Date
6-2014
Degree Name
MS in Fire Protection Engineering
College
College of Engineering
Advisor
Frederick Mowrer and Christopher Pascual
Abstract
A Fuel Cell Maintenance Hangar (FCMH) was constructed in 2013 based on a 2012 design; Figure 1.1.1 is a rendering shown below. This report evaluates the design for life safety, and property protection systems. The facility was designed based on Air Force standard prescriptive methods; the resultant design is compared to minimum prescriptive methods and to as-built drawings. In addition, the property protection design criteria were evaluated by simulating the maximum expected design fire in a hangar bay 1 using Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS). Section 1 consists of a general overview of the FCMH including descriptions of the facility and the relevant codes and standards. Section 2 consists of detailed design analysis using prescriptive codes and standards. All systems were evaluated using Engineering Technical Letter (ETL) 02- 15 and Uniform Facilities Criteria (UFC) 3-600-01. Egress systems were evaluated using National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 101; the fire detection and notification system was evaluated using NFPA 72; automatic sprinkler system was evaluated using NFPA 13, and FM Global Data Sheet 3-26; the high expansion foam system was evaluated using NFPA 11. Section 3 consists of a performance-based design evaluation. A JP-8 fuel spill in the hangar containing two F-35 Joint Strike Fighters was modeled; the results were used to evaluate the automatic sprinkler and high expansion foam systems. Section 4 consists of conclusions and recommendations to the prescriptive based design of the fuel cell maintenance hangar. Generally, the design was found to comply with codes; however, the prescriptive design analysis revealed the existence of extra fire protection features. The performance-based design evaluation revealed that a high reliance is placed on manual activation of high expansion foam for the purpose of property protection.
https://digitalcommons.calpoly.edu/fpe_rpt/26
Final Presentation
DOI
10.15368/fperpt.2014.10