Anti-Freeze in fire sprinkler system May Cause Fires

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Too Much Antifreeze In Fire Sprinklers Can Fuel Flames

By Tom Burke

DENVER -- The Colorado State Fire Chief's Association is urging the public to heed new safety guidelines with respect to the levels of antifreeze in fire sprinklers. This comes after a CALL7 Investigation showed how high levels of antifreeze can actually ignite, fueling a fire. In a memo to its members, the CSFCA said, "Recent news media accounts have elevated the level of concern." It included a link to the CALL7 Investigation.

The memo included a quote from Steven J. Pischke, President of the CSFCA reading, “Fire sprinklers are one of the most effective ways to save lives and property from fire... we are urging the public to continue the use of sprinklers but to follow the safety guidelines recommended by the [National Fire Protection Association].” Antifreeze, typically glycerin or propylene glycol, is used in fire sprinkler systems in cold weather regions, including homes and businesses in Colorado's mountain towns where fire departments may take a longer to respond.  On August 18, 2009 in Truckee, Calif., 27-year old Isela Minutti was killed and her husband, 30-year old Wuliber Martinez, was severely burned over 40-percent of his body when the antifreeze in their sprinkler system ignited in a flash fire explosion.

Tests of the sprinkler system determined there was more than 70 percent antifreeze, specifically glycerin, and about 30 percent water in the pipes.

In July 2010, the NFPA issued a safety alert recommending that residential fire sprinkler systems containing antifreeze be drained and the antifreeze replaced with water. The recommendations were also included in the CSFCA memo reading:

•Residential fire sprinklers are extremely effective fire protection devices, significantly reducing deaths, injuries, and property loss from fire. These systems should not be disconnected.

•Existing residential fire sprinkler systems, whenever possible, should not contain an antifreeze solution.

•If you have, or are responsible for, an existing residential occupancy with a fire sprinkler system, contact a sprinkler contractor to check and see if there is antifreeze solution in the system.

•If there is antifreeze solution in the system, determine if other means, such as insulation, can be used to provide adequate freeze protection.

•If there is no viable alternative to antifreeze solutions, NFPA recommends the following:

•1. Use only propylene glycol or glycerin antifreeze solution.

•2. The antifreeze solution should be the lowest possible concentration required for the needed freeze potential, but under no circumstance should the antifreeze solution exceed a maximum concentration of 40% of propylene glycol or a maximum concentration of 50% of glycerin. Consideration should be given to reducing these concentrations by an additional safety factor.

•3. The antifreeze solution should only be a factory pre-mixed solution; use of factory pre-mixed solutions is essential to ensure the proper concentration level and solution integrity.

•4. Antifreeze solutions should only be used with the approval of the local authority having jurisdiction.

"For now, and until any further action by NFPA consensus standards committees, NFPA sprinkler standards prohibit the use of antifreeze in new residential fire sprinkler systems," read the memo.  In Nov. 2010, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment set new rules prohibiting the use of antifreeze in fire sprinkler systems in construction of new nursing homes, facilities for the developmentally disabled, acute care facilities and other residential care facilities.