It's a bit of a stretch to suspect all heads are faulty if one has a non-fire actuation. Did anyone collect the parts from that other head?
We have had several non-fire actuations. In one case we analyzed it ourself in our lab. In the other we sent it to the manufacturer for testing. In the one we did ourselves, the lab determined an inadequate solder bond due to flux contamination. It was a 1982 head that actuated in 1993 (11 years old). In the other, we sent the failed head with retrieved parts, plus 3 other heads that surrounded the failed head to the manufacturer. They determined that the failed head had been subjected to excess heat during its lifetime and the solder had creeped to a point that it gave way. We are an industrial facility with lots of steam pipes at the roof, although there were no steam pipes near the head at the time of actuation, but they could have been there prior to anyone's knowledge. It was a 1968 head that actuated in 1997 (29 years old). The other 3 intact heads tested good under strength-of-link tests so we were not worried about the remaining heads in the system. Haven't had a similar failure since. With no analysis the owner has some reason for concern. To deal with the concern, I would suggest they remove several heads in the vicinity of the one that actuated and send them in to the manufacturer for testing. That will give them a basis for replacing all heads or doing nothing. John Hoffman P.E. | Fire Protection Engineer | Facility Engineering Services, KCP, LLC - Burns & McDonnell Engineering | National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant | Operated by Honeywell FM&T | 2000 E. 95th St | Kansas City, MO 64131 | ph 816-997-7213 | [email protected] |------------> | From: | |------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |01/06/2012 02:45 PM | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |Re: Trash Chute Question | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Sent by: | |------------> >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------| There was definitely no fusible link. I looked as well as possible in the trash collector. Unfortunately by the time I arrived the trash chute had already seen its share of additional trash. I was not about to go fishing through the garbage. I could definitely stub a new head out there. I'm not sure if it is really necessary as there are heads on the individual floors already, including the top floor, just a few feet from this mystery head. If it just a cleanout head, I will leave it plugged. I have one other issue in this building which is adding to the confusion. They had a head go off for no reason a few months ago in a common area. The head made a real mess and now they are convinced they have faulty sprinkler heads. There was no fire, it didn't freeze, and it was in an area that it couldn't have been hit by accident. I believe they were Gem heads, from the 80's. The head in the chute does not look like a Gem head. It looks older than the one that fused in the common area. The owners are convinced all the heads in the building may be faulty. Does anybody know of any Gem recalls? I know Central had a major recall. I also remember sending a sampling of older heads out years ago for testing. Does anybody know if they still test heads? This building is becoming a real headache. Between the fusing heads and some fire pump issues which I won't get into. Any help would be appreciated. In a message dated 1/6/2012 3:17:38 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Did I miss why you think there was no fusible link? If the head operated didn't the link parts end up in the trash collector? Did you really search the dumpster? And as far as repair, why change this head?. Can you just stub a new sidewall in near the top? Forget the original head was ever there. Dry or wet depending on cold potential. If it's at the top you don't have to worry about deflector shields. Chris Cahill, PE* Senior Fire Protection Engineer Aviation & Facilities Group Burns & McDonnell P: 952.656.3652 F: 952.229.2923 [email protected] www.burnsmcd.com *Lic. in MN -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Friday, January 06, 2012 1:52 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Trash Chute Question But if it was designed as a cleanout head, I would think there would no fusible link. Otherwise you would have to fuse the head to clean the chute? In a message dated 1/6/2012 2:23:02 P.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: That may be why it actuated - the fact that it is 30 years old. It sat at the top of an unairconditioned chute where all the environmental heat collects. It is subject to vibration day after day from trash banging down the chute. It's old. Fatigue sets in. The fusible link just gave up. John Hoffman P.E. | Fire Protection Engineer | Facility Engineering Services, KCP, LLC - Burns & McDonnell Engineering | National Nuclear Security Administration's Kansas City Plant | Operated by Honeywell FM&T | 2000 E. 95th St | Kansas City, MO 64131 | ph 816-997-7213 | [email protected] |------------> | From: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | To: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Date: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |01/06/2012 01:13 PM | >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Subject: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |Re: Trash Chute Question | >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |------------> | Sent by: | |------------> >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| |[email protected] | >--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------| That has been one of my theories. My only question is what caused the head to go off now. It's been that way for 30 years and they've never had any problems. I'm still confused . In a message dated 1/6/2012 9:12:49 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, [email protected] writes: Sounds like a "cleanout head", that should've been connected to domestic water supply, was incorrectly connected to the fire system during original construction. The head should be an open head, controlled by a valve at the top of the shaft. It shouldn't set off the pump or fire alarm. On Wed, Jan 4, 2012 at 2:46 PM, <[email protected]> wrote: > I had a sprinkler head go off at the top of a trash chute today. The head > is in an unreachable position inside the middle the top of the chute. It > is > also being fed off some kind of contraption I have never seen. Some type > of large baffle with a 1" street elbow coming off of it and something in > the > middle with a lever. There are heads on every floor, just inside the trash > chute doors, which is common. Does anybody know what type of assembly this > is at the very top center of the chute? How can I possible change this > head > if I can't even get near it? I broke the 1" union feeding this contraption > which was located outside the chute. I just plugged it and need to figure > out where to go from here. Any help would be greatly appreciated. > Thanks, > Dave > -------------- next part -------------- > An HTML attachment was scrubbed... > URL: < > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/attachments /20120104/ae07e458/attachment.html > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... 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