7 1/2

115.2 8.0 13.5 17/32
161.3 11.2 15.9 5/8
201.6 14.0 19 3/4
241.9 16.8 — —
282.2 19.6 — —
322.6 22.4 — —
362.9 25.2 — —
403.2 28.0 — —

© Viking | 3 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

Design Density (lpm/m2 or mm/min)

Relationships with Flow Rate, Pressure, K Factor

& Coverage Area
Amount of water discharged per minute

Formula: Q = K (P)
Q = Flow (lpm), K = K-factor (lpm/bar1/2),

One Meter
and P = Pressure (bar)

Density = Flow Rate / Area

One Meter

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 Design Density (lpm/m2 or mm/min)

Formula: Q = K (P)
Q = Flow (lpm), K = K-factor (lpm/bar1/2),
and P = Pressure (bar)
Example:
Extra Hazard Group 1, Design density 12.2mm/min
Coverage Area per Sprinkler: 4m x 3m= 12m2
Use K80 sprinkler @ 0.5Bar

Q= 80 x (√0.5) = 56.56LPM
Density = 56.56LPM/ 12M2 = 4.71 lpm/m2 (mm/min) – Failed
Reduce area to 3mx3m = 9m2
Density = 56.56 mm/min/ 9m2 = 6.28 mm/min – Failed
Increase pressure to 3 bar with coverage area of 12m2
Flow = 80 x (√3) = 138.56 lpm
Density = 138.56/ 12 = 11.54 mm/min – Failed
Change to a higher K160 sprinkler to cover 12m2
Flow = 160 x (√1) = 160lpm
Density = 160lpm/ 12m2 = 13.33 mm/min – Passed

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One type of sprinkler for all applications?

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 Impact of K-Factor

- A high challenge fire can have an upward

draft equivalent to 50 – 60 km/hr.
- Small droplets do not have sufficient mass
to penetrate the fire plume.
- Are more likely to be evaporated.
- The force of upward draft carries the
vapor/moisture to wet the adjacent
sprinklers causing these sprinklers to delay
or fail to operate (skipping).

© Viking | 7 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

Why Larger K-Factors?

Larger K factors develop larger water droplets that are able to penetrate the fire
plume and the thermal updraft.

Larger K factors also can discharge the same water flow rate at much lower
pressures, so they are more efficient at controlling the fire.

Lower starting pressures at the sprinkler may save the sprinkler designer a pipe
size in their calculations, which will lower the cost of the system installation.

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 Impact of K-Factor

Test Number (1)

• Test Fuel – Class A Plastic

• Fuel Height – 1.60M
• Ceiling Height – 18.3M
• Clearance – 16.6M
• Type of sprinkler & system parameter:
 Temperature: 74degC
 Response Type - Standard
 K Factor – K115 (K8.0)
 Density – 12 mm/min (LPM/M2)
 Pressure – 0.97bar
 Spacing: 3M x3M
• 26 sprinklers activated.
• Severe skipping observed
• Fire Out of Control
• Test Result: Failed.
• Test Terminated at 7min 23 Sec

© Viking | 9 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

 Impact of K-Factor

Test Number (2)

• Test Fuel – Class A Plastic

• Fuel Height – 1.60M
• Ceiling Height – 18.3M
• Clearance – 16.6M
• Type of sprinkler & system parameter:
 Temperature: 68degC
 Response Type – Quick
 K Factor – K160 (K11.2)
 Density – 18 mm/min (LPM/M2)
 Pressure – 1.1bar
 Spacing: 3M x3M
• 16 sprinklers activated.
• Skipping observed
• Fire under control
• Test Result: Passed

© Viking | 10 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

 Conventional vs Spray Sprinkler

CONVENTIONAL SPRINKLER SPRAY SPRINKLER

** DO NOT USE CONVENTIONAL SPRINKLERS FOR HGH CHALLENGE FIRE!

© Viking | 11 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

Types of Sprinkler

NFPA (UL) Factory Mutual (FM)

Control-Mode Sprinklers Non-Storage Sprinklers

 Include standard & extended sprinklers, ECLH,
ECOH, CMDA & CMSA Sprinklers
Life Safety Sprinklers
 Residential Sprinklers
 Most sprinklers including storage sprinklers.
Storage Sprinklers
 Sprinklers defined by FM as a storage sprinklers
which include CMSA & ESFR sprinklers

Suppression-Mode Sprinklers
 ESFR Sprinklers

Special Sprinklers

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How is a Storage Sprinkler different?

