Module 3

DESIGN APPROACHES

OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE CONTROL APPROACH

Density/Area Method and Pipe Schedule Method

STORAGE DESIGN APPROACH

SPECIAL OCCUPANCY DESIGN APPROACH

 Sprinkler System Failures

There are three principal causes of unsatisfactory sprinkler

performance:
1. A closed valve in the water supply
2. Inadequate water supply delivery
3. Occupancy changes negating the system design

Pre-planning, accurate design, proper identification of hazards,

inspections, proper maintenance and testing should correct these
problems.

One of the leading causes of sprinkler system ineffectiveness occurs

when storage contents or configurations change and the system is not
altered to match the new hazard.

Original sprinkler spacing, pipe size or water delivery capacity might not
control the new storage or layout.
In the design of wet type Automatic Fire Sprinkler System,
NFPA 13 identifies three (3) design approaches where
water demand requirement shall be determined

OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE CONTROL APPROACH

This is the most common design approach used in Automatic Fire Sprinkler
System. There are two ways to design a sprinkler system:

 Pipe Schedule Method

• Pipe is sized according to system pressure, required flow and number
of sprinkler heads a certain pipe size is tested to accommodate.
• Sprinkler discharge density and estimated area of coverage determine
pipe size.

 Hydraulic Calculation Method

• An engineered approach to match the fire hazard with the calculated
potential water supply pressure and volume required
• The design is primarily based on density/area curve and it is
commonly use in light and ordinary hazards occupancies
• The minimum duration of water supply should last by at least 60-90
minutes
Pipe Schedule vs. Hydraulic Calculation Method

Pipe schedule method – uses tables that indicate that steel pipe of certain size
will supply a certain number of heads.

In pipe schedules, only a limited number of sprinklers may be supplied by

a given pipe size.

In a hydraulically calculated system, there is no limit to the number of

sprinklers that can be supplied by any size pipe, the size is solely dictated by
the rate of flow.

However, the total square footage covered by a single fire riser is

restricted, normally to 52,000 ft2, except 40,000 ft2 in storage
occupancies. The calculations simply must prove that the pipe size and
configuration will be adequate to deliver the required densities from the
available water supply.

Therefore, pipe is sized to deliver the required flow and pressure each
head in the area of operation and size the pipe back to the system water
supply in order to deliver the demand for the area of operation.
 Area of Operation – Hydraulic Calc. Method

Area of operation (area of application) – maximum square footage a

fire in that type of occupancy has the potential to cover.

This figure establishes the quantity of sprinklers required open to contain and
extinguish the fire within the area of operation. It also establishes the number
of heads to be hydraulically calculated.

The flow required from a sprinkler is determined by the area “covered by the
sprinkler multiplied by the desired density.

The product obtained means that all sprinklers in the design area must
discharge at least this amount of water flow calculated.

The smallest permissible area of sprinkler operation, typically 1,500ft2 to

2,000ft2, despite higher density required, is usually the most economical
design, and sprinkler contractors normally choose this unless instructed
otherwise.
The most favored design approach for wet type Automatic Fire
Sprinkler System is the Hydraulic Calculation Method where
water demand requirement is based on Density/Area Curve

Density / Area Curve

STORAGE DESIGN APPROACH

NFPA 13 Chapter 12 defines that Storage Design Approach shall only be

apply to meet the requirements of Storage arrangements and commodities.

This design approach shall be applied for the protection of the following:
a. Plastic commodities
b. Commodities that are stored in Wooden or Plastic Pallets, Solid Piled,
Bin Boxes, Shelf and Multiple Racks storage
c. Plastic, Rubber Tires and Rolled Paper and related hazard commodities
(Class 1 to Class 4 commodities)

NFPA 13 mandatory requirements:

a. This design approach requires the use of Early Suppression Fast-
Response (ESFR) and Large Drop Sprinklers.
b. Aside from Automatic Sprinklers, NFPA 13 requires the installation of
Automatic Medium and High-Expansion Foam System in accordance with
NFPA 11A.
c. In the Density/Area Curve, storage design should start with Ordinary
Hazard 2 curve.
d. The minimum duration of water supply should last by at least 120-180
minutes.
SPECIAL OCCUPANCY DESIGN APPROACH

