This week we're covering a basic riser manifold configuration for wet-pipe fire sprinkler systems. This is not for a shotgun-style single riser, nor for a wet riser using an alarm check valve (we'll explore both of those later).

​If you haven't checked it out, there are great ongoing discussions (some of which covered these topics) on the MeyerFire Daily page here. 

Overview
Wet-pipe systems form the backbone of traditional fire sprinkler system design, comprising the most popular and most economical system type available. Here's the major components that go into a wet-pipe fire sprinkler assembly:

Check Valve

• Purpose: Allows the system to retain pressure over time, prevents and siphonage of water in a system to serve standpipes or other systems, and helps prevent nuisance waterflow alarm paddle movement by maintaining water in each system.
• Where Required: a check valve is required in any system, but may also be accomplished by a single backflow preventer in a multi-system manifold. Check valves are required on each sprinkler system where the supply serves both sprinklers and standpipes.
• Orientation: must be horizontal or vertical-up in accordance with its listing (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.1.1.3.4, 2007 -16 8.16.1.1.3.4, 2019 16.9.5.4)

FDC Connection

• Purpose: Allows the fire department to supply supplementary pressure and flow to the system during a fire event.
• Where Required: on any sprinkler system that does not meet exceptions for being inaccessible, large-capacity deluge systems, or single-story buildings not over 2,000 sqft (185 sq.m.). (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.2, 2007-16 8.17.2.2, 2019 16.12.2)
• Where Located: for a single system it must be on the system side of the main system control valve, check, and alarm valves, and is permitted to be connected to the main piping directly (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.4.2, 2007-16 8.17.2.4.2, 2019 16.12.5.2), for multiple systems the FDC connection must be between the supply control valves and system control valves (on the manifold) (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.2.4.3, 2007-16 8.17.2.4.3, 2019 16.12.5.4).

​
Main Drain

• Purpose: Allows the system to be drained down for maintenance, interior inspections, repair, or modifications.
• Discharge: must discharge to outside or to a drain connection, but not directly to a sewer (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.6.1, 2007-16 8.16.2.6.1, 2019 16.10.6.1)
• Labeled: required to be labeled with a weatherproof metal or rigid plastic identifier (NFPA 13 2002-16 6.7.4.1, 2019 16.9.12.1)
• Size: is determined by NFPA 13 (2002 Table 8.15.2.4.2 and 8.15.2.6, 2007-16 8.16.2.4.2, 2019 16.10.4.2)

Inspector's Test

• Purpose: Allows the waterflow switch to be tested as required by NFPA 25 by flowing water, and allows drainage of the system.
• Where Required: for wet systems, anywhere downstream of the waterflow alarm. Some jurisdictions have requirements or preferences to locate the inspector's test remotely from the riser (NFPA 13 2007-13 8.17.4.2.4, 2016 8.17.4.1.4). Note that FM Global systems require wet system inspector's tests to be located remotely from the riser (FM Global 2-0 2.6.5)
• Approved: required to be approved (NFPA 13 2002-13 6.7.3, 2016 6.6.3, 2019 16.9.1.1).
• Labeled: required to be labeled with a weatherproof metal or rigid plastic identifier (NFPA 13 2002-13 6.7.4, 2016 6.6.4, 2019 16.9.12).
• Orifice: The orifice (within a sight/site glass) simulates the flow of a single sprinkler in order to ensure that the sprinkler waterflow alarm will activate upon the flow of a single sprinkler. The orifice must: be equal to the smallest orifice of any sprinkler installed on the system (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.4.1.1, 2007-16 8.17.4.1.1, 2019 16.14.1.1), and be smooth bore and corrosion resistant (NFPA 13 2002-13 8.17.4.2.1, 2016 8.17.4.1.1, 2019 16.14.1.1)
• Sight/Site Glass: typically provided where water discharge is not visible from the control valve (NFPA 13 2002 A.8.16.4.2, 2007-13 A.8.17.4.2, 2016 A.8.17.4.1, 2019 A.16.14.1). 

