A computer-based simulation and evaluation: Applying an automatic sprinkler system for extinguishing scooter fires in arcade areas

In Taiwan, arcade buildings function as areas for parking scooters, spaces for markets, and walkways for pedestrians. In recent decades, arcade fires have caused many cases of serious casualties due to the likely direction of fire that spreads from the first floor up, which hinders the evacuation routes. The majority of fire prevention research has focused on confined spaces or rooms instead of arcade areas. Specifically, the controlling of fire spreads that are caused by scooters in arcade areas has been rarely discussed. The variables of spaces, Response Time Index, and sprinkler activation temperatures are modeled in five fire scenarios with the Fire Dynamics Simulator software to simulate the real arcade fires in this paper. The results show that (1) setting an automatic sprinkler system can effectively suppress the arcade fires, (2) the quick response sprinkler RTI≦50 is the most effective type, and the result is similar to RTI=25, and (3) the sprinkler settings with either 2.3 meters or 2.6 meters do not have significant effects on heat release rates.

Why Fire Sprinklers Should Not Be Required in Open Parking Structures

In the 2021 editions of the International Building Code (IBC) and International Fire Code (IFC), provisions were added by code change F110-18 to require automatic sprinkler protection in all open parking structures that exceed 48,000 square feet in fire area. Unfortunately, the technical documentation that was submitted to support such a drastic change to the building and fire codes did not meet the expected robustness to justify these new requirements. This white paper provides: • Historical background information on the fire experience in open parking structures. • A summary of the documentation used to require sprinkler protection for open parking structures in the 2021 IFC. • A review of the potential fire hazards in open parking structures. • An explanation of why this added expense for the construction of open parking structures is not justified.

The efficiency assessment of an automatic sprinkler system

Introduction. Сases of ineffective activation of automatic sprinkler fire-fighting systems (AFFS), designed pursuant to current standards, have made it necessary to address the following three issues: a) identification of reasons for ineffective activation; b) examination of AFFS systems to ensure their successful activation in case of fire; c) making a list of recommendations for AFFS designers. These issues can be resolved with reference to Appendix B to new SP (Construction Regulations) 485.13130.2020.Maximal critical height of sprinkler placement. Models of fire development were used to design the roof height limit and the AFFS bulb heating time. If the ceiling height exceeds the limit value, sprinklers cannot be activated in a timely manner. This leads to delays in the AFFS activation, and, as a result, the fire area exceeds the one safeguarded by the sprinkler.Acceptable sprinkler height. The analysis of fire scenarios and bulb heating models allows to more accurately project the feasibility of timely AFFS activation. This, in turn, allows to solve the three above listed problems.Using a differential heat detector to activate sprinklers. If it is established that the use of the AFFS, activating sprinklers by means of thermal destruction of a bulb, is ineffective in a given room, the feasibility of forced AFFS activation using a differential heat detector responding to the temperature rise in a room may be considered. The ratios, thus obtained, are applied to identify the acceptable height of premises protected by the AFFS equipped with such detectors. Problem solutions, including the identification of the reason for the ineffective operation of the AFFS, examination of the AFFS in operation, and provision of recommendations to designers, are demonstrated using the exhibition hall as an example.Conclusions. The above-mentioned problems are resolvable with the help of Appendix B to new Construction Regulations 485.13130.2020 and the above models.

Rancang Bangun Alat Pendeteksi kelembaban tanah dan Penyiram Otomatis Berbasis Arduino Uno

Plants are living things that need water for growth, so plant growth affects the amount of water and nutrients that can be absorbed properly in the growth process. Plants obtain water through the soil which is absorbed by the roots, but plants with short roots such as mustard greens, tomatoes, chilies, and other vegetables find it difficult to reach deeper water. To maintain the quality of soil moisture in order to remain stable, special handling is needed, namely routine watering with attention to the percentage level of moisture in the range of 50% -70%. Currently, monitoring of plant watering is still done manually. This has several shortcomings, including requiring more manpower for monitoring, the higher the cost. Therefore, the authors conducted observations and experiments to provide solutions or problems, namely by designing an arduino-based soil moisture detector and automatic sprinkler, the results obtained from the design of the tool were: Soil Moisture Sensor which functions as an input successfully detects Soil moisture value (if the soil is dry) the water pump will automatically water it.Keywords - The Design, Automatic Springklers, Automatic Vegetable Watering, Arduino Uno.Abstrak: Tanaman merupakan mahluk hidup yang membutuhkan air untuk pertumbuhan, sehingga pertumbuhan tanaman berpengaruh pada jumlah air dan unsur hara yang dapat diserap secara baik dalam proses pertumbuhan. Tanaman memperoleh air melalui tanah yang diserap oleh akar, namun tanaman berakar pendek seperti sawi, tomat, cabai, dan sayuran yang lain sulit untuk menjangkau air lebih dalam. Untuk menjaga kualitas kelembaban tanah agar tetap stabil diperlukan penanganan khusus yaitu penyiraman rutin dengan memperhatikan tingkat persentase kadar air berkisar 50%-70%. Saat ini, monitoring penyiraman tanaman masih dilakukan secara manual. Hal ini memiliki beberapa kekurangan, diantaranya membutuhkan lebih banyak tenaga manusia untuk monitoring, biaya (cost) yang dikeluarkan semakin tinggi. Atas dasar itu itu penulis bermaksud melakukan pengamatan langsung dan eksperimen untuk memberikan solusi atau permasalahan tersebut yaitu dengan merancang alat pendeteksi kelembaban tanah dan penyiram otomatis berbasis arduino, dari hasil rancang bangun alat tersebut didapat hasil: Sensor Kelembaban Tanah (Soil Moisture Sensor) yang berfungsi sebagai input berhasil mendeteksi nilai kelembaban tanah (jika kondisi tanah kering) maka pompa air akan secara otomatis melakukan penyiraman.Kata kunci: Rancang Bangun, Alat Penyiram Otomatis, Penyiram Sayuran Otomatis, Arduino Uno

