15–20 WATER SPRAY FIXED SYSTEMS FOR FIRE PROTECTION
7.4.4.3.2 The water shall be applied at a net rate of not less
than 0.15 gpm/ft2 [6.1(L/min)/m2] on the expected nonab-
sorbing ground surface area of exposure.
7.4.4.3.3 Water spray application as specified in 7.4.4.3.1 and
7.4.4.3.2 shall be provided for special configurations, conser-
vator tanks, pumps, and so forth.
7.4.4.3.4 Where transformer components create spaces
greater than 12 in. (305 mm) in width, the surfaces shall be
individually protected.
7.4.4.3.5 Where there is insufficient clearance to achieve di-
rect impingement,
p g p
it shall be permitted p
to protect the surfaces
underneath the transformer byy horizontal projection
p j or byy
nozzles directed to cool the area below the transformer pro-
jections.
7.4.4.3.6 The water supply shall be capable of supplying both
the design flow rate and 250 gpm (946 L/min) for hose streams
for a minimum duration of 1 hour.
7.4.4.4 Water spray piping shall not be routed across the top
of the transformer tank or across the face of the transformer
cabinet.
7.4.4.5 Piping shall be permitted to be routed across the top
of the transformer tank or across the face of the transformer
cabinet, where impingement cannot be accomplished with
any other configuration and the required distance from live
electrical components is maintained. (See 6.1.2.)
7.4.4.6 Nozzles shall be positioned such that the water spray
does not envelop energized bushings or lightning arresters by
direct impingement.
7.4.4.7 Direct impingement of water spray on energized bush-
ings and/or lightning arresters shall be permitted only when au-
thorized by the manufacturer or manufacturer’s literature and
the owner.
7.5* Flammable Vapor Mitigation.
7.5.1* Design for Vapor Mitigation.
7.5.2 The water spray system shall be designed to operate within
the necessary time and shall discharge water for the duration
needed to dissolve, dilute, disperse, or cool the flammable va-
pors, gases, or hazardous materials.
7.5.3 The duration of the release of the flammable materials
shall be included in the determination of the water spray du-
ration time.
7.5.4 The minimum net rate of application shall be based on
field experience with the product or on actual test data.
7.5.5 The design area of the water spray system shall cover
the entire area of any potential spill anticipated, such as the
area of a containment dike, pit, and so forth.
7.5.6 Nozzles of the water spray system shall be located to
cover all potential leak points, such as fill and discharge con-
nections, relief valves, flexible connections, flanges, pumps,
valves, vessels, and so forth.
7.5.7 The water spray system shall be activated automatically
by gas/vapor detection in accordance with 6.5.2.7 and manu-
ally from both the system area and remotely, such as from a
control room.
7.5.7.1* It shall be permitted to have the vapor mitigation sys-
tem activated by both gas/vapor detection and another detec-
tion system, such as flame or heat detection, but the gas/vapor
detection system shall be capable of activating the water spray
system alone.
2012 Edition
7.5.8 Notification of Personnel. Personnel shall be notified
upon receipt of any detection signal in accordance with NFPA 72,
National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
7.5.9 Fire Risk Analysis. A fire risk analysis shall be conducted
that considers the following additional items in the design of
the water spray system for vapor mitigation:
(1) Importance to continuity of operation
(2) Size, type, location, and construction of equipment
(3) Physical properties of the chemicals involved
(4) Water supply
(5) Value of equipment
(6) Climate
(7) Water delivery time
(8) Environment
(9) Access for fire fighting
(10) Projected flammable liquid or material spill pattern
(11) Potential for flammable vapor release
(12) Proximity of personnel to hazard area
(13) Protection of system actuation valve from fire and ex-
plosion
(14) Blast containment and pressure relief
(15) Protection of electrical circuits, including explosion-
proof equipment
(16) Potential for fire spread beyond hazard area
(17) Required replacement time for process equipment
(18) Potential for business interruption
(19) Notification of personnel upon vapor detection
7.6 Combined Systems.
7.6.1* General.
7.6.1.1 The sprinkler system portion of combined systems
shall be designed and installed in accordance with NFPA 13,
Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
7.6.1.2 The water spray portion of any combined system shall
be designed and installed in accordance with this standard.
7.6.2* Design.
7.6.2.1 The system demand shall include the simultaneous hy-
draulic demand from all sprinklers and water spray nozzles on
the system.
7.6.2.2 The water spray component of the combined demand
shall not reduce the minimum required sprinkler discharge
density.
7.7 Automatic Detection Equipment.
7.7.1* General. Detection systems providing an actuation signal
to fixed water spray systems shall be designed in accordance with
NFPA 72, National Fire Alarm and Signaling Code.
7.7.2 The spacing, location, and position of detectors shall be
in accordance with 6.5.2.
7.7.3* The following shall be evaluated when selecting and
adjusting detection equipment:
(1) Normally changing conditions
(2) Non-fire temperature changes
7.7.4* Response Time.
7.7.4.1 The detection system shall be designed to cause ac-
tuation of the system actuation valve to operate without delay.
7.7.4.2 Where ambient conditions exist that cause false sys-
tem operations, detection systems shall be permitted to in-
clude delays that would override these conditions.