High-Cost of a Hangar System Discharge

NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars clearly outlines fire protection system requirements, components, and design criteria.  These system designs are based on several factors including, hangar class, hangar size, fueled or unfueled storage, and the presence of hazardous operations.  These criteria are laid out in order to provide the greatest level of coverage and fire protection, with the least chance of a false activation or accidental discharge.

As we discuss these false activations, we are talking about an instance when the sprinkler and/or foam system activate, agent is expelled from the sprinkler heads, but there is no fire event in progress. The cost of an accidental discharge can be astronomical and have far-reaching consequences.  These costs are related to:

1. Damage to aircraft
2. Cost to recharge/refill foam supply
3. Cost to retain and remove foam contaminant effluent
4. Manpower costs
5. Loss of future business

Foam and water discharge can cause significant damage to an aircraft engine and avionics, especially when the nacelle (casing around the engine) is open for servicing.  An almost equal amount of damage can be caused to sensitive electrical components if the system discharges into an open cockpit.  If a discharge happens under these conditions, each part must be inspected, cleaned, and treated.  A study by the Navy estimated the repair cost to be half that of a full replacement.

Based on where you look, the cost of foam (AFFF) concentrate starts at around $1,000 for 55 gallons. Hangars requiring foam systems would require thousands of gallons of this concentrate.  A 1,000 gallon tank recharge/refill could cost nearly $20,000. 

The foam discharged is required by environmental protection guidelines to be captured, retained, and properly disposed of.  If a system is activated, the discharge should flow into the trench drainage system, it would then flow to a holding area.  All the discharged liquid will have to be removed by tanker trucks, this would also have to include the wash down water from cleaning the foam residue left in the trench and on the hangar surfaces.  Low estimates for this are around $1 per gallon transported.

The clean up and additional aircraft maintenance and repair all require manpower.  This is unplanned work that an employee must be paid to fulfill (often at overtime pay rates).

Perhaps, the biggest cost, could be the economic factor, a loss of future business.  An accidental discharge could cause current and future customers to lack faith in the organization, stop current programs, or prohibit future purchases.  The loss of one large contract could put the company out of business.

The most common reason for a false activation or accidental discharge is improper maintenance and lack of following proper testing procedures.  NFPA 409 provides clear guidance on the inspection, testing, and maintenance of these systems.

The book and resource guide, NFPA 409 - Resource Guide, is available now.  This guide is intended to be used in conjunction with NFPA 409, Standard on Aircraft Hangars.  

The Resource Guide provides clarification on the code requirements, outlines hangar classifications, describes the construction process, and defines the fire protection system installation and maintenance procedures. Purchasing this guide provides access to a complete training program for you and your staff, an audio presentation, and a collection of checklists to ensure that compliance is maintained.  

Answer this in the comments section:
Have you ever experienced a false system discharge?  What was the root cause?

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What makes a leader crumble?

As I have been preparing to teach a building construction for the fire service class, I was struck by the section on building failures.  As I studied why buildings fail, I could not shake the thought that the same things that make a building susceptible to failure is the same thing that can put us, as leaders, at risk of failure.
 
A building failure occurs when a structure is "no longer capable of performing its required function in a satisfactory manner".  The potential cause of a building failure can usually be traced to one of these three sources:

1. Structural integrity
2. Building systems
3. Design deficiencies

Structural Integrity
 
Related to buildings under fire conditions, the structural integrity is fully related to the fire resistance and combustibility of the materials used in the construction of the structure and the buildings contents.

"The structural integrity of a building under fire conditions is related to the fire resistance and combustibility of the materials of which it is constructed.  Combustible materials may possess some initial fire resistance...and be able to act as a barrier to fire, but ultimately they will be consumed...noncombustible materials...may also retain structural integrity at first but will fail from the effects of the heat. 
Fire-resistive materials possess the ability to maintain structural integrity.  Structural integrity permits effective interior attacks and, therefore, is of fundamental importance to the firefighter." (Building Construction Related to the Fire Service, 3rd ed., pg 21)
 

It seems that we are seeing leadership failures from this source more and more often, especially in the political realm.  We see leaders that pilot an organization or people through a trying time, only to find out that behind the scenes the leaders integrity has failed.

Integrity has been defined as, "the person you are when no one is watching".  There is an old saying that states, “You can fool some of the people all the time, you can fool all the people some of the time, but you can never fool all the people all the time”. There is no truer statement than this when it comes to the leader who lacks true integrity. The insincere leader can hide his lack of integrity for a while, around certain groups of people, he may even at times, fool everyone into thinking that he is the real deal, a real hero, one to be looked up to and emulated. However, when it comes time for him to act, when his leadership is put to the test, his true colors will shine through. Without integrity he will fail, he will be found out. Integrity is the glue that holds that holds the leader together through every trial that may arise.

Building Systems

It takes many components and separate systems all working together to create a functional, productive, and comfortable facility. These systems include HVAC, electrical, plumbing, communications, elevators, and the list could go on.

