Reduction in Fire Hazard in Corridors and Areas Adjoining Corridors Provided by Sprinklers (NISTIR 4631)

Published

July 1, 1991

Author(s)

Daniel M. Madrzykowski

Abstract

A study was conducted for the General Services Administration to investigate and quantify sprinklered fire exposure on an exit corridor and spaces adjacent to that corridor. The study compares the conditions in the test facility due to a 1 MW crib fire with those of a fire under control by a sprinkler. The effect of a sprinkler positioned in the corridor, outside of the burn room, was also examined. The test facility consisted of a burn room, a target room and a corridor connecting the two rooms. The burn room was a 2.44 m square with a 2.44 m high ceiling. The corridor was 12.8 m long, 2.44 m wide and 2.44 m high. The target room consisted of an entry alcove and a rectangular room with a total volume of 15 m(3). The target room was protected using a simulated "standard door" (6 mm top cut, 6 mm side cut and a 13 mm undercut). Gas temperatures and concentrations of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and carbon monoxide were measured at selected points in the three rooms. Tenability was assessed using both temperature and gas toxicity criteria. This assessment showed that sprinklers maintained tenable conditions outside the room of fire origin.

Citation

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR) - 4631

Report Number

4631

NIST Pub Series

NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR)

Pub Type

NIST Pubs

Download Paper

https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.4631

Keywords

corridor tests, crib tests, large scale fire tests, life safety, refuge, room fires, sprinklers, tenability limits

Citation

Madrzykowski, D. (1991), Reduction in Fire Hazard in Corridors and Areas Adjoining Corridors Provided by Sprinklers (NISTIR 4631), NIST Interagency/Internal Report (NISTIR), National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD, [online], https://doi.org/10.6028/NIST.IR.4631 (Accessed October 13, 2025)