NFPA 13 Chap. 13 defines that Special Occupancy Design Approach shall only be
apply to meet the requirements of arrangements and commodities that includes:
a. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
b. Aerosol Products
c. Solvent Extraction Plants
d. Nitrate Film
e. Storage or vaults containing Pyroxylin Plastics
f. Laboratories Using Chemicals
g. Oxygen-Fuel Gas Systems for Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes
h. Acetylene Cylinder Charging Plants
i. Production, Storage and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas
j. Electronic Computer Systems and Data Centers
k. Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations
l. Piers, Terminals and Wharves
m. Aircraft Hangars
n. Storage of Organic Peroxides

The use of Wet Type Automatic Sprinklers has to be carefully studied since the
use of water in some of the above occupancies is not advisable.

The fire protection design for this should meet the requirement of separate NFPA
standards.
The use of Pipe Schedule is also a recognized method in
installing Automatic Fire Sprinkler System under the
Occupancy Hazard Fire Control Approach (NFPA 13, Chap. 11)

Pipe Schedule Method shall not be used, except in existing systems or extensions to
existing systems.

Pipe Schedule Method shall be permitted only for new installations of 5,000 ft 2 (465 m 2 )
or less or for additions or modifications to the existing pipe systems that is sized according
to Pipe Schedule.

Pipe Schedule Method shall be permitted for use in systems exceeding 5,000 ft 2 (465m 2)
where the flows required as specified in the table below are available at a minimum
residual pressure of 50 psi (3.4 bar) at the highest elevation of sprinkler.

The residual pressure requirement shall be met at the elevation of the highest sprinkler.
The lower duration value of the table shall be acceptable only where remote or central
station water flow alarm service is provided. If not, then use the higher value of duration.

The lower flow value shall be permitted only where the building is of non-combustible
construction or the potential areas of fire are limited by building size or compartmentation
such that no open areas exceeded 3000 ft 2 (279 m2) for light hazard or 4000 ft2 (372 m2)
for ordinary hazard.

The use of Pipe Schedule method is limited only for Light and Ordinary Hazard
occupancies.

Pressures and flow requirements for extra hazard occupancies shall be based on the
hydraulic calculation methods.

Sprinkler systems having sprinklers with K-factors other than 5.6 nominal, extra hazard
Groups 1 and 2 systems, and exposure protection systems shall be hydraulically
calculated.
In using the pipe schedule design method, the number of
sprinkler heads on a given pipe size on one floor shall not
exceed the number specified for each classification of
occupancies.

Pipe Schedule for Light and Ordinary Hazard Occupancies

On Branchlines

Sprinkler heads for each branch line shall not exceed eight (8) on either
side of a cross main.

Where more than 8 sprinklers on a branch line are necessary, lines

maybe increased to 9 sprinklers by making the two end lengths 1 inch
(25.4 mm) and 1 ¼ inch (33 mm), respectively, and the sizes thereafter
standard.

Ten sprinklers shall be permitted to be placed on a branch line, making

the two end lengths 1 inch (25 mm) and 1 ¼ inch (33 mm) respectively,
and feeding the tenth sprinkler by a 2 ½ inch (64 mm) pipe.
Arrangement of Branch Lines Supplying Sprinklers
Above and Below a Ceiling
[NFPA Figure 14.5.2.3 (a)]
Light Hazard Pipe Schedule

STEEL COPPER
SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER
HEADS HEADS
1 in. 2 heads 1 in. 2 heads
1-1/4 in. 3 heads 1-1/4 in. 3 heads
1-1/2 in. 5 heads 1-1/2 in. 5 heads
2 in. 10 heads 2 in. 12 heads
2-1/2 in. 30 heads 2-1/2 in. 40 heads
3 in. 60 heads 3 in. 65 heads
3-1/2 in. 100 heads 3-1/2 in. 115 heads
4 in. See Section 8.2 4 in. See Section 8.2

