13D SystemsWhat, Why and How

Oregon Fire Sprinkler Coalition

The Fire Problem

Statistics National

Each day 7 people die home fires Each year on average over 2,500 people

die and more than 13,000 people are injured in home fires

Fires kill more people each year than all natural disasters combined

Children and the elderly are most at risk Oregon

From 2004 to 2013 there were: nearly 350 fire deaths more than 2,500 injuries

Source: NFPA

Residential Sprinklers A Proven Solution

Occupant safety: Sprinklers reduce civilian fire deaths by

83% Sprinklers reduce civilian fire injury

medical costs by 53% Sprinklers reduce civilian fire injury total

costs by 41%

Source: NFPA

Residential Sprinklers A Proven Solution

Firefighter safety: Sprinklers are responsible for an

estimated 65% reduction in firefighter fire ground injuries

Property Loss:

Sprinkler reduce direct property damage per fire by 69%

Source: NFPA

13D…Born of Necessity

America Burning – 1973: Nation Commission on Fire

Prevention and Control

More fire deaths in homes than any other industrialized nation

Identified a need to: Reduce fire deaths in America Make sprinklers more

affordable Make residential sprinklers

more aesthetically appealing

13D…Born of Necessity

America Burning – 1973

Brought about: NFIRS - National Fire Incident

Reporting System USFA – US Fire Administration NFA – National Fire Academy

And….

The Standard of Care – NFPA 13D

A Different Philosophy than NFPA 13: Focus on life-safety (survivability) Operate in tandem with smoke

alarms for occupant notification Address affordability

A Balance: Life Safety and Money

NFPA 13D A Standard Referenced by Codes

Codes point toward standards

A Standard becomes code when it is referenced by an enabling document, such as a state building code Oregon Fire Code

Based on IFC Oregon Structural Specialty

Code Based on IBC

NFPA 13D A Standard Referenced by Codes

Codes address when sprinklers apply: Access issues Grades Lot characteristics Tradeoffs Ordinances / Statutes

Standards address how the sprinklers apply: Design criteria Sprinkler locations / spacing Materials allowed Connection to water supplies

NFPA 13D Scope and purpose

Scope of Document:

1.1.1 This standard shall cover the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic sprinkler systems for protection against the fire hazards in one- and two-family dwellings and manufactured homes.

1.1.3 This standard shall be based on the concept that the sprinkler system is designed to protect against a fire originating from a single ignition location.

NFPA 13D Scope and purpose

Purpose of Document:

1.2.1 The purpose of this standard shall be to provide a sprinkler system that aids in the detection and control of residential fires and thus provides improved protection against injury and life loss.

1.2.2 A sprinkler system shall be designed and installed in accordance with this standard to prevent flashover (total involvement) in the room of fire origin, where sprinklered, and to improve the chance for occupants to escape or be evacuated.

NFPA 13D Scope and purpose

Standard Applies to:

Single Family residence Townhouses

If built to the IRC (ORSC) Duplex Homes Manufactured homes

Design Principles

Sprinklers in an easier design scenario

Design approach based on historical data Water supply is only required to accommodate

two sprinklers at any given time Even with that approach, 84% of the time, a

single head controls the fire in this type of system

If the largest room can be protected with a single sprinkler, the design can be based on one head flowing

Source: NFPA

Design Principles

Sprinklers in an easier design scenario

Sprinklers are located where loss of life historically occurs: Kitchens Bedrooms Living rooms / Corridors

Source: NFPA

Design Principles

Sprinklers in an easier design scenario

Sprinklers are not required in: Closets (under 24 Sq Ft) Bathrooms (under 55 Sq Ft) Exterior eaves / porches

balconies / closets Rooms in attics or under structure

that aren’t connected to dwelling area And do not contain fuel-fired

equipment

Source: NFPA

13D System Types Stand-Alone Type: A sprinkler system where the aboveground piping serves only fire sprinklers

13D System Types Multi-Purpose System: A piping system

intended to serve both domestic needs in excess of a single fixture and fire protection needs from one common piping system throughout the dwelling unit(s).

