SIST EN 14972-15:2021

Fixed firefighting systems - Water mist systems - Part 15: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems

This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of combustion turbines in enclosures with volumes not exceeding 260 m³.

Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen - Wassernebelsysteme - Teil 15: Brandversuchsprotokoll für Verbrennungsturbinen in Gehäusen bis 260 m³ für offene Düsensysteme

Dieses Dokument legt Anforderungen an Brandprüfungen von Wassernebelsystemen fest, die für den Brandschutz von Verbrennungsturbinen in Gehäusen mit einem Volumen bis 260 m3 eingesetzt werden.

Installations fixes de lutte contre l’incendie - Systèmes à brouillard d’eau - Partie 15 : Protocole d’essai des systèmes à buses ouvertes pour turbines à combustion situées dans des enceintes ne dépassant pas 260 m³

Le présent document spécifie les exigences relatives aux essais au feu des systèmes à brouillard d’eau utilisés pour la protection contre l’incendie des turbines à combustion situées dans des enceintes d’un volume ne dépassant pas 260 m³.

Vgrajeni gasilni sistemi - Sistemi s pršečo vodo - 15. del: Protokol preskušanja sistemov z odprtimi šobami za požarno zaščito turbin v ohišjih do 260 m³

General Information

• Status: Published
• Public Enquiry End Date: 19-Jun-2020
• Publication Date: 14-Nov-2021
• ICS: 13.220.10 - Fire-fighting
• ICS: 13.220.20 - Fire protection
• Technical Committee: POZ - Požarna varnost
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 18-Oct-2021
• Due Date: 23-Dec-2021
• Completion Date: 15-Nov-2021
• Ref Project: EN 14972-15:2021 - Fixed firefighting systems - Water mist systems - Part 15: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems

Overview

EN 14972-15:2021 - published by CEN - is the European test protocol for fixed firefighting water mist systems protecting combustion turbines located in enclosures with volumes not exceeding 260 m³. It defines fire test scenarios, enclosure and mock‑up construction, instrumentation and performance criteria specifically for open nozzle systems. The standard is part of the EN 14972 series on water mist systems and links to Part 1 (design, installation, inspection and maintenance).

Key topics and technical requirements

• Scope and objective: Fire testing requirements to demonstrate system performance for turbine enclosures ≤260 m³.
• Performance testing: Systems must operate automatically and complete required fire tests until extinction; tests follow the manufacturer’s DIOM (Design, Installation, Operation and Maintenance) specifications for nozzle placement, spray flux and duration.
• Fire scenarios: Multiple prescribed tests including unshielded and shielded diesel spray fires (1 MW and 2 MW), diesel pool fires, limited natural ventilation cases and optional tests (spray cooling; saturated insulation mat fires).
• Test enclosure: Prescribed test cell dimensions (7.3 m × 7.3 m × 4.9 m) with specific wall/lining, doors, removable panels and ceiling hatches to control venting and mimic realistic turbine rooms.
• Combustion turbine mock‑up: Horizontal steel plate (1.0 m × 2.0 m × 5 cm) with galvanized sheet extensions and removable baffles to simulate turbine geometry and shielded areas; placement to represent challenging protection zones.
• Instrumentation & spray cooling: Requirements for thermocouples embedded in the mock‑up plate (e.g., depths ~12, 25, 38 mm) for optional spray cooling tests and guidance on heat‑transfer analysis to prevent shell distortion.
• Laboratory and test conditions: Ambient temperature control (20 ± 10 °C), minimal forced ventilation, water removal between tests, and retention of up to five test nozzles for verification.
• Safety checks: For twin‑fluid systems (except compressed air), straight discharge tests to measure oxygen concentration and evaluate personnel safety.

Applications and who uses this standard

EN 14972-15:2021 is used by:

• Water mist system manufacturers - for third‑party performance validation and DIOM content.
• Test laboratories and certification bodies - to perform repeatable fire tests on open nozzle systems protecting turbines.
• Fire protection and mechanical engineers - designing turbine room suppression and specifying compliant systems.
• Operators of power plants, marine installations and industrial facilities - to select and verify water mist protection for combustion turbines.
• Insurers and regulators - to assess system efficacy under standardized test conditions.