Light Hazard Pipe Schedule

(NFPA13 Table 14.5.2.2.1)
Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule

STEEL COPPER

SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER

1 in. 2 heads 1 in. 2 heads
1-1/4 in. 3 heads 1-1/4 in. 3 heads
1-1/2 in. 5 heads 1-1/2 in. 5 heads
2 in. 10 heads 2 in. 12 heads
2-1/2 in. 20 heads 2-1/2 in. 25 heads
3 in. 40 heads 3 in. 45 heads
3-1/2 in. 65 heads 3-1/2 in. 75 heads
4 in. 100 heads 4 in. 115 heads
5 in. 160 heads 5 in. 180 heads
6 in. 275 heads 6 in. 300 heads
8 in. See Section 8.2 8 in. See Section 8.2

Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule

(NFPA13 Table 14.5.3.4)
The Hydraulic Calculation Method of the Occupancy Hazard
Fire Control Approach which is the most favored engineering
design, can be achieved with the following sub-methods

DENSITY / AREA METHOD

The water supply requirement for sprinklers shall be calculated from the
density/area curve as shown below:
The minimum water supply requirement for a hydraulically
designed occupancy hazard fire control sprinkler system shall
be determined by adding the hose stream demand to the water
requirement as determined using the Density/Area Curve

Total Combined
Occupancy Inside Hose Inside and Outside Duration
(gpm) Hose (gpm) (minutes)

Light hazard 0,50, or 100 100 30

Ordinary
hazard 0,50, or 100 250 60-90

Extra Hazard 0,50, or 100 500 90-120

Note: For SI units, 1gpm=3.785 L/min

Hose Stream Demand and Water Supply Duration
Requirements for Hydraulically Calculated Systems
(NFPA Table 11.2.3.1.1)
For system with multiple hazard classifications, the
hose stream and water demand shall be in accordance
with the following

• Add the hose demand for the highest hazard classification within
the system, or

• Where the higher classification only lies within single room less
than or equal to 400 ft2 (37.18 m2 ) in area with no such rooms
adjacent, add the hose demand for the principal occupancy for the
remainder of the system.

• Where the combined sprinkler system demand and hose stream

allowance exceeds the requirements of NFPA 13 & 14, the higher
demand shall be used.

• Water demand of sprinklers installed in concealed spaces or under

obstructions such as ducts may be permitted to be excluded in the
computation for the total demand.
ROOM DESIGN METHOD

a. In using Room Design Method, the water supply requirements for sprinklers
(except for hose stream requirement) shall be based upon the room that
creates the greatest demand.

b. To utilize the room design method, all rooms shall be enclosed with walls
having a fire-resistance rating equal to 30 min for Light Hazard, 60 minutes for
Ordinary Hazard and 90 minutes for Extra Hazard.

c. When the room under consideration is a corridor protected by one row of

sprinklers with protected openings, the maximum sprinkler that needs to be
calculated is five. If not protected, the maximum is 7.

RESIDENTIAL SPRINKLERS

a. The design area shall be the area that includes the four hydraulically most
demanding sprinklers.

b. Hose stream demand and water supply duration requirements shall be in

accordance with those for Light Hazard Occupancy.

c. Attics, basements or other type of occupancies outside of dwelling units but

within the same structure, these areas shall be protected with appropriate
design criteria.
In determining the number of System Riser to be installed for
a given floor area to be protected, NFPA 13 set the following
standard for Maximum Protection Area Per System Riser

NFPA 13, Chapter 8, Section 8.2 states that the maximum floor area on
any one floor to be protected by sprinklers supplied by any one sprinkler
system riser or combined system riser shall be as follows:

1. Light hazard – 52,000 square feet (4,831 square meter)

2. Ordinary hazard – 52,000 square feet (4,831 square meter)

3. Extra hazard
a) Pipe schedule – 25,000 square feet (2,323 square meter)
b) Hydraulically calculated – 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meter)

4. Storage – 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meter)