Suppression

Active suppression can prevent a small fire from growing into a big fire. We research the performance of suppression systems so you have the latest knowledge to design and maintain solutions that perform as intended.

To learn about older reports, you can:

• see a list of reports, or search and download from the NFPA Library & Archives catalog;
• contact the library at +1 617 984-7445.

You can also browse NFPA workshop and symposium proceedings on this topic.

Latest report

U.S. Experience with Sprinklers

This report examines sprinkler presence, reliability, effectiveness and impact in structure fires overall and in home fires specifically. Rates of casualties per 1000 reported fires are shown for properties with sprinklers vs. those with no automatic extinguishing systems (AES.) Reasons for the rare cases of sprinkler failure and ineffectiveness are also discussed.

Download the report.

Structure and Home Fire Sprinklers

• U.S. Experience with Sprinklers (2021)
• Impact of Home Fire Sprinkler Requirements in California (2018)
• Stakeholder Perceptions of Home Fire Sprinklers (2016)
• Home Fire Sprinkler Cost Assessment (2013)

Other Sprinkler Protection

• Protection of Storage Under Sloped Ceilings Phase III: Large Scale Testing Summary and Guidance (2020)
• Obstructions and Early Suppression Fast Response Sprinklers (2020)
• Impact of Elevated Walkways in Storage on Sprinkler Protection: Phase 1 (2020)
• Impact of Obstructions on Spray Sprinklers – Phase I (2019)
• Sprinkler Protection Guidance for Lithium-Ion Based Energy Storage Systems (2019)
• Applying Reliability Based Decision Making to ITM Frequency (2018)
• Obstructions and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 3 (2017)
• Storage Protection in the Presence of Horizontal Barriers or Solid Shelving – Literature Review (2017)
• Protection of Storage Under Sloped Ceilings - Phase 2 - Full Scale Test Matrix (2017)
• Protection of Storage Under Sloped Ceilings - Phase 1 (2016)
• Fire Department Connection (FDC) Inlet Flow Assessment (2016)
• Use of Gaseous Suppression Systems in High Air Flow Environments - Phase 1 (2015)
• Quantification of Water Flow Data Adjustments for Sprinkler System Design (2015)
• Obstruction and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 2 (2015)
• Water-Based Fire Protection System Tagging Review (2015)
• Obstruction and ESFR Sprinklers - Phase 1 (2014)
• Sprinkler Protection for Cloud Ceilings, Phase 2: Small Area Clouds (2014)
• Addressing the Performance of Sprinkler Systems: NFPA 25 and Other Strategies (2014)
• Sprinkler Protection for Cloud Ceilings (2013)

Clean agents and Application

• Evaluation of the fire protection effectiveness of fluorine free firefighting foams (2020) 
• Review of Oxygen Reduction Systems for Warehouse Storage Applications (2018)
• Foam Application for High Hazard Flammable Train (HHFT) Fires (2017)
• Impact of Fire Extinguisher Agents on Cultural Resource Materials (2016)
• Protection of Rack Stored Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics with ESFR Sprinklers and Vertical Barriers - Test 9-10 (2014)
• Protection of Rack Stored Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics with ESFR Sprinklers and Vertical Barriers - Test 8 (2014)
• Literature Review on Hybrid Fire Suppression Systems (2014)
• Evaluation of Water Additives for Fire Control and Vapor Mitigation - Phase II, Two and Three Dimensional Class B Fire Tests (2014)
• Protection of Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics (2013)