NFPA 13
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NFPA 13-2002 – FAQs NFPA 13 – 2002 FAQs Responses to FAQs are prepared by NFPA technical staff to assist users in reading and understanding NFPA codes and standards. The responses, however, are not Formal Interpretations issued pursuant to NFPA Regulations. Any opinions expressed are the personal opinions of the author(s), and do not necessarily represent the official position of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition, the responses are neither intended, nor should be relied upon, to provide professional consultation or services. 1. Do I need sprinklers in my building? NFPA 13 is the NFPA document that specifies the minimum requirements for designing and installing sprinkler systems. It does not specify which buildings require a sprinkler system. The requirement to install a sprinkler system complying with NFPA 13 can usually be found in one of the following sources: building code; federal, state or local regulations; insurer's requirements; accreditation requirements; or owner's request. 2. If I have a dry‐pipe sprinkler system under a pitched roof exceeding a slope of 16.7%, do I apply both area increases from Section 11.2.3.2.4 and Section 11.2.3.2.5? Yes, both sections would be applied cumulatively to the design area chosen from Figure 11.2.3.1.5 in accordance with Section 11.2.3.2.7. This is shown in the following example: The application area determined from Figure 11.2.3.1.5 is 1500 square feet. As required by Section 11.2.3.2.4, 1500 square feet is increased by 30% to 1950 square feet for the steeply pitched roof. As required by Section 11.2.3.2.5, the 1950 square feet is increased by 30% for the dry pipe system. Therefore, the original density chosen from Figure 11.2.3.1.5 must be applied over 2535 square feet. Ensure that there are no other design area modifications required for the system being installed 3. Can plastic pipe be used on a sprinkler system complying with NFPA 13? Section 6.3.6 allows the use of plastic pipe that has been specifically listed for fire protection use. This pipe must be installed in accordance with its listing limitations, including installation instructions. 4. What is the limit for the calculated water velocity in a sprinkler system complying with NFPA 13? NFPA 13 does not specify a maximum limit for the calculated water velocity. 5. Do walk‐in type freezers, coolers, vaults and safes require sprinklers? Yes. As explained by A.8.1.1, these areas require sprinklers because they are part of the premises. NFPA 13 requires that sprinklers be installed throughout the premises in accordance with Section 4.1. There are no exceptions provided which allow for sprinkler
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NFPA 13-2002_FAQs
Transcript of NFPA 13
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
NFPA132002FAQs
ResponsestoFAQsarepreparedbyNFPAtechnicalstafftoassistusersinreadingandunderstandingNFPAcodesandstandards.Theresponses,however,arenotFormalInterpretationsissuedpursuanttoNFPARegulations.Anyopinionsexpressedarethepersonalopinionsoftheauthor(s),anddonotnecessarilyrepresenttheofficialpositionoftheNFPAoritsTechnicalCommittees.Inaddition,theresponsesareneitherintended,norshouldbereliedupon,toprovideprofessionalconsultationorservices.
1. DoIneedsprinklersinmybuilding?NFPA13istheNFPAdocumentthatspecifiestheminimumrequirementsfordesigningandinstallingsprinklersystems.Itdoesnotspecifywhichbuildingsrequireasprinklersystem.TherequirementtoinstallasprinklersystemcomplyingwithNFPA13canusuallybefoundinoneofthefollowingsources:buildingcode;federal,stateorlocalregulations;insurer'srequirements;accreditationrequirements;orowner'srequest.
2. IfIhaveadrypipesprinklersystemunderapitchedroofexceedingaslopeof16.7%,doIapplybothareaincreasesfromSection11.2.3.2.4andSection11.2.3.2.5?Yes,bothsectionswouldbeappliedcumulativelytothedesignareachosenfromFigure11.2.3.1.5inaccordancewithSection11.2.3.2.7.Thisisshowninthefollowingexample:TheapplicationareadeterminedfromFigure11.2.3.1.5is1500squarefeet.AsrequiredbySection11.2.3.2.4,1500squarefeetisincreasedby30%to1950squarefeetforthesteeplypitchedroof.AsrequiredbySection11.2.3.2.5,the1950squarefeetisincreasedby30%forthedrypipesystem.Therefore,theoriginaldensitychosenfromFigure11.2.3.1.5mustbeappliedover2535squarefeet.Ensurethattherearenootherdesignareamodificationsrequiredforthesystembeinginstalled
3. CanplasticpipebeusedonasprinklersystemcomplyingwithNFPA13?Section6.3.6allowstheuseofplasticpipethathasbeenspecificallylistedforfireprotectionuse.Thispipemustbeinstalledinaccordancewithitslistinglimitations,includinginstallationinstructions.