Related standards

• EN 14972-1:2020 (Design, installation, inspection and maintenance) - referenced norm for DIOM and system design.
• Other parts of EN 14972 (e.g., Parts 8, 9, 14) cover additional test protocols for machinery and enclosures of different sizes or nozzle types.

Keywords: EN 14972-15:2021, water mist systems, combustion turbines, open nozzle systems, test protocol, fire testing, turbine enclosure ≤260 m³, fixed firefighting systems.

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
01-december-2021
Vgrajeni gasilni sistemi - Sistemi s pršečo vodo - 15. del: Protokol preskušanja
sistemov z odprtimi šobami za požarno zaščito turbin v ohišjih do 260 m³
Fixed firefighting systems - Water mist systems - Part 15: Test protocol for combustion
turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems
Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen - Wassernebelsysteme - Teil 15:
Brandversuchsprotokoll für Verbrennungsturbinen in Gehäusen bis 260 m³ für offene
Düsensysteme
Installations fixes de lutte contre l’incendie - Systèmes à brouillard d’eau - Partie 15 :
Protocole d’essai des systèmes à buses ouvertes pour turbines à combustion situées
dans des enceintes ne dépassant pas 260 m³
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN 14972-15:2021
ICS:
13.220.10 Gašenje požara Fire-fighting
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

EN 14972-15
EUROPEAN STANDARD
NORME EUROPÉENNE
September 2021
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
ICS 13.220.20
English Version
Fixed firefighting systems - Water mist systems - Part 15:
Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not
exceeding 260 m³ for open nozzle systems
Installations fixes de lutte contre l'incendie - Systèmes Ortsfeste Brandbekämpfungsanlagen -
à brouillard d'eau - Partie 15 : Protocole d'essai des Wassernebelsysteme - Teil 15: Prüfprotokoll für
systèmes à buses ouvertes pour turbines à combustion Verbrennungsturbinen in Gehäusen bis 260 m³ für
situées dans des enceintes ne dépassant pas 260 m³ offene Düsensysteme
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 2 August 2021.

CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this
European Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references
concerning such national standards may be obtained on application to the CEN-CENELEC Management Centre or to any CEN
member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by
translation under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN-CENELEC Management
Centre has the same status as the official versions.

CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia,
Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway,
Poland, Portugal, Republic of North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and
United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION

EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG

CEN-CENELEC Management Centre: Rue de la Science 23, B-1040 Brussels
© 2021 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN 14972-15:2021 E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

Contents Page
European foreword . 3
1 Scope . 5
2 Normative references . 5
3 Terms and definitions . 5
4 General requirements . 5
5 Test enclosure requirements . 6
6 Combustion turbine mock-up requirements . 8
7 Test equipment requirements . 10
8 Instrumentation requirements . 10
9 Fire test requirements . 11
9.1 General . 11
9.2 Unshielded 1 MW diesel spray fire . 12
9.3 Shielded 1 MW diesel spray fire . 12
9.4 Shielded 1 m diesel pool fire . 14
9.5 Shielded 2 MW diesel spray fire, system performance under limited natural
ventilation . 16
9.6 Shielded 2 MW diesel spray fire, system performance at smaller enclosure volumes . 16
9.7 Spray cooling (optional test) . 17
9.8 Saturated insulation mat and spray fire (optional test) . 19
9.9 Large saturated insulation mat (optional test) . 19
10 Test report . 20

