by Michael O'Brian on December 27, 2010
The Minnesota State Fire Marshal Division has just released The Residential Fire Sprinkler Challenge, its new online fire safety game. It is a fun, interactive 16-question question quiz designed to test your knowledge about home fire sprinklers. This game is a great tool for firefighters, inspectors, and home owners on home fire sprinklers.
Developed by Sprinkler Plan Reviewer Ralph Peterson and Public Educator Becki White, the games includes questions on common misconceptions, water requirements, maintenance, and other miscellaneous points. What a great innovative way to raise awareness on [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on July 11, 2010
Fatal fire raises concern about antifreeze
The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) today issued a safety alert recommending that residential fire sprinkler systems containing antifreeze should be drained and the antifreeze replaced with water.
The alert follows a research study and an initial set of fire tests conducted after a fire incident raised concerns about antifreeze solutions in residential sprinkler systems. The incident involved a grease fire in a kitchen where a sprinkler with a high concentration of antifreeze deployed. The fire resulted in a single fatality and serious injury to another person.
“Fire sprinklers are [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on January 12, 2010
Flexible Armover Attachments
Sprinkler systems have seen an increase in the use of specifically listed equipment. Flexible arm-overs serve a great purpose in sprinkler system installation but are heavily depended on proper installation per the manufacture listing requirements.
If you look at the first picture above you may say “Well it truly depends!” So lets make a couple of assumptions:
- The system was properly designed to account for the friction loss of the devices
- The flexible armover is listed for use on sprinkler systems
So the question is, does this meet code…. oh and take a look at [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 8, 2009
What Should I Include on the Submittal:
Automatic sprinkler systems are a critical component to building design and are utilized by the design professional to meet the requirements of the code, as a design option or at the request of the building owner. Many times the documents are “deferred” by the design professional and submitted by a qualified contractor (See section 106 of the IBC for more information).
The qualified contractor is typically responsible for preparing shop drawings that meet the building/fire code and the appropriate standard. If you refer to the 2009 edition of the International Fire Code (IFC) the document refers the user to utilize the 2007 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Automatic Sprinkler System. This is the referenced standard, although NFPA just recently release the 2010 edition of the standard.
Before we get into the nitty gritty (the how to) of sprinkler plan review its important to [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on May 19, 2009
By Paul Dove,
This is an interesting question that I asked myself before the addition of the sprinkler requirements in the last remaining model code to accept them for one and two family homes and townhouses.
During the period in time where the International Building Code and International Residential Code (IBC/IRC) committee’s were reviewing code change proposals for this addition and subsequently during the committee’s refusal to accept numerous proposals to include them; I was approached by one of our fire suppression personnel who learned that a new Habitat Home was being planned in our jurisdiction.
The firefighter informed me of the project and presented me with information on a physical limitation one of the family’s children had. He asked if I thought we could get sprinklers donated. This is what started the research process into the feasibility of the project.
The greatest road block to my surprise was the historic stance the National organization had was to not recommend Residential Fire Sprinklers (RFS) for their projects but they would leave it up to regional groups and local affiliates to decide. They question that kept coming up was why?
It seemed that the greatest concern was [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on February 24, 2009
Back flow Devices Need to be Tested at Full Flow
Backflow devices are intended to prevent that nasty sprinkler water from going into your drinking water. These devices need some tender loving care in order to operate efficiently and test must be conducted to ensure they can open to meet the system demand. In the 2002 edition of National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for the Installation of Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems, a testing requirement was added for the forward flow testing of back-flow devices.
In fire protection systems, the back flow device is installed below the system control valves and can be the cause of reduced flow for the system. Reduced flow can occur if the system is not properly designed to include the device or tested to ensure the system flow is not reduced. The [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on February 10, 2009
What is the best location for back flow devices when a fire pump is utilized?
Automatic sprinkler and standpipe systems may utilize a fire pump for many reasons. This may be to provide additional pressure to the municipal system, provide pressure for a system which draws from an underground tank or to meet the necessary gpm for the system design. The water and pressure demands of sprinkler or standpipe systems truly establish the need for a fire pump.
Fire pumps are appropriately viewed as a critical component to a fire protection system, but it should be realized that the fire pump is supplemental to the entire system. In realty, the fire pump can not create a water supply. If the water supply is not there, the pump will not produce the desired results.
Water is [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 27, 2008
Resources and Checklists for Plan Review, Inspection, and Design
Automatic sprinkler systems can be complex life safety systems which require maintenance and proper installation. Automatic sprinkler systems are based on the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13, Standard for Design and Installation of Sprinkler Systems. Sprinkler systems require proper design, installation, and maintenance (inspection too).
Sprinkler submittals are usually prepared as show drawings or deferred submittals under the adopted building code. The shop drawings are typically prepared by the installing contractor although some projects they are prepared by the design professional or fire protection engineer. Sprinkler systems must be designed based on the use of the space, not necessary the classification of the occupancy under the building code.
Proper plan review will look to ensure adequate informaiton is provided to compare the design to the anticipated use, sprinkler spacing, and proper informaiton is included in the design calculations. NFPA 13 provides a very detailed listing of information required on the shop drawings and calculations in Chapter 22 (2007 edition). Contractors should [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 16, 2008
Listed Expansion Device
A sprinkler system is a critical system to ensure fire and life safety in the built environment. Every now and then there are modifications made to the system that affect the performance of the system. Following NFPA 13 when installing and inspecting sprinkler systems is critical. In addition manufactures provide detailed requirements for devices based on the device listing.
This system was subject to many complaints by the occupants as a the colored fluid would leak from various fittings and sprinklers.
This is a picture of the riser [click to continue…]
by Michael O'Brian on December 3, 2008
Electric Room Protection
Fire Protection and Enclosure Requirements for Electrical Rooms
Reprinted with permission from NFPA Journal® (Vol. 102, #5) copyright© 2008, National Fire Protection Association, Quincy, MI. All rights reserved.
There seems to be much confusion concerning the fire protection and enclosure requirements for electrical rooms. Do rooms containing circuit breaker panels or transformers need to be enclosed in fire-resistive enclosures? Do these rooms require sprinklers, or should sprinklers be eliminated in these rooms?
Electrical rooms are not listed as hazardous areas in Chapter 8 of NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®, or in Sections 3.2, “Protection from Hazards,” in each occupancy chapter. Rather, the requirements for enclosures in electrical rooms are found in NFPA 70®, National Electrical Code® (NEC®).
NEC Article 450.21 “Dry-Type Transformers Installed Indoors,” requires that dry-type transformers rated larger than 112-1/2 kVA be installed in a transformer room of fire-resistive construction. In this Article, the term “fire-resistive” means a one-hour fire resistance. The door to this room would be [click to continue…]
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