NFPA 13 2016 and NFPA 25

2017 Edition Standard Updates

Karl Wiegand, PE
Technical Education and Research Engineer

Rochester, NY
April 24, 2018
Program Agenda

• NFPA 13
– Chapter 6 and 7
– Chapter 8
– Design
– Storage

• NFPA 25
– General Changes
– General Requirements
– Sprinkler Systems
– Comment Components and Valves
Chapter 6 and 7 (NFPA 13)

• Replacement sprinklers
• Air vents
Replacement Sprinklers (NFPA 13)

• Once a sprinkler is removed from a

system it must be replaced – new 2013
• Dry sprinklers can be reused per
manufacturer’s instructions – new 2016
• If a sprinkler drop is taken out and the
sprinkler left in the drop it can be reused
again - loophole
Air Vents (NFPA 13)

• Single air vent

– ½ in manual valve
– Automatic air vent
– Other approved means
• Near a high point in the system
• Wet systems using metallic piping
• Location on general information sign
Chapter 8 (NFPA 13)

• Sprinklers with QR and SR ratings

• Obstruction rules for columns
• Residential sprinkler maximum ceiling height and slope
• Small openings
• Cloud ceilings
• Alternative fire rated window assembly
• Miscellaneous
Sprinklers with QR and SR Listings (NFPA 13)

• Extended coverage sprinklers

• They can be installed in a space without
separation when they are in configurations
where they are both QR and SR
• They can be installed in light hazard in
spaces when they are in their SR listed
spacings
Obstruction Rules for Columns (NFPA 13)

• “3 times rule”
• “4 times rule”
• The maximum dimension doesn’t work
– 24 inches for 3 times
– 36 inches for 4 times
Residential Sprinkler Maximum Ceiling Height and Slope
(NFPA 13)

• 24 ft ceiling height
• 8 in 12 slope
Small Openings (NFPA 13)

• Small openings type 1

– 20 percent of ceiling
– If length is greater than 4 feet then width is 8
inches or less
• Small openings type 2
– 20 percent of ceiling
– Meet the cloud ceiling requirements
Cloud Ceilings (NFPA 13)

• Cloud spacing
• Spacing
requirements
• Irregular shaped
clouds
Cloud Spacing (NFPA 13)

Ceiling Cloud Maximum area Maximum area Maximum area

Minimum width (sqft) opening (sqft) opening (sqft) opening
dimension (ft) width ≤0.5 in/ft of width ≤0.75 in/ft of width ≤1 in/ft of
ceiling height ceiling height ceiling height
2 - <2.5 175 70 NP
2.5 – 4 225 120 70
>4 225 150 150
Spacing Requirements (NFPA 13)

• Maximum cloud ceiling height: 20 ft

• Maximum spacing and design area as per
LH and OH tables
– 15 foot spacing
– 225 sqft maximum spacing in LH
– 130 sqft maximum spacing in OH
– Not greater than permitted by the table
Irregular Shaped Clouds (NFPA 13)

• Width dimension of
the cloud is the
smallest width
dimension of the
cloud
• Gap width is the
maximum gap size
Alternate Fire Rated Window Assembly (NFPA 13)

• Wet-pipe system
• Heat-strengthened, tempered, glass
ceramic glazing
• Protected on both sides by sprinklers
• Non-load-bearing
• No horizontal members
• Water duration equal to fire rating
Sprinklers for Alternate Fire Rated Window Assembly
(NFPA 13)

• Listed
• Standard spray as allowed by building
code (IBC 404.6)
• Standard spray as allowed by AHJ
Design (NFPA 13)

• Residential small room rule

• Replacement residential sprinklers
Replacement Residential Sprinklers (NFPA 13)

• Prior to 2003 residential density was 0.03

gpm/sqft
• Prior to 2016: replacement residential
sprinklers or recalculate system to current
requirements
• 2016: Sprinklers ± 5% of K factor
Storage (NFPA 13)

• Bumping to group A plastic design

• Alternate protection
• Solid shelf storage
• Exposed expanded plastics
Bumping to Group A (NFPA 13)