European foreword
This document (EN 14972-15:2021) has been prepared by Technical Committee CEN/TC 191 “Fixed
firefighting systems”, the secretariat of which is held by BSI.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an
identical text or by endorsement, at the latest by March 2022, and conflicting national standards shall
be withdrawn at the latest by March 2022.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. CEN shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
EN 14972, Fixed firefighting systems — Water mist systems, consists of the following parts:
— Part 1: Design, installation, inspection and maintenance;
— Part 2: Test protocol for shopping areas for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 3: Test protocol for office, school class rooms and hotel for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 4: Test protocol for non-storage occupancies for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 5: Test protocol for car garages for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 6: Test protocol for false floors and false ceilings for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 7: Test protocol for commercial low hazard occupancies for automatic nozzle systems;
— Part 8: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures exceeding 260 m for open nozzle systems;
— Part 9: Test protocol for machinery in enclosures not exceeding 260 m for open nozzle systems;
— Part 10: Test protocol for atrium protection with sidewall nozzles for open nozzle systems;
— Part 11: Test protocol for cable tunnels for open nozzle systems;
— Part 12: Test protocol for commercial deep fat cooking fryers for open nozzle systems;
— Part 13: Test protocol for wet benches and other similar processing equipment for open nozzle
systems;
— Part 14: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures exceeding 260 m for open nozzle
systems;
— Part 15: Test protocol for combustion turbines in enclosures not exceeding 260 m for open nozzle
systems;
— Part 16: Test protocol for industrial oil cookers for open nozzle systems;
— Part 17: Test protocol for residential occupancies for automatic nozzle systems.
NOTE This list includes standards that are in preparation and other standards may be added. For current
status of published standards refer to www.cen.eu.
Any feedback and questions on this document should be directed to the users’ national standards body.
A complete listing of these bodies can be found on the CEN website.
According to the CEN-CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organisations of the
following countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria,
Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland,
Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Republic of
North Macedonia, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the
United Kingdom.
1 Scope
This document specifies fire testing requirements for water mist systems used for fire protection of
combustion turbines in enclosures with volumes not exceeding 260 m .
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
EN 14972-1:2020, Fixed firefighting systems — Water mist systems — Part 1: Design, installation,
inspection and maintenance
EN 10025-2, Hot rolled products of structural steels — Part 2: Technical delivery conditions for non-alloy
structural steels
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the terms and definitions given in EN 14972-1:2020 apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https://www.iso.org/obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https://www.electropedia.org/
4 General requirements
4.1 The water mist system, operating without manual intervention, shall successfully complete all
described performance fire tests for their specific applications.
4.2 The fire tests shall be conducted until the fire is extinguished, as required by the applicable fire
test.
4.3 System components, component locations, operating conditions and test enclosure details shall
remain unaltered throughout all of the fire tests for a given application.
4.4 All fire tests shall be conducted using the specifications from the manufacturer’s DIOM manual
(design, installation, operation and maintenance manual) in regard to nozzle placement, spray flux, and
spray duration. Sprays can be continuous or intermittent in time. In the case of intermittent, or cycled,
sprays, the time period during which the system is not discharging shall not be greater than 50 % of one
complete on/off cycle. The system off period shall not exceed 1 min.
4.5 In conjunction with the performance fire tests, all twin fluid water mist systems (except for those
applying compressed air) shall be subjected to a straight discharge test with no fire to evaluate the
resulting discharge and oxygen concentration. This evaluation shall be conducted using the maximum
extinguishing agent flow and pressure. The discharge duration for the test shall be the maximum
required for the system and occupancy to be protected. Oxygen measurements shall be recorded at a
location(s) within the test enclosure. This information shall be used to evaluate personnel safety, and
shall be accounted for in the manufacturer’s DIOM manual.
4.6 In addition to the fire tests, an optional spray cooling test may be conducted, and the results shall
be analysed by heat transfer calculations to confirm that excessive turbine shell distortion is avoided.