"Improper or inadequate design of these systems can contribute to building failures under fire conditions...the duct work and circulating fans of a ventilation system can contribute to the spread of products of combustion throughout a building.  Good design practice requires that provisions be built into a system to prevent the spread of combustion products.  These provisions would include such measures as smoke detectors to initiate the shutdown of units or to operate dampers in ducts." (Building Construction Related to the Fire Service, 3rd ed., pg 21)
 

In order for these systems to prevent building failure, they must be in place, and they must be inspected, tested, and maintained at regular intervals.  Many leaders fail because they have not placed safeguards and systems into their life, organization, or leadership.  Leaders should have accountability in place, they should be accountable to the communities they serve, the people they lead, and in their personal lives (see above).  The leader who does not have accountability systems in place will quickly fail (due to his own errors, or accusations of).  The leader should be open and forthright in all his dealings, he should have people in his life that are going to hold him to a high standard of excellence and integrity, in both, his professional and personal life.  These people are there to celebrate the leaders victories, but also to guide him back when he strays, and call him out on his mistakes. This relationship, needs to be in place, but also should be inspected and maintained from time to time to ensure that it is still a viable accountability partnership.

Design Deficiencies

A design deficiency occurs when a building is utilized for other than its intended purpose.  If a structure is built to be a business occupancy, a bank for instance, but is utilized for a food establishment and performance venue, then there will be several problems related to life safety. Exiting requirements are different, fire protection and detection systems and demands will need to be upgraded and addressed. Or, perhaps a warehouse is constructed for storage of ordinary hazard materials, but then high hazard items are stored there, the systems in place will soon be overpowered, as they were not designed for a high hazard.

This is probably the most innocent of the causes of leadership failure.  People who are put into leadership positions that they are not designed for, or have yet obtained the mentality to achieve to.  In the fire service this often plays out by promoting people into leadership roles (lieutenants, captains, chiefs) simply because they have the required time or connections.  However, many of those promoted do not have the mental characteristics for this position.  They think and behave like a firefighter, instead of a leader. And there is a huge difference. 

Often times, we long for the benefits of the promotion so we will try to go for it, even though we realize that it is not what we are designed for.  It is outside of our realm of things we are passionate about, and excel in.  I use myself as an example here.  I am passionate about the fire prevention side of the fire service.  I enjoy and excel in the areas of code development, fire systems, public education and inspection practices.  Though, I am a certified firefighter, when it comes to the strategy and tactics of fire attack, RIT operations, vehicle extrication, or emergency medical procedures, I sort of glaze over.  So, for me to serve in the role of operations lieutenant I would be putting myself and crew at risk of failure.  However, if I were at the same rank the Fire Prevention Bureau, I and my team, would have great success.  Sometimes, we have to say no to some really good things, in order to stay focused on the excellent thing that we were designed for.

We make ourselves susceptible to leadership failure when we try to act outside of what we were designed for.

As you continue to climb the ladder of success ensure that you maintain your structural integrity, implement and maintain systems of accountability, and always hold to what you are uniquely designed for.

 

 

Understanding Pre-Action Sprinkler Systems

When installing a fire sprinkler system there are three general types, wet-pipe, dry-pipe, and pre-action. A wet-pipe system contains water under pressure at all times and utilized closed sprinkler heads. A dry-pipe system is used in areas where temperatures drop to less than 40 degrees Farenheit, contains no water in the above ground piping prior to system activation, and is charged with air under pressure. The pre-action system, similar to the dry-pipe, is charged with air under pressure.

In a pre-action system the water supply is held back by a pre-action valve. This valve is connected to a supplemental detection system. Water will not enter the pipe until the detection system is activated. Once activated, the valve is released and allows water into the sprinkler piping. Water will not come from the system, until sufficient heat causes the individual sprinkler head to activate (after the pre-action valve activates, the system functions the same as a wet-pipe system). This type of operation is known as a standard or single-interlock system.


The air pressure on the pre-action valve is constantly monitored. If the pressure changes (due to leak in pipe or other issue) an alarm will sound, however, the system will not activate under this condition. The valve will remain closed, preventing water running into the system until the detection system is activated.

Another type of pre-action system known as a double-interlock system will only operate when both the supplemental detection system and a sprinkler head is activated.


These systems are commonly found in high value areas such as computer rooms, communications centers, and museums.

These systems are to be installed per the requirements of NFPA 13 and NFPA 72. The following inspections are required for system acceptance:

1. Standard hydrostatic test at 200psi for 2 hours.

2. Air pressure leakage test at 40psi for 24 hours.

3. Signage and labeling of all controls and valves to be posted.

4. Alarms monitoring the supervisory air pressure shall be tested.

5. Flow switch and water flow alarm are to be tested.

6. Operational test shall be performed, requiring the pre-action valve to trip.

7. The supplemental detection system shall be tested without operating the pre-action valve.

8. Full fire alarm system function test to be conducted.

Download a printable version of the Pre-action System Acceptance Criteria.