13D System Types

Passive Purge (Flow Through): A type of sprinkler system that serves a single toilet in addition to the fire sprinklers.

13D System Types

Network System: A type of multipurpose system utilizing a common piping system supplying domes- tic fixtures and fire sprinklers where each sprinkler is supplied by a minimum of three separate paths

System Components and Features

System Alarms Two Alarm scenarios:

Notification provided by NFPA 72 compliant Smoke Alarms, or

Waterflow device and local bell (optional)

OR +

System Components and Features

Residential Sprinkler Heads Performance – Higher wall wetting

Fuel loads are near walls in residential occupancies

Controls the environment Greater coverage areas Faster response Easily applicable design criteria

Design criteria maximizes a smaller water supply

: NFPA

System Components and Features

Residential Sprinkler Heads: Aesthetically Appealing There are many cutting-edge, flush type heads

that blend into the ceiling Some manufacturers offer as many as 300

custom paint colors.

:

System Components and Features

Piping and Materials A variety of common material types

All listed for potable water supplies

CPVC

PEX / Other

Copper

Municipal Water Supplies

Works with the plumbing supply, not in addition to it: Only 7 PSI required for fire sprinklers

Most domestic systems require 8 PSI (UPC, IPC) 16 GPM could supply a one head sprinkler design.

Most average homes require a minimum of 18 GPM for domestic use (IRC)

Most residential sprinkler systems will flow more, but a ¾” meter (35 GPM) will usually be plenty of water (2 sprinklers x 16 GPM = 32 GPM)

Source: OPSC

Municipal Water Supplies

Upgrading to a 1” meter isn’t the only option! 3/4” meters are a popular option for many Water

Purveyors (35 GPM) A system can sometimes be designed using an existing

5/8” meter (20 GPM) Most average homes require a minimum of 18 GPM

for domestic use

Source: OPSC / IRC

Municipal Water Supplies

An increasing number of Water Purveyors are starting to recognize that sprinklers use less water than the water used from unmetered fire hydrants that would otherwise be needed to suppress a fire in a home

Sprinklers use 90% less water than the fire service would use if sprinklers weren’t installed.

They reduce fire damage by 97% They reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 98%.

Sprinklers also reduce wastewater pollution.

Source: FM Global

Private / Stored Water Supplies

An easy solution for private water supplies (tanks and wells) 10 minute Duration:

A typical scenario: 280 Gallon Tank (28 GPM x 10 Min) 7 minute Duration (Single story under 2000 Sq Ft):

This can be as low as 196 Gallon Tank (28 GPM x 7 Min)

Source: NFPA 13D

Private / Stored Water Supplies

Tanks and pumps not required to be listed

In some scenarios, a tank and pump supply might be more cost effective than a meter upsizing fee and SDC charge

Source: NFPA 13D

System Maintenance

A Maintenance Friendly System - Requirements

13D Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) The maintenance requirements are simple:

Walk the sprinklers periodically (no specific time requirement) to look for: Obstructions to discharge (storage, etc) Painted or damaged heads

Annual backflow test, if device is installed (not typically required)

Source: NFPA 13D

System Maintenance

A Maintenance Friendly System - Recommendations

13D Inspection, Testing and Maintenance (ITM) The maintenance recommendations are also simple:

Annual flow test if a waterflow detector and bell are installed (optional devices)

Annual backflow test, if device is installed (backflow device not typically required)

Annual inspection by a qualified contractor

Source: NFPA 13D

13D Saves Lives…and Money!

Taking advantage of the 13D Design to Save Money

Bang for your buck – Pricing the system: Get several bids

Oregon state online list of contractors Builders Exchanges Google it! Phone book Contact local Fire and Building

Departments Call some builders

Explore the different system types

Conclusion

13D is designed to be an achievable balance between protection and cost

Questions?