Controlled system and methods for storage fire protection

1. A system for ceiling-only fire protection of a storage occupancy having a ceiling defining a nominal ceiling height of thirty feet or greater, the system comprising:

a plurality of fluid distribution devices disposed beneath the ceiling and above a high-piled storage commodity in the storage occupancy having a nominal storage height ranging from a nominal 20 ft. to a maximum nominal storage height of 55 ft., the nominal storage height less than the nominal ceiling height, wherein each of the fluid distribution devices includes a frame body with a seal assembly disposed therein and an electrically responsive actuator arranged with the frame body to displace the seal assembly to control a flow of water discharge from the frame body;

a fluid distribution system including a network of pipes interconnecting the fluid distribution devices to a water supply;

a plurality of detectors to monitor the occupancy for the fire; and

a controller coupled to the plurality of detectors to detect and locate the fire, the controller being coupled to the plurality of distribution devices to identify and control operation of a select number of fluid distribution devices defining a discharge array above and about the fire, the controller:

is coupled to each of the plurality of detectors;

receives an input signal from each of the detectors;

processes readings from the plurality of detectors and dynamically identifies the select number of distribution devices by identifying a minimum number of fluid distribution devices for placement in a device queue based on a device being associated with a detector reading meeting or exceeding a user-defined threshold;

determines a threshold moment in growth of the fire; and

generates an output signal for operation of each of the select fluid distribution devices in response to determining the threshold moment.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the storage commodity is any one of Class I, III or IV, Group A, Group B, or Group C plastics, elastomers, or rubber commodities.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the commodity is an exposed expanded plastic having a maximum nominal storage height of at least 40 ft.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the commodity is an exposed expanded plastic having a maximum nominal storage height of at least 40 ft., wherein the exposed expanded plastic commodity has a maximum nominal storage height ranging from fifty to fifty-five feet (50-55 ft.).

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the commodity includes a rack storage being any one of multi-rack, double-row rack, or single-row rack storage.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the commodity includes a non-rack storage arrangement including any one of palletized, solid-piled, bin box, shelf or back-to-back shelf storage.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the identified select number of fluid distribution devices of the discharge array consists of any one of nine, eight or four distribution devices.

8. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the controller receives a user input indicating instructions to preprogram the select number.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies the select number of fluid distribution devices defining the discharge array over a period of time from a first detection of a fire event until the threshold moment.

10. The system of claim 1 , wherein the actuator includes a transducer responsive to an electrical signal to operate the transducer.

11. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nominal ceiling height is 45 feet and the nominal storage height is 40 feet.

12. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nominal ceiling height is 50 feet and the nominal storage height is 45 feet.

13. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nominal ceiling height is 60 feet and the nominal storage height is 55 feet.

14. The system of claim 1 , wherein the nominal ceiling height is 30 feet and the nominal storage height is 25 feet.

15. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies and operates four fluid distribution devices immediately above and about a fire so as to contain the fire vertically and laterally within a cross-sectional area defined by the spacing between the four fluid distribution devices.

16. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies and operates four fluid distribution devices immediately above and about a fire so as to contain the fire vertically and laterally within a cross-sectional area defined by the spacing between the four fluid distribution devices, wherein the fluid distribution devices are on 10 ft.×10 ft. spacing.

17. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies and operates four fluid distribution devices immediately above and about a fire so as to contain the fire vertically and laterally within a cross-sectional area defined by the spacing between the four fluid distribution devices, wherein the fluid distribution devices are installed above a double row rack array of Group A plastic commodity having a nominal storage height of forty feet defined by eight tiers of palletized commodity, the system containing a test fire in the commodity so as to limit the fire to six tiers or less.

18. The system of claim 1 , wherein the controller identifies and operates four fluid distribution devices immediately above and about a fire so as to contain the fire vertically and laterally within a cross-sectional area defined by the spacing between the four fluid distribution devices, wherein the fluid distribution devices are installed above a double row rack array of Group A plastic palletized commodity, the system containing a test fire in the commodity so as to limit the fire horizontally to no more than two pallets about the test fire.

19. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the controller determines the threshold moment based on at least one of a temperature or a rate of rise of temperature indicated by the input signals from each of the detectors.

20. The system of claim 1 , comprising:

the controller determines the threshold moment subsequent to detection of the fire responsive to the input signal from each of the detectors.