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Effect of Propylene Glycol/Water Solution on Suppression of Corrugated Cardboard Cartoned Commodities
Track(s): Loss Control/Prevention, Research

Bennie Vincent, FM Global

Audio Sample:




Wet-pipe, closed-head sprinkler systems are a desirable alternative for fire protection of industrial freezers and other occupancies in which ambient air temperatures are maintained below the freezing point of water. A number of compounds have been proposed for use as antifreeze agents. Propylene glycol is now receiving increasing attention as an effective antifreeze agent. Small-scale and intermediate-scale fire tests have indicated that propylene glycol solutions may actually increase the intensity of burning fuels. You will learn about efforts to quantify the effect of this contribution through a series of large-scale fire suppression tests. The tests were conducted to assess the effect of propylene glycol solution upon the fire hazard of standard commodities routinely used to assess fire hazards associated with industrial warehouse and commercial properties.

Bennie Vincent is a Senior Research Specialist, Protection and Hazards, at FM Global Research and Engineering, Norwood, MA. Bennie is involved in fire research and testing. He has thirty years experience in large-scale fire testing and sprinkler protection systems. Bennie's major research projects have involved governmental, private and trade organizations as well as internally-sponsored research programs. He has expertise in the area of fire protection systems - including residential sprinklers and suppression-mode industrial sprinkler applications and evaluating the effects of different sprinkler installation parameters upon fire suppression and control. His area of concentration has been in large-scale fire test evaluation of Early Suppression-Fast Response (ESFR) and new technology sprinkler systems for a variety of applications.