Fire Safety Science Digital Archive

With the increasing concern shown by carpet manufacturers and insurance companies on the fire protection of rolled carpets in storage, a series of experiments were carried out by the Fire Research Station (FRS). The initial small scale work on a selection of rolled carpet samples, enabled the least and most flammable carpets to be selected for simulated full scale experiments in an open rack, to study the effectiveness of sprinklers in controlling the fire. These experiments showed that conventional in-rack sprinklers with a sufficiently high rate of water application would probably only prevent damage to building and racking. The fire hazard presented by the two carpets varied to such an extent that further work is necessary, to enable a relationship to be established between the rate of water application ('water density') required, to the types of carpet stored. This would then allow sufficient sprinkler protection to be given to the type of carpet, and ensure maximum fire control. Further work is also required on simulated full scale closed racks to study the burning characteristics of the carpets and the sprinkler protection required in this type of storage.