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The development of guidelines for the effective deployment of sprinkler systems in the wildland fire environment of Alberta.Identifying the primary differences between sprinkler systems and deployment techniques used in wild fire control and structure protection. |
Introduction:Sprinkler systems have been identified as an effective tool for the control of wildland fire. Several sprinkler products exist in the market with various pump, hose and sprinkler combinations currently available. The interest in sprinklers is divided into two research areas. First, the use of sprinklers to protect structures from wildfire in a rural / urban interface situations and second, the use of sprinklers as a tool for containment of wildland and prescribed fire. Structure protection involves applying water in sufficient quantities and locations to inhibit ignition from a passing wildfire. The volume of water necessary and placement of the water is dependent on building design, construction materials and adjacent forest fuels. The containment of a fire burning in a forest fuels requires the sprinkler system provide an effective barrier to fire spread. The objective of structure protection differs from wildfire containment and the equipment and techniques used are thought to differ. This project will focus on the use of sprinklers to reduce the ignition of forest fuels and to build a barrier to fire spread in the wildland fire environment. The project will help develop a better understanding of what sprinkler systems can be expected to accomplish and when and how to use them. The project will produce guidelines to assist fire managers in planning the location and sprinkler system requirements based on anticipated fire behaviour. Objectives:
Methods:Work with outside service providers to determine the conditions that optimise the effectiveness of water applied by sprinklers to stop moving fires. This may require the development of a model to relate Head Fire Intensity (HFI) and the volume of water required to inhibit forest fire ignition based on energy and evaporation rates. Describe and compare different sprinkler systems using a relative humidity (RH) profile. This will involve using 6 sensors to measure the RH surrounding a sprinkler. From this we will determine which profile best inhibits the spread of surface and crown fire. This may involve work in a lab and or the field. Work with sprinkler manufacturers to identify products that will optimize the conversion of heat energy into evaporation of water. Sprinklers are used in a variety of applications from ships protection to agricultural irrigation. Where possible we will build on other industrial applications. Work with outside fluid engineering specialists to establish friction loss tables for components of sprinkler systems. The friction loss tables indicate performance and will assist in the effective deployment of sprinkler system. As opportunities present themselves, set up and instrument sprinkler systems on seismic lines or fuel breaks in advance of wildfire or prescribed fire situations to record the system capabilities. Calculate how sprinkler head water distribution changes the Fire Weather Indices (FWI) by collecting rain equivalent water delivered to an area using the cup test. |
Use of sprinklers and aqueous gel for structure protection from wildfire 3/18/2008 Sprinkler system trial in the NWT 8/8/2003 Sprinkler Research Preliminary 9/17/2002 |