Sprinklers in a cooling tower 3

[remp]

Has anybody every heard of a requirement for sprinkler system serving a cooling tower. The towers are in a pharma facility and it was mentioned that the old towers may have been constructed of timber and there was a risk of fire when towers not in use. At first I though that this was a joke but somebody mentioned FM requirements...Anybody know anything????

 

[psafety]

billyq,
The company I support definitely requires sprinklers in field erected wood towers. Fiberglass fill will also burn and if the unit is not stamped "Fire-Rated" by UL these require also. Now is it a "true" requirement; most likely dependant upon the insurance carrier.

The basis; as you stated is down days and maintance activity in close proximity. Loss of these typically mean many, days/weeks of loss production.

-dmc

 

[krb]

NFPA 214 deals with fire protection of water cooling towers.

 

[imok2]

Billyq:
Fire is usually caused by overheating of a fan motor. Wooden tower framework and plastic impregnated fiberglass supports and dividers (fill) are an everpresent combustible hazard.

 

[bumpjones]

Yes Factory Mutual requires them based on the tower liability.