Not for FireProtection

Arefor Parti€s,
Balloons
By Michael J. Laderoute

flH or sometime now,a trendhasbeen

.l emergingwithin our industrythat, for
some reason,is replicatingitselfthrough-
out the country.As our industryis evolving,
we ar e hear ing mo re a n d m o re th a t
AuthoritiesHaving Jurisdiction(AHJs)are
requiringtestingof newly installedrestau-
rant system(s)prior to being placed into
service. As a final checkout, the AHJ is
requestingsuchthingsas mechanical tests,
puff tests, bag tests, flow tests, pressure
tests,a completedischargeof the system,
or balloontests.
It is understandable that the AHJwants
to be assuredthat the systemwasdesigned
a n d ins t alledper it s U L L i s te d m a n u a l .
Unfortunately, some of the tests being
required may in fact render the system
inoperableat the time of a fire. The hard
fact is that most of the proceduresmen-
tioned above actually prove nothing in
the finished installationof the system.
Additionally, the resultscan be misleading
and setforth a falsesenseof assurance that
the systemis installedaccordingto its UL
Installations are requiredto conformto ting that informationtogetherto outlinea
installationmanual and will perform as
the limitationsset forth in the UL installa- complete acceptable hazard design and
expectedshould it ever be called upon.
tion manual.ln most lurisdictions, as part installation.Everythinghas been predeter-
The issuehere is the testing method, not
of the permitting processthe installation mined. Otherwise,what is the purposeof
the testingrequirement.
company is requiredto providedrawings the manual?Why would a Listingbe so
that detail how the systemwas designed imoortant?
Testing'Whatt Already Been Tested and how the system is to be installed. It seemsthat many AHlsmay havelost
AHJ s s hould k eep i n m i n d th a t th e s e
Ad d i ti onal l y,the i nstal l ermust demon- confidencein the process.Some are sec-
systemshave been individuallytested by
strate proof of certification, which is ond-guessing the Listingof the productby
an independent third pafty, usuolly
requiredin orderto work on thesetypesof either requiringadditionaltests, proof of
UnderwritersLoborotories,and have gone
systems.The entire allowable decision- design or, in some cases,lessof what is a
through rigoroustesting,resultingin max-
making designsare set forth in the UL mandatory requirementof the product
i mu m and m inim um p i p e s i z e ,mi n i mu m
i n s ta l l ati on
and mai ntenance manual . Listing.I am not surewhat hascausedthis
a n d m ax im um num b e r o f fi tti n g s ,ma x i -
AHlsshouldkeepin mind that none of skepticismin the AHJs.I believeeducation
mum volumeof pipingin any system,max-
the designdecisions are beingmade by the may be the missingcomponent,and thus
imum flow pointsand nozzlesallowedper
installerof the system.Nothing is randoml we all need to improve on providing the
systembasedon sizeof cylinder,etc. These
The installeris merely selectingfrom a AHJ with the necessaryinformation so
scenarioshave actuallybeen fire tested to
seriesof charts,tables,or drawingsas spec- he/shecan makeinformeddecisions.
assurethe systemsperform as expected.
ifiedin the UL Listedmanualand then put-