AUTOMATIC WATERING SYSTEM BASED ATMEGA328 MICROCONTROLLER ON GREEN DELI HONEY GUAVA PLANTS

<em>The role of water is very important in the growth process of the green deli honey guava plant, because this plant absolutely requires regular and sufficient water especially during the dry season. One of the obstacles for guava farmers is the problem of watering. Where honey guava has a moisture percentage ranging from 60% to 80% which must be maintained so that the quality of honey guava fruit is better. From these problems, an automatic watering device is designed based on soil moisture. Where this tool can also be monitored via android, LCD, and computer (PC) to make it easier for farmers to monitor. This study aims to determine the effect of soil moisture and assist farmers in controlling soil moisture in the cultivation of deli honey guava. The benefit of this research is to help farmers in an accurate and measurable process of watering plants. This research was conducted in Mancang Village, Binjai City. In this study, 2 honey guava trees were used to be tested using an automatic plant watering tool. One guava tree uses the manual method and the other is controlled using an automatic sprinkler. In this process the data is retrieved via a computer via USB with the PLX-DAQ software. The results showed that the soil moisture of the honey guava tree which was controlled using automatic sprinklers was more stable in maintaining soil moisture of 60% to 80% compared to the honey guava tree which was watered manually because the percentage of soil moisture did not match the plant's needs. Thus, the watering process using this tool is more controlled and measured in maintaining soil moisture in accordance with the needs of the green deli honey guava plant.</em>

Calculated estimation of geometric parameters of automatic water fire extinguishing systems for high rise racks

Рассмотрены вопросы, связанные с применением спринклерных автоматических установок водяного пожаротушения стеллажей. Проанализированы соответствующие нормативные документы. Описаны варианты решения задач определения расхода воды из оросителя, координат места его установки, а также углов распыла огнетушащего вещества и наклона оси оросителя. Приведены примеры расчета геометрических параметров спринклерных автоматических установок водяного пожаротушения стеллажей. Fires at objects whith high-rack storage of combustible materials are particularly dangerous because of the rapid spread of the flame vertically, the risk of collapse of the racks and the damaging effects of high temperature on structural elements of the building. The main method of extinguishing such fires at the initial stage is the use of automatic sprinkler fire extinguishing systems (AUP). The requirements for AUP parameters (types of detectors and sprinklers, their characteristics and distances) depending on the height of the room and storage are currently set out in two normative documents: the set of rules (SP 241.1311500.2015) and the organization standard (VNPB 40-16). Unlike the SP, where there is provided only the supply of a fire extinguishing substance (FES) - water vertically down with high-flow sprinklers of type SOBR (ESFR) and there are no requirements for the type of fire detectors, VNPB provides the use of different types of detectors (aspiration, smoke, heat), forced start-up of AUP sprinklers, which reduces the time of free fire development and the supply of FES by a flow shaper with the spray angle ≈ 600 at an angle  to the vertical both to the horizontal and lateral surfaces of the racks. This article discusses the issues of determining the parameters of automatic sprinkler systems for water fire extinguishing of racks. Variants of solving synthesis problems are given - the choice of the places for installing sprinklers depending on the height and width of the racks, their axis of inclination, and also the spray angle. To solve these problems, the computer program called struja.exe was created, a series of calculations on which showed a negligible effect of aerodynamic drag due to relatively small distances. Examples are given. Thus, the features of the sprinkler AUP for the protection of rooms with high-rack storage and the task of determining its geometric parameters are considered. In this case, forced activation of the sprinkler follows in order to avoid a delay in the start of extinguishing. In the future, it is also desirable to conduct additional field experiments with sprinkler water supply and also (if possible) evaluate the effect of ascending flows of combustion products on the water flow from the sprinkler.