Isolation Valve

• Purpose: Allow a single system to be shut off for maintenance, inspection or renovation. Limiting the system size per isolation valve also helps reduce risk that a large facility wouldn't be affected by the closure of a single system valve.
• Where Required: isolation valve is required on each sprinkler system (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.1.1.1, 2007-16 8.16.1.1.1.1, 2019 16.9.3.1.1)
• Accessible: valve is required to be readily accessible for operation, inspection, tests & maintenance and located where free of obstruction (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.4.2.2, 2007-2013 8.17.4.2.2, 2016 8.17.4.1.2, 2019 16.14.1.2, FM Global 2-0 2.6.5). Are recommended to be no more than 7 feet above finished floor (NFPA 13 2002 A.8.16.4.2, 2007-13 A.8.17.4.2, 2016 A.8.17.4.1, 2019 A.16.14.1)
• Identification: must include portion of building served and what it controls (NFPA 13 2002-13 6.7.4.3, 2016 6.6.4.3, 16.9.12.3), and it's function (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.1.1.8, 2007-16 8.16.1.1.8, 2019 16.9.3.5)
• Indicating: must show it's position and be visible when standing at floor level (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.1.1.2.4, 2007-16 8.16.1.1.2.4, 2019 16.9.3.3.4)
• Listed: this valve is required to be listed (NFPA 13 2002-13 6.7.1.3, 2016 6.6.1.3, 2019 16.9.3.2)
• Supervision: can be accomplished by (1) central, proprietary or remote station, (2) a local sounding at a constantly attended location, (3) locked in correct position, (4) within fenced inclusion under control of owner, sealed, and inspected weekly (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.1.1.2.1, 2007-16 8.16.1.1.2.1, 2019 16.9.3.3.1)

Pressure Gauge

• Purpose: To assess loss of pressure over time during testing and to verify the water pressure in a system.
• Where Required: above and below each alarm check valve or system riser check (when present) (NFPA 2002 7.1.1.2), and adjacent to main drain (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.3.1, 2007-16 8.17.3.1, 2019 16.13.1)
• Accessible: must be accessible for operation, inspection, tests & maintenance (NFPA 13 2002-16 8.1.2, 2019 16.1.1)
• Capacity: The maximum limit for the gauge must not be less than twice the normal working pressure at the point in the system where it's installed (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.3.3, 2007-16 8.17.3.3, 2019 16.13.3)
• Connection: must be minimum 1/4-inch thread inlet near main drain (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.3.1, 2007-16 8.17.3.1, 2019 16.13.1)
• Listed: required to be listed (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.3.3, 2007-16 8.17.3.3, 2019 16.13.3)
• Removal: must permit removal and not be subject to freezing (NFPA 13 2002 8.16.3.4, 2007-16 8.17.3.4, 2019 16.13.4)

Waterflow Switch

• Purpose: To transmit an alarm signal to the fire alarm system and/or supervising station that the sprinkler system is active.
• Where Required: Is required for each zoned system. (NFPA 2002-13 6.9.2.1, 2016 6.8.2.1, 2019 16.11.3.1)
• Listed: required to be listed (NFPA 2002-13 6.9.2.1, 2016 6.8.2.1, 2019 16.11.3.1)
• Supervision: must be supervised (NFPA 2002-13 6.9.2.1, 2016 6.8.2.1, 2019 16.11.3.1)

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If you work with sprinkler systems & review layouts, you've undoubtedly encountered sprinklers near ceiling fans. Today I'm taking a look at some of the requirements for sprinklers near fans, and the basis for those requirements.

Traditional Ceiling Fans

​The chief concern with a typical residential-style ceiling fan is that the fan motor housing and fan blades could form an obstruction to proper sprinkler discharge.

Motor Housing Obstruction

NFPA 13 addresses the discharge from the motor housing by the Three Times Rule, where the sprinkler must be located three-times the width of the obstruction up to 24 inches (610 mm).

Fan Blade Obstruction

In terms of obstruction from the fan blades, NFPA 13 also allows sprinklers to be placed "without regard" to the blades of ceiling fans less than 60 inches (1.5 m) in diameter as long as the plan view is at least 50 percent open (NFPA 13 2010-19 under "Obstructions to Sprinkler Discharge Pattern Development" subsections in Chapter 8).

NFPA 13R 3 and 5-foot Rules

NFPA 13R takes a more straightforward requirement for positioning of sprinklers near ceiling fans - residential pendent sprinklers must be 3-feet and residential sidewalls must be 5-feet unless another sprinkler is positioned on the adjacent side, or, the sprinkler is positioned so that the fan is not considered an obstruction (NFPA 13R 2007 6.8.1.5.3, 2010-19 6.4.6).
​

NFPA 13R Research Basis

The NFPA 13R guidance was driven by fire modeling, sprinkler response tests, distribution tests, and full-scale fire tests by the National Fire Sprinkler Association and the Viking Corporation in 2005 (Valentine and Isman, Interaction of Residential Sprinklers, Ceiling Fans and Similar Obstructions). These tests indicated that the fan blades where not significant obstructions as long as the sprinkler was far enough away from the motor housing, allowing the sprinkler to control a fire on the other side of the fan in a small room.

