NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2010 Edition

Contents

Preface

Acknowledgments

About the Contributors

About the Editors

PART ONE

NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, 2010 Edition, with Commentary

1 Administration

1.1 Scope

1.2 Purpose

1.3 Application

1.4 Retroactivity

1.5 Equivalency

1.6 New Technology

1.7 Units and Symbols

2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General

2.2 NFPA Publications

2.3 Other Publications

2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections

3 Definitions

3.1 General

3.2 NFPA Official Definitions

3.3 General Definitions

3.4 Sprinkler System Type Definitions

3.5 System Component Definitions

3.6 Sprinkler Definitions

3.7 Construction Definitions

3.8 Private Water Supply Piping Definitions

3.9 Storage Definitions

3.10 Marine Definitions

3.11 Hanging and Bracing Definitions

4 General Requirements

4.1 Level of Protection

4.2 Limited Area Systems

4.3 Owner’s Certificate

4.4 Additives

5 Classification of Occupancies and Commodities

5.1 Classification of Occupancies

5.2 Light Hazard Occupancies

5.3 Ordinary Hazard Occupancies

5.4 Extra Hazard Occupancies

5.5 Special Occupancy Hazards

5.6 Commodity Classification

6 System Components and Hardware

6.1 General

6.2 Sprinklers

6.3 Aboveground Pipe and Tube

6.4 Fittings

6.5 Joining of Pipe and Fittings

6.6 Hangers

6.7 Valves

6.8 Fire Department Connections

6.9 Waterflow Alarm Devices

7 System Requirements

7.1 Wet Pipe Systems

7.2 Dry Pipe Systems

7.3 Preaction Systems and Deluge Systems

7.4 Combined Dry Pipe and Preaction Systems for Piers, Terminals, and Wharves

7.5 Multi-Cycle Systems

7.6 Antifreeze Systems

7.7 Automatic Sprinkler Systems with Non–Fire Protection Connections

7.8 Outside Sprinklers for Protection Against Exposure Fires (Exposure Protection Sprinkler Systems)

7.9 Refrigerated Spaces

7.10 Commercial-Type Cooking Equipment and Ventilation

8 Installation Requirements

8.1 Basic Requirements

8.2 System Protection Area Limitations

8.3 Use of Sprinklers

8.4 Application of Sprinkler Types

8.5 Position, Location, Spacing, and Use of Sprinklers

8.6 Standard Pendent and Upright Spray Sprinklers

8.7 Sidewall Standard Spray Sprinklers

8.8 Extended Coverage Upright and Pendent Spray Sprinklers

8.9 Extended Coverage Sidewall Spray Sprinklers

8.10 Residential Sprinklers

8.11 CMSA Sprinklers

8.12 Early Suppression Fast-Response Sprinklers

8.13 In-Rack Sprinklers

8.14 Pilot Line Detectors

8.15 Special Situations

8.16 Piping Installation

8.17 System Attachments

9 Hanging, Bracing, and Restraint of System Piping

9.1 Hangers

9.2 Installation of Pipe Hangers

9.3 Protection of Piping Against Damage Where Subject to Earthquakes

10 Underground Piping

10.1 Piping Materials

10.2 Fittings

10.3 Joining of Pipe and Fittings

10.4 Depth of Cover

10.5 Protection Against Freezing

10.6 Protection Against Damage

10.7 Requirement for Laying Pipe

10.8 Joint Restraint

10.9 Backfilling

10.10 Testing and Acceptance

11 Design Approaches

11.1 General

11.2 Occupancy Hazard Fire Control Approach

11.3 Special Design Approaches

12 General Requirements for Storage

12.1 General

12.2 Hose Connections

12.3 Adjacent Hazards or Design Methods

12.4 Wet Pipe Systems

12.5 Dry Pipe and Preaction Systems

12.6 Storage Applications

12.7 Discharge Considerations

12.8 Hose Demand

12.9 Restrictions

12.10 Room Design Method

12.11 High-Expansion Foam Systems

12.12 Protection of Idle Pallets

13 Miscellaneous Storage

13.1 Miscellaneous Storage Up to 12 ft (3.7 m) in Height

13.2 Design Basis

13.3 In-Rack Sprinklers

14 Protection of Class I to Class IV Commodities That Are Stored Palletized, Solid Piled, Bin Boxes, Shelf Storage, or Back-to-Back Shelf Storage

14.1 General

14.2 Control Mode Density/Area Sprinkler Protection Criteria for Palletized, Solid Piled, Bin Box, Shelf Storage, or Back-to-Back Shelf Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities

14.3 CMSA Sprinklers for Palletized or Solid-Piled Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities

14.4 Early Suppression Fast-Response (ESFR) Sprinklers for Palletized or Solid-Piled Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities

14.5 Special Design for Palletized, Solid-Piled, Bin Box, or Shelf Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities

14.6 High-Expansion Foam — Reduction to Ceiling Density

15 Protection of Plastic and Rubber Commodities That Are Stored Palletized, Solid Piled, Bin Boxes, Shelf Storage, or Back-to-Back Shelf Storage

15.1 General

15.2 Control Mode Density/Area Sprinkler Protection Criteria for Palletized, Solid-Piled, Bin Box, Shelf Storage, or Back-to-Back Shelf Storage of Plastic and Rubber Commodities

15.3 CMSA Sprinklers for Palletized or Solid-Piled Storage of Plastic and Rubber Commodities

15.4 Early Suppression Fast-Response (ESFR) Sprinklers for Palletized or Solid-Piled Storage of Plastic and Rubber Commodities