• Group A plastic can be used to protect

class I through IV commodities
• This actually allows a reduction in density
in some situations
– Encapsulated I-III causes a 25 percent
density increase
– Encapsulated IV causes a 50 percent density
increase
Alternate Storage Protection (NFPA 13)

• Sectioning off an area and protecting it

from within the rack instead of protecting it
from the ceiling
• “Where commodities require greater
protection than available at the ceiling”
• Can be used for class I through IV as well
as group A plastics
Interaction With Adjacent Commodity (NFPA 13)

• Horizontal
– Provide alternative protection for one pallet
beyond where higher class commodity is
being protected or
– Provide vertical barriers
• Vertical
– Commodities not requiring the higher class of
protection can be stacked above the higher
class commodity
Protection Requirements (NFPA 13)

• Solid horizontal barriers

– Every tier of storage for solid shelf
– Not greater than 12 ft for open frame
– Cover all flue spaces
– 3 inch gaps allowed in barriers at uprights, rack
members and equipment
– 3/8th inch plywood or 22 gauge sheet metal
• Sprinklers
– QR K 8.0 or larger
– Close to the barrier
– Protection schemes differ depending on rack
Single Row Rack (NFPA 13)
Double Row Rack (NFPA 13)
Multiple Row Rack (NFPA 13)
Hydraulic Design (NFPA 13)

• 60 gpm per sprinkler

• Single row racks – 6 remote
• Double and multiple row racks – 8 remote
Solid Shelf Storage (NFPA 13)

• ESFR and CMSA

– Sprinklers under every tier
• Solid shelves covering a portion of the
rack
– Sprinklers in the flue 4 ft beyond the shelf
– CMDA
• 20 to 64 ft^2 sprinklers every 6 ft vertical
• <64 ft^2 sprinklers under every tier
– ESFR and CMSA – sprinklers under every tier
Exposed Expanded Plastics (NFPA 13)

• K 25 ESFR intermediate temp sprinklers

• 12 sprinklers
– @30 psi or
– @60 psi
• 8 ft aisles
• Solid vertical barriers
Building and Storage Height (NFPA 13)

• 30 ft building with 25 ft of storage

– 30 psi
• 40 ft building with 25 ft of storage
– 60 psi
• 40 ft building with 35 ft of storage
– 60 psi
Solid Vertical Barriers (NFPA 13)

• Spaced maximum 16.5 ft

• Maximum of 124 ft^2 of storage between
barriers
• 4 inches above the floor to maximum height
• Across the longitudinal flue
• Commodity can extend 4 inches beyond the
barrier
• Barrier 3/8th plywood or 22 gauge sheet metal
General Changes (NFPA 25)

• New Change Markers

• Common Components and Valves
• ITM Frequency Tables
• Removing Unenforceable Language
• Seeing the Handbook
New Change Markers (NFPA 25)

• 2014 Edition and Prior

• 2017 Edition
Common Components and Valves (NFPA 25)

• Trim
• Valve components
• FDCs
• Backflow preventers
• Switches
ITM Frequency Tables (NFPA 25)

• Sections are alphabetical

• References to other chapters only site the
chapter number
Removing Unenforceable Language (NFPA 25)

• “In good condition”

• Instead
– Operable/operating correctly
– Free of physical damage
“Seeing the Handbook” (NFPA 25)
General Requirements (NFPA 25)

• Owner Requirements
• Building Evaluation
• Automated Inspection and Testing
• Performance Based Compliance
Owner Requirements (NFPA 25)

• Minimize water damage

• Correct or repair deficiencies or
impairments
Requirements for a Building Evaluation (NFPA 25)

• Occupancy changes such as converting office or

production space into warehousing
• Process or material changes such as metal stamping to
molded plastics
• Building revisions such as relocated walls, added
mezzanines, and ceilings added below sprinklers
• Removal of heating systems in spaces with piping
subject to freezing
• Changes to the storage method, arrangement, height or
commodities
• Changes in water supplies
Automated Inspection and Testing (NFPA 25)

• Performed in accordance with the standard

• Permitted to replace visual tests
• Automated equipment needs to produce the
same action required by the standard
• Testing frequencies of the standard must be
maintained
• Equipment needs to be listed
• Record of all tests maintained
Human Intervention (NFPA 25)