No direct spray impingement onto the turbine casing is allowed in real installations unless otherwise
proven by the heat transfer calculations using the spray cooling test results.
4.7 Up to a maximum of 5 nozzles used in the fire tests shall be kept for later verification.
5 Test enclosure requirements
The test enclosure volume shall have main dimensions of 7,3 m × 7,3 m × 4,9 m high (see Figure 1).
The enclosure shall be constructed of wood or metal frame with an inner lining of minimum 13 mm
gypsum or 0,7 mm galvanized steel. To minimize leakages, all joints and gaps shall be sealed.
At 2,70 m from one of the enclosure corners, in one of the walls parallel to the turbine equipment mock-
up, a 0,8 m × 2,0 m high personnel door shall be installed with a locking mechanism.
A 1,2 m × 2,4 m high removable panel shall also be installed in one of the walls to allow for test
enclosure access (the personnel door may be constructed within this panel). A minimum of two hinged
ceiling hatches measuring approximately 0,9 m × 1,8 m shall be installed in opposite diagonal corners
for heat and smoke release at the conclusion of the fire test.
The floor shall be non-combustible and any floor drainage or vent openings shall be sealed during
testing. A small louvered vent can be provided to allow the intake of air, to prevent excessive suctioning
of the walls and ceiling and maintain structural integrity of the fire test enclosure.
Dimensions in metres
Key
a) front view 4 window
b) side view 5 sheet metal
c) top view 6 baffles (0,5 m × 1 m)
1 ceiling hatch (typical) 7 imaginary turbine body
2 door (0,8 m × 2,0 m) 8 exposed spray fire
3 removable panel (1,2 m × 2,4 m) 9 shielded spray fire
NOTE The door (2) may be built within the removable panel (3).
Figure 1 — Test enclosure and combustion turbine simulator steel plate
6 Combustion turbine mock-up requirements
The combustion turbine casing mock-up is simulated with a horizontal flat steel plate and steel baffles
to provide shielded spaces for fires (see Figure 1). The specific details and thermal mass of the
obstructions are not simulated.
The combustion turbine mock-up unit should be centred along the longer wall dimension in the test
enclosure.
A horizontal hot rolled 1.0044 steel plate according to EN 10025-2 or other equivalent steel (in lieu of
actual turbine casing material like ductile iron), 1,0 m wide by 2,0 m long by 5 cm thick, is placed at 1 m
elevation on steel legs at the four corners of the plate. This is located in the centre of the room or at a
location within the test cell to be selected after the nozzles are installed (as per manufacturer's
specifications). This allows the fire to be placed in an area considered the most challenging to the
specific system being tested.
Horizontal 0,85 mm thick galvanized steel sheet metal shall be placed at an elevation of 1 m on steel
legs, on both sides of the 1.0044 steel table, so that the combustion turbine mock-up extends
longitudinally the entire length of the enclosure (see Figure 1).
The underside curvature of the turbine is simulated with 0,85 mm thick galvanized sheet metal directed
upward at an angle of 45° on either side of the steel plate and horizontal sheet metal extension surface.
These side pieces also extend longitudinally the entire length of the enclosure, rising to a height of 1,5 m
above the horizontal sheet metal and steel plate surfaces. The total width of the mock-up is 2,0 m. There
should be a minimal gap between the various steel table and sheet metal surfaces to permit water run-
off. For ease of conducting the optional spray cooling test (see 4.6), it is recommended to either butt up
or simply attach the table and sheet metal extension surfaces with screw fasteners.
The space below the plate is partially shielded from water mist using 1 m high by 0,5 m wide sheet
metal baffles. The side baffles should be of 0,85 mm thick galvanized sheet metal construction and
removable. They can be installed on support legs and kept in place by being pinched between the
underside of the steel plate table and the 45° angle extensions and the floor for ease of removal.
Placement of additional baffles or obstructions can be needed to prevent the direct impact of mist on
the pool or spray test fires.
For the optional spray cooling test (see 4.6) the following requirements apply:
a) the centre of the 1.0044 steel plate is instrumented across its thickness with thermocouples placed
at various depths, as described below;
b) three thermocouples shall each be embedded near the centre of the plate at approximately 12 mm,
25 mm, and 38 mm below the plate’s top surface. The three stainless steel sheathed thermocouples
shall be embedded in the plate by removing cylindrical plugs from the plate;
c) the thermocouples shall be inserted to allow the thermocouple wire to follow a horizontal path of
sixteen thermocouple diameters in length, thus reducing errors due to the vertical temperature
gradient in the plate. A heat conductive and electrically insulating sealant shall be applied, and the
steel cylindrical plugs shall be replaced and welded to the plate around the top periphery of the
plugs. This can be accomplished by using a 25 mm diameter miller tool, installing the
thermocouples, and then refilling the hole with welded 25 mm round bar stock (see Figure 2).
Dimensions in millimetres
Key
1 diameter hole for thermocouple (1,6 mm) 6 weld
...