These tests also indicated that fans on low to medium speed did not significantly impact sprinkler performance, but high speed did. Despite the effect, the fire was still controlled in small rooms. Larger rooms, due to the size, would be expected to require additional sprinklers (NFPA 13R 2007 Annex).

High Volume Low Speed Fans (HVLS) 

Fans moving larger volumes of air can have a significant impact on plume development and fire sprinkler response.

In 2009, a research project sponsored by the Property Insurance Research Group (PIRG) and other industry groups, coordinated by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF) ran a series of 10 full-scale fire test and limited scale testing to evaluate the impact on sprinkler system performance. 

In 2011, a second phase was conducted by Factory Mutual Research Corporation.

Recommendations from Research

Based on the tests, effective sprinkler operation was obtained when the HVLS fans did not obstruct sprinkler discharge and were shut down upon the activation of the first sprinkler.

The research also included shutdown by air-sampling type detection and use of ionization type smoke detectors, with earlier fan shutdown resulting in less commodity damage. FM Global's recommendations even extend into smoke detection devices or heat detection devices as an acceptable means to conduct the fan shutdown (provided uniformly above the fan blade area, per Data Sheet 548).

​NPFA 13 Requirements for HVLS Fans

NFPA 13 defines high volume low speed fans as ceiling fans approximately 6 feet (1.8 m) to 24 feet (7.3 m) in diameter, with a rotational speed of approximately 30 to 70 revolutions per minute (NFPA 13 2013-16 Section 3.3.14).

Beginning with the 2013 Edition of NFPA 13, NFPA 13 has required four principal items concerning these large fans (NFPA 13 2013-16 Section 11.1.7 and 12.1.4 for storage):
(1) The maximum fan diameter must be 24 feet (7.3 m)
(2) HVLS fans be centered approximately between four adjacent sprinklers
(3) The vertical clearance from the fan to the nearest sprinkler deflector must be a minimum of 3 feet (0.9 m)
(4) HVLS fans must shutdown (via interlock) immediately upon receiving a waterflow signal in accordance with NFPA 72.

While NFPA 13 suggests centering the fan between four sprinklers - trying to convince an architect or mechanical engineer to shift their equipment based on the sprinkler system can be difficult to do. I've had better success designing the sprinkler locations around the fan location.

Thoughts

Since sprinklers are designed to be sensitive to air temperature and movement, ceiling fans can impact performance. With small ceiling fans, the biggest concern is obstructing sprinkler discharge, while for larger HVLS fans this chief concern moves towards the movement of air and impacting the response. Fortunately, research-backed recommendations have been provided to still allow effective fire sprinkler protection alongside ceiling fans.

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First, a huge thank you to everyone who's expressed interest and purchased the Toolkit - I very much appreciate the fantastic response to the launch over the last three weeks!

It's a short post this week - I've been developing a Trapeze Hanger tool that sizes and schematically details trapeze hangers. This will likely be the first of three posts while developing this tool.

Questions for you at this point in time:

(1) What other possible standard trapeze materials do you use that could be helpful as part of this tool? 
(2) What would you like to see shown in the detail?
(3) If the detail could be easily translated to AutoCAD from this calculator, could it be something helpful for your projects? If so, what would you want shown and identified?

Click here to test and comment on the Trapeze Hanger tool, thanks in advance!
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Based on some feedback and good ideas I've been experimenting with graphing fire pump & flow test curves with usable data outputs. Below is the first iteration for drawing a fire pump curve alongside a water supply curve.

Determining ideal fire pump configurations for sprinkler and standpipe systems can be
​an important part of optimizing fire suppression design

Here's the help I could really use from you - what else would be included in your ideal pump curve?

Would you prefer this be on a logarithmic x-axis?

Want 175 & 300 psi limit lines shown?

Would you want to see at what height in a building the 175 psi threshold would occur - on this graph?

System demand and hose?

​I'm open to any and all ideas - in the end I think it'd be great if this tool was the quickest & best method for summarizing and analyzing fire pump output. Share your ideas in the comments here, thanks in advance!
​

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