Residential Sidewall Sprinkler Fire Tests with Limited Water Supply

Abstract

Four full-scale fire tests were conducted in a compartment designed to simulate two adjacent residential spaces protected by quick-response sidewall sprinklers connected to a limited water supply. A living room furniture arrangement, consisting of a recliner, drapes, table, sofa end and carpet, was placed in one space and served as the fire source. Although two sprinkler placement achemes and a lintel in the opening between the spaces were tried, sprinklers installed in both spaces of the compartment actuated during each of the four fire tests conducted in this study. In all tests, sidewall sprinklers (a) controlled the fire and prevented flashover of the compartment, (b) confined the fire to the recliner (primary ignition item), and (c) allowed a survivable life safety environment to be maintained throughout the test period, thereby meeting the designed purpose of a residential sprinkler system. However, the inherent delay in response time associated with the use of sidewall sprinklers resulted in high ceiling surface temperature over the fire source location which indicated a property damage potential for combustible ceilings.