Public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this collection of information, including suggestions for reducing this burden, to Washington Headquarters Services, Directorate for Information Operations and Reports, 1215 Jefferson Davis Highway, Suite 1204, Arlington, VA 22202-4302, and For several years munitions plants and arsenals have been plagued by deflagrations of pyrotechnic material that have caused loss of life, serious injuries, and extensive property damage. These problems have been caused by detection and suppression systems that are too slow for current applications or have been hampered by false alarm stimuli. As a result, the Army teamed with the Air Force Fire Research Branch at Tyndall AFB. This team effort led to the approval and funding of a research and development project to devise a better fire detection and suppression system for the Army facilities. In Phase I tests, this system consistently suppressed burning energetic material (less than one pound) in less than 30 milliseconds after flame detection from a nozzle height of 36 inches. This system includes strategically placed explosively actuated water suppression devices and improved optical flame detectors that decrease the possibility of false alarms with no significant increase in response time. This Phase II effort evaluated the AFPDS in an operational environment, conducted suppression tests of several materials not tested in Phase I, and measured the spectral emission characteristics of several pyrotechnics and propellants to provide data for optimizing the response of high-speed optical flame detectors.14. SUBJECT TERMS high-speed deluge, spectral analysis, deluge system, fire protection
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. OBJECTIVEThis Phase II study had three main objectives: to evaluate the Advanced Fire Protection Deluge System (AFPDS), developed and tested in Phase I, in an operational environment; to evaluate the system against pyrotechnic materials not tested in Phase I in quantities up to two pounds (908g); and to measure the spectral emissions of fires involving these munitions materials for use in flame detector optimization. The accomplishment of these three objectives will further enhance the confidence in this system which performed superbly in Phase I testing.
B. BACKGROUNDFor several years munitions plants and arsenals have been plagued by deflagrations of pyrotechnic material that have caused loss of life, serious injuries, and extensive property damage. The private sector has also suffered injuries, deaths and property damage. Much of this has been caused by detection and suppression systems that are too slow for current applications or have been hampered by serious false alarm stimuli. Between 1988 and 1992 alone, the U....