4. WhatisthelimitforthecalculatedwatervelocityinasprinklersystemcomplyingwithNFPA13?NFPA13doesnotspecifyamaximumlimitforthecalculatedwatervelocity.
5. Dowalkintypefreezers,coolers,vaultsandsafesrequiresprinklers?Yes.AsexplainedbyA.8.1.1,theseareasrequiresprinklersbecausetheyarepartofthepremises.NFPA13requiresthatsprinklersbeinstalledthroughoutthepremisesinaccordancewithSection4.1.Therearenoexceptionsprovidedwhichallowforsprinkler
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
omissionintheseareas.
6. InapplyingtheThreeTimesRule'forsprinklerobstructions(i.e.Section8.6.5.2.1.3),whatdimensionisthe24inchmaximumreferringto?Thismaximumdimensionisthedimensionmeasuredfromthesprinklertothenearestedgeoftheobstruction.Isolatedobstructionsthataremorethan24inchesawayfromstandarduprightandpendentsprinklersdonotgenerallycreateasignificantobstruction.
7. Aresprinklersrequiredinclosets?Yes.TherearelimitedexceptionsspecifiedinSection8.14.8.2forcertainsmallclosetsinthedwellingunitsofhotelsandmotels.
8. Canasupplycontrolvalvebeinstalleddownstreamofthefiredepartmentconnection?TheconfusionthatbringsaboutthisquestionisusuallycausedbySection8.16.2.5.2,Section8.15.1.1.1.3,andSection8.15.1.1.4.2.Thesesectionsarenecessarytodifferentiatethefiredepartmentconnectionfromothertypesofwatersupplies.Normally,acontrolvalveisrequiredbeforeandaftereachcheckvalveinasourceofsupply.Thevalvesarerequiredsothatthecheckvalvecanbeisolatedandserviced.Aswell,acontrolvalveisnormallyrequiredineachautomaticsourceofsupplyinaccordancewithSection8.15.1.1.1.2.However,thesecontrolvalvesarenotnecessary,norallowed,inthefiredepartmentconnectionpiping.Whilethecontrolvalvesarenotallowedinthefiredepartmentconnectionpipingitself,controlvalvescanbeinstalleddownstreamfromthefiredepartmentconnectionpipinginaccordancewith8.15.1.1.Itwouldbeimpracticaltorequireafiredepartmentconnectionafterallcontrolvalvesinamultizoneormultisystemarrangement.Furthermore,Section8.15.1.1.2.1ofNFPA13requiresthatallvalvescontrollingwatersuppliesbesupervisedintheopenposition.Inallcases,thearrangementforthefiredepartmentconnectionmustcomplywithSection8.16.2.4.
9. Ifawatercurtainisinstalled,whatistheequivalentfireseparationrating?NFPA13doesnotspecifyanequivalentfireseparationratingforwatercurtainsinstalledinaccordancewithSection8.14.4.1anddesignedinaccordancewithSection11.2.3.8.
10. Whatistheallowablereductioninfireseparationratingsinabuildingwhereasprinklersystemisinstalled?NFPA13doesnotaddresssuchreductions.Somebuilding/firecodeswillspecifyanallowablereductioninfireseparationratingsforcertainbuildingswheresprinklersareprovidedinaccordancewithNFPA13.Youwouldneedtoconsultwiththeapplicablebuilding/firecodeforyourparticularprojecttodetermineifthereareanyallowablereductions.
11. Aresprinklersrequiredintheupperportionofanarchitecturalceilingfeature,evenwhentherearenoopeningstoaboveandthesprinklersatthelowerportiondonotexceedarea
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
ofcoveragelimitations?Thisquestionusuallyariseswitharchitecturalfeaturessuchasskylightsandroomswithmultilevelceilings.Thegeneralconcernwiththesetypesoffeaturesisthepotentialforheattopocket'andthenegativeimpacttotheoperationofthesprinklers.Thiscouldbetrueevenifsprinklersarespacedwithintheirlimitationsforallowableareaofprotection.TheapplicablesectionsofChapter8addressthedistancebelowtheceilingthatsprinklersmustbepositioned.Theneedforsprinklersintheupperportioncanbedeterminedbasedonthedistancefromtheupperleveltothepositionatwhichthesprinklerswouldbeinstalledonthelowerlevel.IfthisdistanceexceedstheallowabledistancesspecifiedinChapter8,thensprinklerswouldberequiredattheupperlevel.ObstructionsspecifiedbyChapter8toanyofthesprinklerswouldalsoneedtobeexaminedandaccountedfor.Section8.6.7andSection8.8.7offerprovisionsthatpermittheomissionofsprinklersintheupperlevelundercertainconditions.WhereSection8.6.7and8.8.7areappropriatelyapplied,thedesignareareductionforquickresponsesprinklerscannotbetakeninaccordancewithItem(4)ofSection11.2.3.2.3.1
12. Aresprinklersrequiredwithinfurniture?No.Sprinklersarerequiredwithinallpermanentspacesofthestructure,suchasclosets,inaccordancewithSection4.1.Moveablefurnitureitems,suchasdesks,dressersandwardrobes,donotrequiresprinklerswithinthemevenwhentheyareaffixedtothepermanentstructureofthebuilding.
