Pool fire tests to establish fire performance criteria in large machinery spaces

A simple and robust test methodology that makes it possible to measure and quantify the effectiveness of water spray or water mist systems intended for "large" shipboard machinery spaces, has been investigated previously and is summarised in SP Report 2005:33. The methodology is based on the measurement of gas temperatures with traditional wire thermocouples a short distance above a pool fire surface. The objective of the tests presented here is to further explore and develop the methodology and to establish criteria for fire control, fire suppression and fire extinguishment, as defined in the 2003 edition of NFPA 750. The results indicate that the methodology needs to be complemented with measurements of fire burn times, relative to the free-burn time of a pool fire.