• When compared to a Commercial Sprinkler, a Storage Sprinkler:

• Is larger in size
• Usually has larger orifice (bigger K-factor)
• Discharges more water (higher density)
• Has a Spray Pattern designed to discharge water downwards

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Spray Pattern Comparison
K5.6 Commercial Pendent Sprinkler K25.2 Storage Sprinkler (ESFR)

11.3ft (3.4m) 10.8ft (3.3m)

Storage Sprinkler has a smaller coverage area (at same height),

but discharges more water (higher density).
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Types of Sprinkler (NFPA)

Control-Mode Density Area Sprinklers (CMDA)

A type of spray sprinkler intended to provide fire control in storage applications using the
design density/area criteria described in this standard. Spray sprinklers having a nominal K-
factor of 5.6 or 8.0 are permitted to be used for storage applications as a CMDA sprinkler
within certain design densities as described in Chapter 20.

Density/ Area Method.

 The water supply requirement for sprinklers only shall be calculated from the
area/density curves

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 Control Mode Density Area (CMDA) Sprinklers
Product Range

VK377 - QR ELO VK530 - ELO VK531 – QR ELO VK536 - ELO

Pendent Sprinkler Upright Sprinkler Upright Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler
(K11.2) (K11.2) (K11.2) (K11.2)

VK533 – QR ELO Fusible VK580 - ELO VK595 – Extended

Element Upright Sprinkler Upright Sprinkler Coverage Upright Sprinkler
(K11.2) (K16.8) (CMDA/CMSA) (K25.2)

SR – Standard Response QR – Quick Response

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 Identifying the Design Density and Area of operation

Control Mode Specific Application Sprinkler (CMSA)

A type of spray sprinkler that is capable of producing characteristic large water droplets and
that is listed for its capability to provide fire control of specific high-challenge fire hazards.

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Control Mode Specific Application (CMSA) Sprinklers
Product Range

VK540 - SR High Challenge® VK592 – SR Pendent

Upright Sprinkler Sprinkler (K19.6)
(K11.2)

VK598 – Upright Sprinkler VK595 – Extended

(K25.2) Coverage Upright Sprinkler
(CMDA/CMSA) (K25.2)

SR – Standard Response QR – Quick Response

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 Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) Sprinklers

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Early Suppression Fast Response
Overview

NFPA:

ESFR Sprinklers were developed by Factory Mutual in the early 1980’s. ESFR sprinklers
are suppression sprinklers meaning these type of sprinklers are designed not to
control a fire, but to suppress the fire.

ESFR sprinklers in standard commodity storage, such as Class l, Class ll, Class lll, Class lV,
commodities and plastic commodities, can eliminate in-rack sprinklers.

ESFR sprinklers are limited to wet type sprinkler systems and must be installed in
buildings that have flat ceilings or roofs. (Flat ceilings are defined as roof pitches no
greater than 2 inches in 12 inches.

ESFR Sprinklers:
• Activate in early stages of fire and provides enough water to suppress the fire
• For high storage where fires tend to be very tall
• Intended for ceiling only with rack storage arrangement

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Early Suppression Fast Response

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 Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR)Sprinklers
Product Range

VK520 – ESFR VK500 – ESFR VK503 – ESFR VK502 – ESFR Dry

Upright Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler
(K14) (K14) (K17) (K14)

VK506 – ESFR VK510 – ESFR VK514 – ESFR VK504 – ESFR Dry

Upright Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler Pendent Sprinkler
(K22) (K25.0) (K28) (K17)

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 Intermediate Level In-Rack Sprinklers

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In-Rack Sprinklers

In-Rack Sprinkler With Water Shield Control Mode Sprinkler

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In-Rack Sprinklers
Overview

In-rack sprinklers are also know as Intermediate-level sprinklers.

NFPA - In-rack sprinklers are typically have k factors of 5.6 (80) and 8.0 (115), but in
some cases are as large as K11.2 (160).
FM – Min. K8 (115) for In-rack sprinklers up to K25.2 (360).

In-rack sprinklers are usually located in the longitudinal flue space of the rack, but
can be located at the face of the rack loading entrance and can be located within
the storage space within the rack.

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When are In-Rack Sprinklers needed?