• Equipment needs to be observed

performing its tests or manual tests need
to be performed every three years
• Some tests may be required to be
monitored to intervene if necessary
Failure (NFPA 25)

• Failure of a component to pass an automated test will

result in an audible supervisory signal
• Failure of automated testing equipment that impairs the
system
– Supervisory signal
– Impairment procedure
• Failure of automated testing equipment that does not
impair the system
– Trouble signal
Changes to Systems (NFPA 25)

• Vane-type water flow alarms tested by

smallest K-factor sprinkler in the system or
smaller
• Testing water flow accomplished by
opening inspector’s test valve or
automated test equipment
Performance-Based Compliance (NFPA 25)

• Clear identifiable goals

• Goals and goal achievement reviewed and
adjusted every three years
• History available to the AHJ
Performance-Based Compliance (NFPA 25)

• Building criticality
• Consequences of maloperation
– Loss and damage
– Business interruption
– Hazard to fire fighters
– Impact on adjacent buildings
– Economic impact
• How acceptable is a failure?
Sprinkler Systems (NFPA 25)

• Replacing sprinklers
• Replacing escutcheons
• Replacing residential sprinklers
• Antifreeze
• Miscellaneous
Replacing Sprinklers (NFPA 25)

• Location of corrosion
– Lightly loaded or limited corrosion
• Sprinkler operations in facilities without a
fire occurring
• Glass bulb sprinklers exposed to sunlight
or in freezers
Recessed Escutcheons and Cover Plates (NFPA 25)

• Need to be replaced when missing

• Replacement needs to be the listed
replacement
• If not available the whole assembly needs
to be replaced
Residential Sprinklers (NFPA 25)

• Current residential sprinklers can used to

replace old residential sprinklers
• K-factor within 5 percent
Antifreeze (NFPA 25)

• Sign – type, brand, concentration (by

volume), volume (chapter 4)
• TIA language incorporated
• Specific section requirements sited
– “Step 1”, “acceptable solution” “permitted by NFPA 25”

• Wording for triggering deterministic risk

assessment
Miscellaneous (NFPA 25)

• Hangers and Braces

– “Seismic” removed
– “Supports” added

• Sign Inspection Frequency

– Annual - hydraulic design information sign was quarterly

• 20 Sprinkler ITM
– Table 5.5.1 was fixed to address 20 sprinklers being affected by
adjustment or replacement
Common Components and Valves (NFPA 25)

• Supervisory Signal Devices

• Control Valves
• Alarm Valve Inspection
• Dry Valves
• PRV Testing
• FDC
• Miscellaneous
Supervisory Signal Devices (NFPA 25)

• Not including valve supervisory switches

• Inspected quarterly
• Tested annually
Control Valves (NFPA 25)

• Inspected quarterly when electronically

supervised
• Valve status test when valve is closed and
reopened
Alarm Valve Inspection (NFPA 25)

• Externally inspected quarterly

• Trim also free of damage
Dry Valves (NFPA 25)

• Record valve tripping time

• Record water transit time
PRV Testing (NFPA 25)

• 2014 Edition:
– A.13.5.1.2 The sectional drain valve should
be opened to compare the results with the
original installation or acceptance tests.
• 2017 Edition:
– A.13.5.1.2 The sectional drain valve should
be opened to compare the results with the
original installation or acceptance tests.
FDC (NFPA 25)

• Quarterly inspection
– Visible piping is undamaged
• Annual interior inspection
– When locking caps or plugs are installed
Miscellaneous (NFPA 25)

• Preaction and Deluge Valves

• Electrically connected water based
protection system initiating device
supervisory alarms
• Air Compressors
Questions For You

• Can sprinklers that have been removed from a sprinkler system be

reinstalled?
• What are the requirements for replacing 0.03 gpm/sqft density
residential sprinklers?
What is the largest percent of a ceiling that can be an opening while
still being considered a small opening?
• What needs to occur if there is a change to storage commodities in
a building?
• When automated inspection and testing is used to maintain a
system how frequently must the testing be observed or manual
testing be performed?
Questions?
Karl Wiegand, P.E.
karl@globesprinkler.com
(989)846-4583 ex 215
(914) 447-8484