3 Fire Tests
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Statutory Documents - IMO Publications and Documents - Circulars - Maritime Safety Committee - MSC.1/Circular.1384 – Guidelines for the Testing and Approval of Fixed High-Expansion Foam Systems – (10 December 2010) - Annex – Guidelines for the Testing and Approval of Fized High-Expansion Foam Systems - Appendix 1 – Fire Test Method for Fixed High-Expansion Foam Systems - 3 Fire Tests

3 Fire Tests

Parent topic: Appendix 1 – Fire Test Method for Fixed High-Expansion Foam Systems

3.1 Test principles

 This test procedure enables the determination of design criteria and the effectiveness of high-expansion foam fire-extinguishing systems against spray and pool fires, which are obstructed by a simulated engine. The test procedures are intended for the approval of foam systems for the protection of machinery spaces, cargo pump-rooms, vehicle and ro-ro spaces, special category spaces and cargo spaces.

3.2 Test description

  3.2.1 Test enclosure

  3.2.1.1 The tests should be performed in a room having an ambient temperature of 10ºC to 25ºC at the start of each test. Details of the test hall geometry, the ventilation conditions and environmental conditions should be given in the fire test report.

  3.2.1.2 The fire-extinguishing tests of the system should be carried out using the following test compartments:

  • .1 Test compartment 1

  • The test should be performed in a 100 m2 room with 5 m ceiling height and ventilation through a 2 m x 2 m door opening according to figure 2. The engine mock-up should be designed according to figures 1 and 3. The door opening to the test compartment may be covered during the test at the same rate as the foam layer is building up in the compartment to avoid foam leakage through the door opening.

  • .2 Test compartment 2

  • The test should be performed in a test compartment having a volume greater than 1,200 m3, but not greater than 3,500 m3, and a ceiling height exceeding 7.5 m. The ventilation of the test compartment should be achieved by a 2 m x 2 m door opening at floor level (as in test compartment 1) combined with a maximum 20 m2 total ventilation area, distributed in the ceiling and/or along the walls, just below the ceiling. The door opening to the test compartment may be covered during the test at the same rate as the foam layer is building up in the compartment to avoid foam leakage through the door opening.

  3.2.2 Simulated engine

 The fire test should be performed in a test apparatus consisting of:

  • .1 a simulated enginefootnote of size (width x length x height) 1 m x 3 m x 3 m constructed of sheet steel with a nominal thickness of 5 mm. The simulated engine is fitted with two steel tubes of 0.3 m in diameter and 3 m in length, which simulate exhaust manifolds and a grating. At the top of the simulated engine a 3 m2 tray is arranged (see figures 1 and 3); and

  • .2 a floor plate system of 4 m x 6 m and 0.5 m in height surrounding the simulated engine with a tray (4 m2 in area), underneath (see figure 1).

  3.2.3 Test programme

 The fire test should be carried out using the following fire scenarios:

  • .1 combination of the following fire programmes (Test fuel: commercial fuel oil or light diesel oil):

    • .1 low-pressure spray on top of the simulated engine centred with nozzle angled upward at a 45° angle to strike a 12 mm to 15 mm diameter rod 1 m away; and

    • .2 fire in trays under (4 m2) and on top (3 m2) of the simulated engine;

  • .2 high-pressure horizontal spray fire on top of the simulated engine. (Test fuel: commercial fuel oil or light diesel oil);

  • .3 low pressure concealed horizontal spray fire on the side of the simulated engine with oil spray nozzle positioned 0.1 m in from the end of the simulated engine and 0.1 m2 tray positioned 1.4 m in from the engine end at the inside of floor plate. (Test fuel: commercial fuel oil or light diesel oil); and

  • .4 flowing fire 0.25 kg/s from top of mock-up (see figure 3) (Test fuel: heptane).

     
  Table 1 – Oil spray fire test parameters  
  Fire type Low pressure High pressure  
  Spray nozzle Wide spray angle (120° to 125°) full cone type Standard angle (at 6 bar) full cone type  
  Nominal oil pressure 8 bar 150 bar  
  Oil flow 0.16 ± 0.01 kg/s 0.050 ± 0.002 kg/s  
  Oil temperature 20 ± 5°C 20 ± 5°C  
  Nominal heat release rate 5.8 ± 0.6 MW 1.8 ± 0.2 MW  
         

  3.2.4 Foam generator installation requirements for tests

  3.2.4.1 General

  3.2.4.1.1 Foam generators and foam delivery duct outlets should not be installed above the simulated engine in such a way that the foam flow directly hits the test fires. The generators and foam delivery duct outlets should also not be located near the door or ventilation openings.

  3.2.4.1.2 The inlet foam solution supply pressure to the foam generators should be maintained within the acceptable range determined in appendix 3, throughout the tests.

  3.2.4.1.3 The number and spacing of foam generators and foam delivery duct outlets should be based on the manufacturer's system design and installation manual.

  3.2.4.1.4 The mounting arrangement and orientation of the foam generators should be in accordance with the manufacturers' instruction.

  3.2.4.2 Inside air foam systems

  3.2.4.2.1 Foam generators should be installed inside the test room at the uppermost level of the space. The vertical distance between the generators and test room ceiling and floor should be recorded and reflected in the manufacturer's design manual.

  3.2.4.3 Systems using outside air

  3.2.4.3.1 For systems where the foam generators will be located outside the protected space, the test generators should be located outside the test room and arranged to supply foam through ducts of equivalent size or diameter as the foam generator. The length and configuration of the foam delivery ducts should be the maximum length to be used on board as specified by the manufacturer, but in no case less than 5 m vertically and 5 m horizontally. Foam delivery duct outlets should be located near the ceiling, or if located on a side wall, within 1 m of the ceiling. The locations of the foam delivery duct outlets should be recorded and reflected in the manufacturer's design manual.

  3.2.4.3.2 For systems where the foam generators will be located inside the protected space and supplied by fresh air ducts, the test generators should be located on the manufacturer's instructions.

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