What is WATER SPRAY?

Water

spray" systems are operationally

identical to a deluge system, but the piping
and discharge nozzle spray patterns are
designed to protect a uniquely configured
hazard.

Examples of hazards protected by water spray

systems are electrical transformers containing

oil for cooling or turbo-generator bearings.

NFPA-850: Recommended Practice

for Fire Protection for Electric
Generating
Plants
and
High
Voltage Direct Current Converter
Stations
Identification of and Protection Against
Hazards -Transformers
Oil

filled main, station service and start-up

transformers not meeting the separation or fire
barrier recommendations or as determined by the
Fire Protection Design Basis should be protected with
automatic water spray or foam-water spray systems.

NFPA-15:
Standard for Water Spray Fixed
Systems for Fire Protection

Defines a water spray system as:

an automatic or manually actuated fixed
pipe system connected to a water supply
and equipped with water spray nozzles
designed to provide a specific water
discharge and distribution over the
protected surfaces or area.

How Does a Water Spray System

Work?
The Deluge Valve is an integral part of a
deluge system:
Specialty fire protection valve
Holds water supply back behind a clapper
or diaphragm
Water is released via an electric or
pneumatic detection system throw solenoid
valve

The layout of nozzles is based upon

spray characteristics:
Angle of spray and
associated
positioning
angle.
Orifice size (how much
water can be sprayed out
of each nozzle.

Typical Nozzles

Manual Detection
Manual detection is used as a

back up for automatic detection.

Draining the system will

automatically open the deluge

valve.

Process and Output CrossZoning

Cross zoning:
helps reduce unwanted water discharges
Divides detectors into two zones
Water will not release unless detectors of
two zones are activated.
Two zones provides releasing

Different Response Stages

Cross zoning:
Allows escalating response
Calls fire department
Initiates alarm condition on building Fire
Alarm System
Releases water

Interaction with Building Fire

Alarm System
Water Spray System must report:
Alarm
Supervisory
Common Trouble

Inspection, Testing and

Maintenance

deluge systems ITM program should be

developed in accordance with NFPA 25: Standard
for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of
Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.

Detection

system ITM should follow the

requirements set forth in NFPA 72: National Fire
Alarm and Signaling Code

Documentation

of all ITM work should be

meticulously maintained and readily available for
review by the AHJ

Critical elements of an ITM

program include:
Annual tripping of deluge valve at full flow
Observation

of water discharge patterns to

confirm proper positioning and absence of
obstructions

Verification of water flow alarms

 Annual operation of annual actuation devices

Cleaning of interior of deluge valve during

annual testing
Draining of system low points
Internal inspection of strainers every five years

at a minimum

Summary
A transformer fire is not a frequent occurrence but
the impact is tremendous
In a fire the transformer will likely be destroyed
immediately but damage to adjacent
equipment/structures can be mitigated

The consequences of an uncontained fire include:

Costly damage to the facility
Loss of revenue due to an unscheduled outage
Compromising the safety of facility inhabitants