Fire Protection Research Foundation report: “Obstructions and Early Suppression Fast Response Sprinklers"
Authors: Garner A. Palenske, P.E. Garth N. Ornelas, P.E., Wiss Janney, Elstner Associates, Inc.
Date of issue: August 2020
Read a summary of this report. (PDF)
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Previous reports
Phase 3
Fire Protection Research Foundation report: "Obstruction and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 3" (PDF) Download the executive summary (PDF)
Author: Garner A. Palenske, P.E., William N. Fletcher, P.E., Jensen Hughes
Date of issue: December 2016
This program focused on open web bar joist obstructions and from that work, the impact of horizontal distance from the sprinkler to the obstruction is better understood. The third phase continued the test program and increased the understanding of the impact of vertical distance and studied the impact of obstruction width.
Phase 2
Fire Protection Research Foundation report: "Obstruction and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 2" (PDF) Download the executive summary for this report. (PDF)
Author: Garner A. Palenske, P.E., William N. Fletcher, Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corporation
Date of issue: September 2015
The objective of the Phase 2 research effort was to explore the threshold and tolerance of the early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers to obstructions. This research utilized both intermediate scale testing and full-scale testing.
Phase 1
Fire Protection Research Foundation report: "Obstruction and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 1" (PDF)
Author: Garner A. Palenske, P.E., William N. Fletcher, Aon Fire Protection Engineering Corporation
Date of issue: October 2014
The Fire Protection Research Foundation initiated this project to ultimately develop a tool that can be used for providing reliable analysis of the impact of obstructions on ESFR sprinklers based on existing test data and develop technical basis to the NFPA 13 Technical Committees for new requirements and guidance. The goal of this first phase project was to gather available test data, analyze the knowledge gaps, and develop a research plan for future testing.