Combustible attic fire protection scheme

Abstract

A fire suppression system in which the water supply line is fitted with repeating arrays or groups of sprinkler heads. Each array is composed of at least two side-discharge sprinklers. The side-discharge sprinklers in each array are aimed so that their coverage areas point in opposite directions. Each side-discharge sprinkler includes a lateral heat shield. The lateral heat shield has a concave heat-concentering side that focuses radiant heat toward the sprinkler's trigger, and a convex heat-scattering side that disperses radiant heat away from the trigger. In some embodiments, the array can include one or more vertical-discharge sprinklers. The vertical-discharge sprinkler may include a heat collector to facilitate early activation of its trigger. The fire suppression system is advantageous in high-challenge applications like facilities where large quantities of combustible items are stored in close proximity, such as in warehouses and attics.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fire protection system for a combustible concealed space, the combustible concealed space comprising a pitched roof constructed of a plurality of generally spaced apart structural members extending downwardly and outwardly from a ridgeline of the roof to an eave of the roof, the plurality of structural members defining respective channels therebetween, and the fire protection system comprising:
 a first row of sprinklers nearest the ridgeline, the sprinklers being mounted to a first branch line extending generally parallel to the ridgeline, wherein:   (i) each sprinkler is positioned within a respective channel, and   (ii) consecutive sprinklers along the first row are spaced having at least one channel therebetween without a sprinkler of the first row positioned therein,   a second row of sprinklers extending generally parallel to the first row of sprinklers, the second row of sprinklers being positioned to spray in a downslope direction predominately away from the first row of sprinklers, wherein:   (i) each sprinkler of the second row is positioned within a respective channel,   (ii) consecutive sprinklers along the second row are spaced having at least one channel therebetween without a sprinkler of the first row positioned therein, and   wherein:   each sprinkler of the second row is axially offset with respect to each of the sprinklers of the first row.   
     
     
         2 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein the first row of sprinklers is positioned below the ridgeline. 
     
     
         3 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each channel is formed between adjacent rafters. 
     
     
         4 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each channel is formed between adjacent trusses. 
     
     
         5 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein horizontal spacing between the first row of sprinklers and the second row of sprinklers is approximately twenty-five feet or smaller. 
     
     
         6 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein horizontal spacing between the first row of sprinklers and the second row of sprinklers is approximately twenty-five feet or larger. 
     
     
         7 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the first row of sprinklers is mounted to the first branch line projecting upwardly therefrom. 
     
     
         8 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the first row of sprinklers includes a fluid deflector configured to produce a generally elliptical spray distribution pattern. 
     
     
         9 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the second row of sprinklers directs water spray into the pitched roof. 
     
     
         10 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the second row of sprinklers includes a fluid deflector facing downslope. 
     
     
         11 . The fire protection system of  claim 10 , wherein the deflector is configured to produce a substantially downslope distribution pattern. 
     
     
         12 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , further including a third row of sprinklers extending generally parallel to the first row of sprinklers, the third row of sprinklers being positioned to spray in a downslope direction predominately away from the first row of sprinklers, wherein:
 (i) each sprinkler of the third row is positioned within a respective channel, and   (ii) consecutive sprinklers along the third row are spaced having at least one channel therebetween without a sprinkler of the first row positioned therein.   
     
     
         13 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the second row of sprinklers and each sprinkler of the third row of sprinklers directs water spray into the pitched roof. 
     
     
         14 . The fire protection system of  claim 1 , wherein each sprinkler of the second row of sprinklers and each sprinkler of the third row of sprinklers includes a fluid deflector facing downslope.