15.5 High-Expansion Foam — Reduction to Ceiling Density

16 Protection of Class I Through Class IV Commodities That Are Stored on Racks

16.1 General

16.2 Protection Criteria for Rack Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities Stored Up to and Including 25 ft (7.6 m) in Height

16.3 Protection Criteria for Rack Storage of Class I Through Class IV Commodities Stored Over 25 ft (7.6 m) in Height

17 Protection of Plastic and Rubber Commodities That Are Stored on Racks 653

17.1 General

17.2 Protection Criteria for Rack Storage of Plastics Commodities Stored Up to and Including 25 ft (7.6 m) in Height

17.3 Protection Criteria for Rack Storage of Plastics Commodities Stored Over 25 ft (7.6 m) in Height

18 Protection of Rubber Tire Storage

18.1 General

18.2 Columns Within Rubber Tire Storage

18.3 Water Supplies

18.4 Ceiling Systems

18.5 In-Rack Sprinkler System Requirements for Protection of Rubber Tires

18.6 Reduced Discharge Density

19 Protection of Roll Paper

19.1 Protection of Roll Paper Storage

20 Special Designs of Storage Protection

20.1 General

20.2 Plastic Motor Vehicle Components

20.3 Sprinkler Design Criteria for Storage and Display of Class I Through Class IV Commodities, Cartoned Nonexpanded Group A Plastics and Nonexpanded Exposed Group A Plastics in Retail Stores

20.4 Protection of Baled Cotton Storage

20.5 Sprinkler Protection of Carton Records Storage with Catwalk Access

20.6 Compact Storage of Commodities Consisting of Paper Files, Magazines, Books, and Similar Documents in Folders and Miscellaneous Supplies with No More Than 5 Percent Plastics up to 8 ft (2.44 m) High

20.7 Protection of High Bay Records Storage

21 Special Occupancy Requirements

21.1 General

21.2 Flammable and Combustible Liquids

21.3 Aerosol Products

21.4 Spray Application Using Flammable or Combustible Materials.

21.5 Solvent Extraction Plants

21.6 Installation and Use of Stationary Combustion Engines and Gas Turbines

21.7 Nitrate Film

21.8 Laboratories Using Chemicals

21.9 Oxygen-Fuel Gas Systems for Welding, Cutting, and Allied Processes

21.10 Acetylene Cylinder Charging Plants

21.11 Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationary Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks

21.12 Utility LP-Gas Plants

21.13 Production, Storage, and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG)

21.14 Protection of Information Technology Equipment

21.15 Standard on Incinerators, and Waste and Linen Handling Systems and Equipment

21.16 Standard for Ovens and Furnaces

21.17 Class A Hyperbaric Chambers

21.18 Fixed Guideway Transit Systems

21.19 Motion Picture and Television Production Studio Soundstages and Approved Production Facilities

21.20 Animal Housing Facilities

21.21 Water Cooling Towers

21.22 Standard for the Construction and Fire Protection of Marine Terminals, Piers, and Wharves

21.23 Cleanrooms

21.24 Aircraft Hangars

21.25 Airport Terminal Buildings, Fueling Ramp Drainage, and Loading Walkways

21.26 Aircraft Engine Test Facilities

21.27 Advanced Light Water Reactor Electric Generating Plants

21.28 Light Water Nuclear Power Plants

21.29 Electric Generating Plants and High Voltage Direct Current Converter Stations. [NFPA 850]

21.30 Hydroelectric Generating Plants. [NFPA 851]

21.31 Code for the Protection of Cultural Resource Properties — Museums, Libraries, and Places of Worship. [NFPA 909]

21.32 National Electrical Code

21.33 Fire Protection of Telecommunication Facilities

21.34 Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids

21.35 Class E Hypobaric Facilities

21.36 Coal Mines

21.37 Metal/Nonmetal Mining and Metal Mineral Processing Facilities

22 Plans and Calculations 801

22.1 Working Plans

22.2 Water Supply Information

22.3 Hydraulic Calculation Forms

22.4 Hydraulic Calculation Procedures

22.5 Pipe Schedules

22.6 Deluge Systems

22.7 Exposure Protection Sprinkler Systems

22.8 In-Rack Sprinklers

22.9 Hose Allowance

23 Water Supplies

23.1 General

23.2 Types

24 Systems Acceptance

24.1 Approval of Sprinkler Systems and Private Fire Service Mains

24.2 Acceptance Requirements

24.3 Circulating Closed Loop Systems

24.4 Instructions

24.5 Hydraulic Design Information Sign

24.6 General Information Sign

25 Marine Systems

25.1 General

25.2 System Components, Hardware, and Use

25.3 System Requirements

25.4 Installation Requirements

25.5 Design Approaches

25.6 Plans and Calculations

25.7 Water Supplies

25.8 System Acceptance

25.9 System Instructions and Maintenance

26 System Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance

26.1 General

26.2 Inactive Sprinkler Systems Abandoned in Place

Annexes

A Explanatory Material

B Miscellaneous Topics

C Explanation of Test Data and Procedures for Rack Storage

D Sprinkler System Information from the 2009 Edition of the Life Safety Code

E Development of the Design Approach to Conform with SEI/ASCE 7

F Informational References

PART TWO

Supplements

1 A Brief History of Sprinklers, Sprinkler Systems, and the NFPA Sprinkler Standards

2 Fire Protection Research Foundation and its Research Supporting Fire Sprinklers

3 U.S. Experience with Sprinklers and Other Automatic Fire Extinguishing Equipment

4 An International Perspective on Automatic Sprinklers

5 Technical/Substantive Changes from the 2007 Edition to the 2010 Edition of NFPA 13

NFPA 13 Index

Important Notices and Legal Disclaimers