10 F I RE W A T CH ! December 2010
Proper Tests
Ea rl i e rls ook e of v ari o u ste s ts th a t a re tion of the system,a systemcylinder pres- unnecessaryand add no value or cred-
b e i n grequir edby t he A H l sth ro u g h o u th t e surized
country.I will attemptto addressthe most
co mmo n:
Mechanlcal Test
Thisis a requirementin almosteveryman-
s ins t alla ti o m
u fa ctur er 'UL n a n u a l .l t i s to
a ssu ret he m ec hanic aco l mp o n e n tso f th e
systemwill function as intended.During
this test, items such as the control head,
gas valve,micro switches,remotecontrol,
detection line, etc., are tested to assure
th e y a r e f unc t ioning p ro p e rl y a n d a s
e xp e ct ed. S y s t em des i g n s th a t re q u i re
actuation by piercing a small cartridge
usuallyrequirethat a cartridgebe tested
as well, assuringthat the control head is
operating as expected.During this test,
usuallyno pressureor liquid is discharged
throughthe systemdistributionpiping.
Puff Test
Thistest is requiredin almosteverymanu-
facturer'sUL installationmanual.This is to Unnecessary Tests
assurethat the systemdistributionpipingis Someof the other testsbeing requestedor
connectedand free and clearof any block- requiredby AHJsaroundthe countryareas
age. This test is usuallyconducted with follows.Ratherthan trying to justifythem,
Nozzles with caps.
all nozzle cap/sealsin place.Upon actua- I will insteadstateup front:Thesetestsare
with nitrogenor air is discharged, itability to the installedsystem.
allowing the air or nitrogento fill the dis-
Bag Test or Complete Discharge of
tribution piping and thus blow the nozzle
the System. On the surfacethis require-
caps/sealsfree from the nozzle orifice.
ment seemsappropriate. Afterall, isn'tthis
Observers shouldnoticethat in a properly
exactlywhat the systemis designedto do?
designedsystemall the nozzleswill begin
To dischargeagent in measuredamounts?
to dischargethe air or nitrogenat about
Yes,but what some AHls don't seem to
th e s a meti me.
understandis that eachdischargeis going
to producedifferentresults.So many fac-
IMPORTANTNOTE:
tors can affecthow much agent/waterwill
Theabovetwo testsare whqt mostmonufac-
be dischargedout of eachnozzle.Air tem-
turerssuggestrequiringwhen verifyingo new
perature, cylinder pressure,quantity of
instqllqtion or design,os well as testing the
pipe,numberof pipefittings,designof sys-
systemto assureit is functioningos expected
tem piping, temperatureof the hazardat
prior to being ploced into service.Reminder:
the time of discharge,longestverticalrun
Thisis a UL Listedsystemond its designhos
of the system piping, number of flow
olready been approved by on independent
pointsdesignedfor the hazard,etc.,will all
third porty (NRTL).Performingany addition-
have an effect on what and how much
ol testing is unnecessory,costly to the end
agent/waterdischargesout the nozzles.
user,ond doesnot verifyor add credibilityto
Trying to capture the agent and then
the systemthqt hqs beeninstolled.
attemptingto weigh or measureit to veri-
fy a certai namount i s being dischar ged
provesnothingtoward the acceptability of
the system desi gn, i ts i nst allat ion,or
whetherit's performingas expected.
Eachinstallationis unique!Eachsystem
is unique!Eachhazardis unique!There is
no "one sizefits all" formula.The problem-
atic part of this requirementis what must
happenafter such a test. Because the dis-
tri buti onpi pi ng of the sys t emhad liquid
discharged throughout,it now needsto be
properly purged, flushed,dried, and put
back i nto a condi ti onthat will not lend
itself to problemsthat could render the
system inoperablein the future as the
hazard takes its toll on the distribution
pi pi ng. Thi s enti re processis spelledout
i n detai l i n most manu f act ur er 'sUL
installationmanualsbut this test is not
D ecember 2010 FIR E WATCH! 11
 -