13. MustIdesignthesprinklersystemtoprotectthesamehazardthroughoutthestructure?No.NFPA13doesnotrequirethattheentirestructurebeprotectedasasinglehazardclassification.Therearethreeimportantthingstokeepinmind,however,whendesigningasystemwithmultiplehazardclassifications.Thefirstisthatyouwilllockthebuildinguseintothehazardconfigurationthatthesprinklersystemisdesignedfor.Iftheentirespacewasprotectedforthehighesthazard,however,thebuildinguserwouldnothavetoworryaboutthegenerallocationsofthedifferenthazards.Additionally,thehydrauliccalculationprocedureandsystemlayoutbecomemorecomplexwithmultiplehazardclassificationsthanwherethehighesthazardisusedthroughout.Lastly,Section11.1.2specifiesrequirementsforbuildingswithtwoormoreadjacenthazardoccupancies.
14. IftherearenohoseconnectionsinsideabuildingsprinkleredtocomplywithNFPA13,willthewaterdemandneedtoincludeahosestreamallowance?Yes.AnoutsidehosestreamdemandwouldberequiredinaccordancewithSection11.2.3.1.1.
15. IsthereaceilingheightatwhichNFPA13permitstheomissionofsprinklers?No.
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
16. DoesNFPA13addressfiresprinklersystemsprotectingstorageabove12feet?Yes.Startingwiththe1999edition,NFPA13incorporatedthefiresprinklersystemdesignandinstallationrequirementsfromNFPA231(StandardforGeneralStorage),NFPA231C(StandardforRackStorageofMaterials),NFPA231D(StandardforStorageofRubberTires),NFPA231E(RecommendedPracticefortheStorageofBaledCotton)andNFPA231F(StandardfortheStorageofRollPaper).TheotherrequirementsofNFPA231,NFPA231C,NFPA231D,NFPA231EandNFPA231FwereincorporatedintoanewstandardNFPA230(StandardfortheFireProtectionofStorage).
17. HowaretheNFPA13designrequirementsarrangedforsystemsprotectingstorageofnormalcombustiblesandplastics?SuchrequirementsarelocatedinaseparatechapterChapter12.AdetailedtableofcontentsforChapter12isasfollows:12.1General12.1.1RoofventsandDraftCurtains12.1.2BuildingHeight12.1.4WetPipeSystems12.1.5AdjacentOccupancies12.1.6DryPipeandPreactionSystems12.1.7CeilingSlope12.1.9ProtectionofIdlePallets12.1.10MiscellaneousStorageandStorageofClassIIVupto12ft12.1.11HighExpansionFoamSystems12.1.12InRackSprinklers12.1.13StorageApplications(Kfactor&density)12.2Palletized,SolidPiled,BinBoxorShelfStorageofClassIIV&Plastic12.2.1General12.2.2ClassIIVCommodities
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
12.2.2.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.2.2.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.2.2.3ESFRSprinklers12.2.2.4SpecialDesignApproaches12.2.3PlasticCommodities12.2.3.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.2.3.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.2.3.3ESFRSprinklers12.2.3.4SpecialDesignApproaches12.3RackStorageofClassIIV&Plastic12.3.1General12.3.2ClassIIVCommoditiesupto25ft12.3.2.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.3.2.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.3.2.3ESFRSprinklers12.3.2.4InRackSprinklers12.3.2.5SpecialDesignApproaches12.3.3PlasticCommoditiesupto25ft12.3.3.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.3.3.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.3.3.3ESFRSprinklers12.3.3.4InRackSprinklers12.3.3.5SpecialDesignApproaches12.3.4ClassIIVCommoditiesover25ft
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NFPA 13-2002 FAQs
12.3.4.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.3.4.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.3.4.3ESFRSprinklers12.3.4.4InRackSprinklers12.3.4.5SpecialDesignApproaches12.3.5PlasticCommoditiesover25ft12.3.5.1ControlMode(Density/Area)Sprinklers12.3.5.2LargeDrop&SpecificApplicationSprinklers12.3.5.3ESFRSprinklers12.3.5.4InRackSprinklers12.4RubberTireStorage12.5BaledCottonStorage12.6RollPaperStorage12.7SpecialStorage12.7.1PlasticMotorVehicleComponents12.7.2ClassIIV&NonExpandedPlasticsinRetailStores
