Fire Protection FINALISTS
-- Consulting-Specifying Engineer, 6/28/2005
| K25 Cold Storage System by Viking Early-suppression fast-response sprinkler system offers a solution to the disadvantages of in-rack fire sprinklers in cold-storage environments with temperatures as low as -20ºF (-28.9ºC). Traditionally, cold storage has been protected by in-rack sprinklers that limited racking flexibility and were susceptible to damage by forklifts. This new ESFR sprinkler system uses pendant sprinklers along with a pre-mix of glycol antifreeze and water. The piping system is filled with the pressurized pre-mix and the water solution is maintained from a pressure pump system. A valve with special trim is used to isolate antifreeze from the water supply. The system is designed to protect up to class II storage commodities in buildings up to 45 ft. high with rack storage up to 40 ft. UL listing is pending, and while the listing is for 165ºF (74ºC) ESFR sprinklers, intermediate temperature sprinklers rated to 205ºF (96ºC) may be applied, as referenced in NFPA 13, for installation in close proximity to heat sources. www.vikingcorp.com |
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Exit Point by System Sensor Directional sounder guides people along escape routes during fire emergencies by providing varying tones and intensities of sound as cues for finding the way out. The device’s integral audio amplifier incorporates four different field-selectable sound-pulse patterns that are used to create an egress pathway out of a building and mark perimeter exits. The sound patterns become faster as the building occupant approaches the perimeter exit. Three additional tone pulses can be added to each of the four-pulse patterns. Two of these tone pulses are used to alert building occupants that they are approaching a stairway. The third is an alert used to notify occupants to attend to the directional sounder. The product also features a variety of field-selectable power settings: ¼, ½, 1, 2 and 4 watts. The makers of the device claim that trials have consistently shown an improvement of up to 75% in evacuation time through smoke-filled environments. www.systemsensor.com |
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POWR-Switch by Littelfuse Fusible shunt-trip elevator disconnect “provides a great solution for integrating elevator recall functions with sprinkler retrofits in high-rise buildings,” say Jim Bychowski, marketing manager with Deerfield, Ill.-based Schirmer Engineering. The 400-amp switch has shunt-trip capabilities that will automatically disconnect power to selective building circuits when water is turned on by fire-sprinkler systems. The unit is a fusible, remote trip disconnect, pre-wired for elevator circuits, that communicates with fire-alarm controls to ensure elevators are safely on the ground floor prior to disconnecting power to the elevator circuit and activating the sprinkler system. The all-in-one module consists of a 600-volt, three-pole fused switch, control power terminal block and a class J fuse block housed inside a NEMA 1 enclosure. It is also available in 30-, 60-, 100- and 200-amp models. The device is UL listed and CSA certified, and shunt-trip capabilities conform with NFPA and ANSI/ASME requirements. www.littelfuse.com |
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