GSA/ATF Federal Laboratory

Beltsville, MD

This project encompassed a 35-acre site, which includes the Alcohol and Tobacco Laboratory, the Forensic Science Laboratory of Washington, and the Fire Research Laboratory.

The facility is protected by a complete fire pump system, wet standpipe system, wet pipe sprinkler systems, and dry pipe sprinkler systems.

The highlight of the project is the one-of-a-kind fire protection systems that were developed for the Fire Research Laboratory’s test cells. Each test cell is equipped with state-of-the-art hood and exhaust systems, data acquisition systems, and instrumentation to measure heat-release rate, burning rate, heat flux, and temperatures of burning materials. The largest test cell measures 130 x 130 x 55 feet. Equipped with a calorimeter that is approximately the size of a basketball court, it will be capable of moving roughly 170,000 cubic feet of air per minute. In this cell, researchers will be able to re-create fires that involve multiple rooms, vehicles, or even two-story structures.

Within the cells, there are two different fire systems, red water and blue water. The red water system is the actual fire protection system, utilizing oscillating monitors that are activated by linear heat detectors. When the technicians are ready to begin a test (or do a burn) the red system is disarmed. The blue water system becomes the fire “fighting” system, utilizing remote controlled monitors and hand-hose lines.

NFP’s Installation Team was a 2004 Washington Building Congress Craftsmanship Award Winner for their work on this project.