From: Judy Schwender [mailto: sister3603@xxxxxxxxx]
To: TEXCONS@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Wed, 9 Jul 2003 14:05:19 -0700
Subject: Re: fire suppression systems
asked a friend who is in the business about fire suppression systems, and to clarify points for me. His comments are in uppercase. You can contact him at the addresses given at the end.Judy Schwender
I checked with our architect regarding the plans for fire suppression in storage at the new DeYoung Museum building. He tells me that we are getting a 'delayed action dry-pipe sprinkler system'.
WHAT THIS ACTUALLY IS, IS A DOUBLE-INTERLOCK PREACTION SYSTEM (MORE ON
THIS IN A WHILE)
In short, the system is not charged with water until two smoke detectors in different storage zones have gone off.
THIS, IF TRUE,
IS SCARY IN A DEADLY SENSE BECAUSE IT MEANS THE FIRE
WOULD HAVE TO BE IN MORE THAN ONE AREA THAT IS SEPARATED BY WALLS AND DOORS AND MOST LIKELY TO HAVE FLASHED OVER THROUGH THE WALL MATERIAL. THIS RESULTS IN TEMPERATURES IN THE 2000-DEGREE RANGE. (WOULD THAT DAMAGE TEXTILES MORE THAN WATER, YUP)
Then, the sprinklers will not go off until one of the detectors has
Melted. (I assume that there is some sort of low melting point plastic inside the detector.)
THERE IS EITHER A EUTECTIC ALLOY (HIGH BORIUM CONTENT SOLDER-POSSIBLY IN THE 165 DEGREE RANGE FOR THE ABOVE MENTIONED FACILITY-THIS MAY SEEM HIGH BUT THE TEMP AT THE CEILING IS PROBABLY ALREADY AROUND 100 DEG. NORMALLY AND IT COLLECT FAST THERE WHEN COMBUSTION TAKES PLACE) OR A GLASS BULB FILLED WITH A
LIQUID THAT EXPANDS AND BREAKS WHEN HEATED. WHEN EITHER OF THESE PROCESSES TAKE PLACE THEN THE SPRINKLER HEAD ACTIVATES.
There is no water in the sprinkler system
THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH WATER BEING IN PIPES WHERE ELSE WOULD YOU
PUT IT
until the detectors are triggered, which helps to prevent leaks
PROPER INSTALLATION PREVENTS LEAKS ALONG WITH A QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR
YOU ALSO NEED A TRAINED CONSCIENTIOUS INSPECTOR TO MAKE SURE THAT THE INSTALL IS DONE BY THE CODE OR TO EXCEED. MOST EVERY SYSTEM CAN HAVE LEAKS AT INSTALLATION TIME DUE TO THE NATURE OF MASS-PRODUCED MATERIALS. THAT'S THE WAY THE PIPING GAME HAS BEEN SINCE THEY STOPPED USING WOODEN PIPE. THE ISSUE IS TO
FIX OR REPLACE THE LEAKING ITEM; JUDGEMENT CALL BY FIELD PERS. OR SUPERVISION (THIS CAN GET GOOD) SPECIFYING GOOD LONGEVITY-MINDED MATERIALS INSTEAD OF THE CHEAPEST PIECE OF SHIT THAT'S APPROVED IS ADVISED BECAUSE THERE ARE MANY TYPES OF PIPE AND FITTINGS THE ARE FINE IN A WAREHOUSE OR XMART THAT HAVE NO PLACE IN THE TYPE OF FACILITY YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT PROTECTING.
and provides a time delay in which to switch off the system in the case of an accidental activation. We had a halon system in the old building, which is better from the standpoint of the art, but is no longer allowed under California (and Federal?) law.
HALON, IN ADDITION TO BEING INCREDIBLY DAMAGING TO THE ENVIRONMENT,
BECOMES THE MOST CARCINOGENIC SUBSTANCE KNOWN TO MAN WHEN MIXED WITH COMBUSTION PRODUCTS. (IN CASE OF FIRE, JUST GET CANCER)
I am not familiar with the heptafluoropropane system you have been offered. I'd be interested to hear if this has been used anywhere else?
SEE BELOW
> I work at the conservation department of a costume and textile
museum in Santiago, Chile, that is planned to open in a few years. At this moment we are designing the future facilities and we are trynig to> gather some information to choose the best fire extinguishing system for the storage areas. We are beeing offered the FM-200 (heptafluoropropane)
THIS IS ALSO KNOWN AS FENWAL. ONE OF THE DRAWBACK TO THI
S SUBSTANCE IS
COST. IT'S NORMALLY RESERVED FOR COMPUTERS AND COMPUTER ROOMS BECAUSE THE COST TO COVER LARGE ROOMS CAN EXCEED THE COST OF THE BUILDING AND CONTENTS INCLUDING RELATIVELY DENSE COMPUTER INSTALLS.
, an alternative to halon gases. On the other hand, reading some conservation publications, it seems that museums and libraries are tending to install water sprinkler systems.
THIS IS BECAUSE WATER SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE METHOD
TO PROTECT A STRUCTURE, ITS CONTENTS AND ITS OCCUPANTS. THE NORMAL
LIFETIME OF A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS ONE H UNDRED YEARS; IT IS RECOMMENDED TO REPLACE THE HEADS AFTER 50 YEARS. IF IT IS PROPERLY INSTALLED. I'D BE HAPPY TO RECOMMEND A GOOD CONTRACTOR ANYWHERE IN NORTH AMERICA. JUST CALL.
> I would appreciate any comments on this matter, to help clarify our
decission,
John Bodine
President/Organizer
Road Sprinkler Fitters Local Union 669
7050 Oakland Mills Road
Suite 200
Columbia, MD 21046
(410) 381-4300
Fax (301) 621-8045
http://www.sprinklerfitters669.org/
Email: bodine.669@xxxxxxx
subject:attn:John Bodine
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