Generally, when storage exceeds 7.6m (25’) in racks and control mode sprinklers are
utilized, levels of in-rack sprinklers are within the rack structure.

In-rack sprinklers require water shields to protect their operating elements from the
ceiling sprinklers. Water shields are required to be a minimum of 76.2mm (3”) in
diameter.

In-rack sprinklers are intermediate level sprinklers, as there is at least one level of
sprinklers above them.

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 Intermediate Level In-Rack Sprinklers
Product Range

Viking Intermediate Level In-Rack Sprinklers consist of a water shield installed on specifically
listed and/or approved frame style standard and quick response sprinklers equipped with glass
bulbs or fusible elements. They are available in both upright and pendent styles with or without
sprinkler guards.

Upright Pendent
Operating Operating
Response K Factor VK Number Response K Factor VK Number
Element Element
5.6 VK550 5.6 VK102
Bulb
Standard 8.0 VK560 Bulb 8.0 VK202
Standard
Response 5.6 VK552 11.2 VK536
Fusible Link Response
K8.0 VK562 5.6 VK110
Fusible Link
VK556 K8.0 VK206
5.6
Bulb VK558 VK302
5.6
Quick VK317
8.0 VK566
Response Bulb
5.6 VK551 Quick 8.0 VK352
Fusible Link Response
K8.0 VK567 11.2 VK377
5.6 VK303
Fusible Link
K8.0 VK353

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Protection of Storage Occupancies based on Factory Mutual
Data sheets (FMDS)

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How Unique is Storage Protection
Commercial Storage

Warehouses are:
• Large Open Space (no compartments / rooms)
• Fewer People
• High Ceilings throughout entire space
• Products (commodity)– fire hazard
• How are products stored (Storage Arrangements) e.g. racks, piled, aisle width

© Viking | 29 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

Typical Types of Storage

Rack
Storage

Solid Pile/ Rolled Paper

Storage

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Typical Types of Storage

Palletized
Storage

Idle Pallet
Storage

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Typical Types of Storage

Bin-Box Storage

Shelf Storage

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 Typical Types of Storage

Bulk Storage

Bulk storage consists of piles of loose, free-flowing

materials, including powder, granules, pellets, or
flakes, and agricultural items, such as peanuts. The
materials are typically stored in silos, bins, tanks, or in
large piles on the floor.
Fires in large piles tend to burrow down into the pile,
making them difficult to extinguish.

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Typical Types of Storage

Baled Cotton
Storage

Rubber Tire
Storage

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 Codes and Standards

- Local Codes
- LPCB
- VdS
- National Fire Protection Association (NFPA)
- Factory Mutual (FM)
- FMDS 3-26 (FIRE PROTECTION FOR NONSTORAGE OCCUPANCIES)
- FMDS 2-0 (INSTALLATION GUIDELINES FOR AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS)
- FMDS 8-1 (COMMODITY CLASSIFICATION)
- FMDS 8-9 (STORAGE OF CLASS 1, 2, 3, 4 AND PLASTIC COMMODITIES)

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

What is the maximum ceiling height for non storage sprinkler installation?
Refer to FMDS 3-26

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: For high sensitivity sprinkler, will it cause the sprinkler to accidentally
activate easily? for example, lorry exhaust under the canopy loading unloading
area at noon time where the weather is really hot.

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 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: Is it required to install sprinkler under group of pipes? does it classified as

Grouped Object under obstruction rules? If we do not want to install sprinkler under
group of pipes, what are the method?

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

More from FMDS 2-0…….

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QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question: What is the Alarm Control Valve installation limit capacity for in-rack
sprinkler?

Answer:
- Depending on the design density & area of operation = Total Flow Rate
- Meeting the min. pressure at the most remote sprinkler point = Hydraulic demand.
- Need to do a full hydraulic calculation for storage occupancies.

© Viking | 41
 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

• Do we need to install by-pass valve at the control alarm valve?

• What are the tagging information required at the control alarm valve?

• Can the mechanical coupling for pipe connection install outdoor?

• Glass bulb vs fusible link sprinkler, is there any difference?

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 Agenda

Viking Technical Services

techsvcs@vikingcorp.com

Toll Free (US): (877) 384-5464

Fax (US): (269) 818-1680

© Viking | 43 Copyright - The Viking Corporation (Far East) Pte Ltd

 Trusted above all.

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