Low expansion foam for Hangar type I

[Weldinspect]

Our client, the owner of a new hangar Class I is not satisfied with AFFF low expansion foam for his fire fighting system after a test performed, though NFPA 409 accepts it. What is the common practice for this kind o hangars in the US?

We a re performing the supervision of the project

Thanks for your opinions

 

[racookpe1978]

hanger? Aircraft, right? Gas would be in the tanks when stored, though probably drained for long-term maintenance; but flamables (grease, paint, cleaners, solvents, NDE, dye pen kits, etc) kept in fire-proof lockers for maintenance?

Gas and av gas itself kept outside the hanger routinely? (Not parking trucks or cars or fuel tanks inside, right?)

 

[skdesigner]

I am in Canada, so this is merely an observation.

Generally, in civilian hangars we see hi-expansion foam + closed head sprinkler being the most economical option (option #3 under 409-6.1.1). Not too many foam-water deluge systems going into Group I hangars anymore, because nobody likes dealing with 16-20" supply piping, or the several-hundred thousand gallon reservoirs that become necessary if the existing airport supply can't cut it. I haven't seen too many low-level low expansion systems installed, but Viking's grate nozzles seem like a very interesting option.

What type of low expansion system do you have? Deluge, or water sprinkler + low level application?

Odd that the owner is having an issue after the acceptance test, unless he watched a youtube video of a hi-ex system discharging and wonders why his system doesn't fill the building with 5' of foam in a couple minutes.

R M Arsenault Engineering Inc.

http://www.rmae.ca

 

[cdafd]

Just wondering how many sq ft hanger?

What kind of aircraft are in there?

 

[stookeyfpe]

If your in a jurisdiction that adopted the IFC your design criteria is in Section 914.

 

[Weldinspect]

US or any other country, I am in Latin America

@raccokpe:
hanger? Aircraft, right? yes
...etc) kept in fire-proof lockers for maintenance? yes
Gas and av gas itself kept outside the hanger routinely? yes
(Not parking trucks or cars or fuel tanks inside, right?) yes
Thank you

@skdesigner
Canada is great also,
Deluge, or water sprinkler + low level application? low level. Man operated water hoses
Yes, the owner has other 4 large hangars
TKs

@cdafd
Area = 14,475 m2
Entrance height, higher than 8.5 mt
Tks

 

[skdesigner]

Almost 160,000 square feet? That is a massive hangar. Again I would ask, what is the owner's specific issue with low expansion? Also, when you say "man operated water hoses", does this mean that there is no automatic fire suppression, only manual?

R M Arsenault Engineering Inc.

http://www.rmae.ca

 

[Weldinspect]

Yes it is very massive, the commnent probably came from a executive with not much technical knowledge in fire fighting and he is surely used to high expansion so our job is to do this research. Yes, there is no automatic fire supression system due to the owner´s requirement!!!

 

[cdafd]

What kind of aircraft?

Any heavy maintence inside???

 

[skdesigner]

Were I the owner, I would be fairly dissatisfied too if somebody told me my new 160,000 sq. ft hangar was protected in accordance with NFPA 409, only to discover that all I got was some AFFF handlines...


R M Arsenault Engineering Inc.

http://www.rmae.ca

 

[Weldinspect]

They are having there the A330-300s and yes for heavy maintenance. Well the recomendations were sent but the desition belongs to the owner. Finallyy my researche leaded to accept AFFF but I know the rest need s to be at least updated later and hopefully soon

 

[cdafd]

Hate to see my Airbus burn up and take the building with it