recommended nor required in order to on the nozzles.During the puff test, the pendentthird party.Anyone(AHJor other-
verify,approve, or commission a system entire piping of the systemwill first pres- wise) requiringyou to install,design,or
d e si g n. surizeand then the nozzlecaps/seals will perform a test outJidewhat is specified
blow free at approximately the sametime. w i thi n the U L manual smight be doing so
Flow Test. The purpose of this test is to
During a balloontest the nozzlecaps w i thout any sol i d underst anding or f oun-
assurethe piping is not blockedand the
are removed and are reolacedwith bal- dation on how the system works. We
nozzlesare clear.This is not necessary.A
loons!lt may be excitingto watch the bal- should no longer allow pre-engineered
simple puff test with air or nitrogen dis-
loons expand,but one should note right systems to be expos ed t o t est ing
ch a rgedt hr ough t he p i p i n g a n d a l l o w i n g
from the beginning of the test that the requirements that do not prove their
all the nozzlecaps/seals to blow freewould
resultsare flawed. Pleoseshowme in onv UL worthiness. Instead,we must begin to
verify the very same thing. Doing a puff
instollotionmonuql whereit callsfor balloons educateall AHJsand otherson the proper
testdoesnot exposethe systemto possible
or thistest!Because the distributionpiping procedure(s) when commissioning a newly
problemsdown the road as no agent or
and nozzlesdo not have caps,any air or installedsystem.The industryagreesthat
water gets dischargedthroughoutthe sys-
nitrogenis going to take the path of least systemsmustbe checkedout prior to plac-
tem piping which would potentiallycause
resistance. The systempipingwill not pres- ing them into service,but all procedure(s)
future problemsif proper maintenanceis
surizeas designed,but insteadsome noz- mustbe done accordi ngto t he UL inst alla-
not performed.
zles will begin to dischargeimmediately. tion and maintenancemanual.As industry
Pressure Test. A pressuretest of the sys- Observers will noticethe furthestnozzlein professionals, we should not be afraid to
tem piping is not necessary or practical. the system begins to discharge first with challenge any testing procedure being
Thesesystemshave never been testedfor the others following behind. In fact, the requested if we feel it is not appropriateor
leaksnor are they expectedto be leakfree. nozzle closest to the cylinder will most like- not i denti fi ed i n the U L i ns t allat ion m anual.
It is normal to have a small amount of ly begin its dischargelast. Why AHJsinsistthat we installUL Listed
seepagearound fittings and suchduring Eachballoonmay grow to a different systems,submit draft drawings,have our
a discharge,Somemanufacturers are rec- size. What sizeis acceptable? Sincethe sys- certificationverified, obtain permits or
ommendingthe use of Teflontape on all tem was never designed to work with bal- licenses.and then reducethe entire final
threads,but it is not meant to make the loons, this test is just plain silly. lt only acceptanceprocessto balloon testing is
connection leak free, only to make the confirms that someone somewheregot unexpl ai nabl e.W hat w e do know is:
threadedconnectionseasier.Becausethe creativebut does not, however, under- Balloons are for parties, not for fire
pipingof the systemis non-pressurized and stand the designor the behaviorof a wet protection. I
all dischargewill occur through open noz- chemicalpre-engineered system.
Q 2010 b.yt\liclnl J.
zles,any seepagearound fittings will be I can't suggest or stress strongly Ladenurt,,aII righti,evt,et/.
minimal at best and have no effect on enough that this test never be conduct-
the system'sabilityto suppressthe fire or ed or required in the commissioningof a Mitlnd J l-atlerotrte lns
its performance. newly installedwet chemicalUL 300 fire spett 12 ytTys irt tlrJire pro-
extinguishingsystem. tcctiort industr-1' tuorkiug irr

Balloon Test. This test seemsto be the all faccts o.f nnttt(icturing
rtiu/ v/as. Ht it a past tec/nti-
one that is being requestedaround the Strmmary
ttt/ ntnnittte utenher ou
countrythe most. lt is evenbeing required Thousandsand thousandsof hours and NFPA I, 17, 1.74, 5000,
in Canada.Where it came from or how it dollarsgo into the developmentand the 10, l0l, tttt/ 50.i. He /ns scrued as Cole Cou:ulaut n
got startedis not known, But, in my opin- Listingof commercialcookingwet chemi- tlrc F i re Eq u ip t tt,ttt il il.fi. t u rcrs' Assor i a r i ott ( F E tVtA).
qll. ^,ld
ion, lt rs the most ridiculousof cal UL 300 Listed systems.ln order for He lus also serrcr/ ott Uttdt'nurirers Ldbomtoiti STP 605
porttble crringuisltts atd STP 300 for pre-erryimtred
Exactlywhat this test is supposeto them to meet the code they must be -fir
sl,stensaud STP 407 oil thuutlipet. Iu 2006 hc rcccircd
prove remainsa mystery.One would say Listed.To retainthe Listing,it is imperative
TYAFEL)'I Lilitine Atltituenent Auurt/. Presentl,, he
it's equivalentto a puff test. I do not that all systemsbe designed,installed,and ruu6 dt Dira'tor of PE Salcs.fitr Brche.l'e Fire Equiprnntt.
agree! When properly performinga puff maintainedto their UL Listedmanual.The He rauutitts tttirc|1, ittt,olue/ in t/n todt u'ritittg prorss
test the nozzle capslseals must be in place ListingMark denotestesting by an inde- dnl i ttile f; ield of'our inlu;tr.y.

12 $ " ' ! f , ( E V V A T ' ( l ' i lD e c e m b e r 2 0 1 0