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Sprinklers

As part of a U.S. Fire Administration (USFA) initiative to improve fire safety in college housing, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST conducted two series of full-scale fire experiments in abandoned dormitory buildings. The objective of the study is to compare the levels of hazard created by room fires in a dormitory building with and without automatic fire sprinklers in the room of fire origin.

One series of experiments was conducted with the fires initiated in a dormitory sleeping room.  These experiments were conducted by NIST in cooperation with the University of Arkansas and the Fayetteville Fire Department. Another series of experiments was conducted with the fires initiated in a day room area open to the corridor of the dormitory. These experiments were conducted by NIST in cooperation with the Myrtle Beach Air Force Base Redevelopment Authority, the Myrtle Beach Fire Department, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF).

Video

Reports

Effect of Recessed Sprinkler Installation on Sprinkler Activation Time and Prediction
Madrzykowski, D., Thesis; 158 p. 1993.

Evaluation of Sprinkler Activation Prediction Methods
Madrzykowski, D., Interscience Communications Limited. ASIAFLAM '95. International Conference on Fire Science and Engineering, 1st. Proceedings. March 15-16, 1995, Kowloon, Hong Kong, 211-218 pp, 1995.

Investigation of Conduction Effects on Sprinkler Activation
Mack, E. C.; Madrzykowski, D., Fire Research and Engineering, Second (2nd) International Conference. (ICFRE2). Proceedings. ABSTRACTS ONLY. National Institute of Standards and Technology and Society of Fire Protection Engineers. August 10-15, 1997, Gaithersburg, MD, Slaughter, K. C., Editor(s), 65-65 pp, 1997.

Review of Residential Sprinkler Systems: Research and Standards
Madrzykowski, D.; Fleming, R. P. NISTIR 6941; 30 p. December 2002.

Water Additives for Increased Efficiency of Fire Protection and Suppression
Madrzykowski, D., U.S./Japan Government Cooperative Program on Natural Resources (UJNR). Fire Research and Safety. 14th Joint panel Meeting. May 28-June 3, 1998, Tsukuba, Japan, 166-171 pp, 1998 AND Fire Detection, Fire Extinguishment and Fire Safety Engineering. NRIFD 50th Anniversary Symposium. Proceedings. Fire Fighting Future 50th Session (FFF50th). Organized by National Research Institute of Fire and Disaster (NRIFD) and Fire and Disaster Management Agency (FDMA) and Sponsored by Fire Protection Equipment and Safety Center. June 1, 1998, Tokyo, Japan, 1-6 pp, 1998, Tokyo, Japan, 1998.

Effect of an Obstructed Ceiling on the Activation Time of a Residential Sprinkler
Vettori, R. L., NISTIR 6253; 150 p. November 1998.

Effect of Beamed, Sloped, and Sloped Beamed Ceilings on the Activation TIme of a Residential Sprinkler
Vettori, R. L., NISTIR 7079; 45 p. December 2003.

Measurement of Droplet Size in Sprinkler Sprays
Lawson, J. R.; Walton, W. D.; Evans, D. D., NBSIR 88-3715; 51 p. April 1988.

Impact of Sprinklers on the Fire Hazard in Dormitories: Day Room Fire Experiments
Madrzykowski, D.; Stroup, D. W.; Walton, W. D., NISTIR 7120; 87 p. June 2004.

Determination of Water Spray Drop Size and Speed From a Standard Orifice, Pendent Spray Sprinkler. Report of Test
Putorti, A. D., Jr.; Belsinger, T. D.; Twilley, W. H., FR 4003; Report of Test; 14 p. May 27, 1999.

Simultaneous Measurements of Drop Size and Velocity in Large-Scale Sprinkler Flows Using Particle Tracking and Laser-Induced Fluorescence
Putorti, A. D., Jr.; Everest, D. A.; Atreya, A., NIST GCR 03-852; 56 p. July 2003.

Simultaneous Measurements of Drop Size and Velocity in Large-Scale Sprinkler Flows Using Particle Tracking and Laser-Induced Fluorescence
Putorti, A. D., Jr., NIST GCR 04-861; 322 p. February 2004.

 

last updated: 2/22/2008