Summary of Differences in NFPA 13, 13R, & 13D

9/11/2018

This week's resource was a fun one to put together.

Frequent Questions about NFPA 13 vs. 13R
I've been asked a handful of times in early project planning phases on whether NFPA 13R would be allowed in lieu of NFPA 13 for a project. In short, the two standards have very different objectives and as a result require very different means.

While those who ask are generally looking for ways to save on construction for the project, the differences are important and worth discussing early in a project.

Designed for Different Purposes
It's important to note that NFPA 13R systems are designed primarily with the intent for life safety (extending the amount of time occupants have to escape a burning building). It's stated purpose is to additional "prevent flashover in the room of fire origin, where sprinklered" (NFPA 13R 2019 1.2.2).

Unlike NFPA 13, NFPA 13R works to make the installation of the sprinkler system more affordable and accessible for residential occupancies by targeting the areas of highest fire risk to life safety with sprinkler systems. Swapping NFPA 13 and NFPA 13R is not simply a one-for-one exchange, as their goals are overall quite different.

Summary of Differences
Here's the summary of differences I use between NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D as a downloadable PDF (at the bottom of this page). References to the building code are to the International Building Code, as it's typically the most prevalent used in the US.

As always, there's far more detail to many of these requirements than can be summarized in two pages - so be sure to use the supplied section references to gather more information on specifics for your project.

CODE PLANNING

-	NFPA 13	NFPA 13R	NFPA 13D
Objective	Life Safety + Property Protection [NPFA 13 2002-2019 1.2.1]	Life Safety Only [NFPA 13R 2002-2019 1.2]	Life Safety Only [NFPA 13D 2002-2019 1.2.1]
Considered "Fully-Sprinklered" ?	Yes [IBC ref. section 903.1.1 as fully-sprinklered]	No [IBC references 'buildings equipped with a sprinkler system per 903.3.1.1, which is an NFPA 13 system]	No
Building Height Increases Permitted	Yes [IBC Table 504]	Only for R-Occupancy [IBC Table 504]	No
Permitted in One & Two-Family, or Group R-3 & R-4 Condition 1 and Townhouse R-Occupancies?	Yes [IBC 903.1.1]	Yes [IBC 903.1.2]	Yes [IBC 903.3.1.3]
Permitted in R-Occupancies up to 4 stories?	Yes [IBC 903.1.1]	Yes [IBC 903.1.2]	No
Permitted in Mixed Use / Non-Residential Occupancies?	Yes [IBC Table 508.4, 508.3.1]	No [IBC 903.1.2]	No

OMITTED AREAS

-	NFPA 13	NFPA 13R	NFPA 13D
Omit in Attics	If non-comb., small, or filled with non-comb. insulation [NFPA 13 2002 8.14.1.2, 2007-2016 8.15.1.2]	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.6, 2010-19 6.6.6]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.5, 2019 8.3.5]
Bathrooms in Units less than 55 sqft w/ 15-min. Non-Combustible Lining	Yes [NFPA 13 2002 8.14.8.1, 2007-16 8.15.8.1.1]	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.2, 2007 6.9.2, 2010-19 6.6.2]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.2, 2013-19 8.3.2]
Closets in Hotel or Motel w/ Non-Combustible Surface less than 24 sqft, or Hospital Less than 6 sqft?1	Yes [NFPA 13 2002 8.14.8.2, 2007-16 8.15.8.2]	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.3, 2007 6.9.3, 2010-19 6.6.3]	N/A
Closets w/ Non-Combustible Surface less than 24 sqft?1	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.3, 2007 6.9.3, 2010-19 6.6.3]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.3, 2013-19 8.3.3]
Closets on Exterior Balconies or Breezeways & Exterior Access?1	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.6, 2007 6.9.7, 2010-19 6.6.7]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2013-19 8.3.8]
Concealed Spaces	Yes if non-comb., filled with non-comb. insulation1 [NFPA 13 2002 8.14.1.2, 2007-2016 8.15.1.2]	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.6, 2010-19 6.6.6]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.5, 2013-19 8.3.5]
Concealed Spaces with only Ventilation Equipment?	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.6, 2010-19 6.6.6]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.5, 2013-19 8.3.5]
Elevator Machine Rooms?	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.6, 2010-19 6.6.6]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.5, 2013-19 8.3.5]
Garages, Carports?	No, Required	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.3, 2013-19 8.3.4]
Porches?	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.5, 2010-19 6.6.5]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.3, 2013-19 8.3.4]
Penthouse Equipment Rooms?	No, Required	Yes [NFPA 13R 2002 6.8.5, 2007 6.9.6, 2010-19 6.6.6]	Yes [NFPA 13D 2007-10 8.6.5, 2013-19 8.3.5]

HYDRAULIC CALCULATIONS

-	NFPA 13	NFPA 13R	NFPA 13D
Max Number of Adjacent Calculated Residential Sprinklers	Four 1 [NFPA 13 2002 11.2.3.5.1, 2007-16 11.3.1.1]	Four 1 [NFPA 13R 2007 6.7.1.2, 2007 6.8.1.2, 2010-19 7.1.1.3]	Two 1 [NFPA 13D 2002-10 8.1.2, 2013-19 10.2]
Hose Allowance Required?	Yes [NFPA 13 2002 11.2.3.5.5, 2007 11.3.1.5, 2010-16 11.3.1.6]	No [NFPA 13R 2007 A.6.8.2, 2010-19 A.7.2]	No
Minimum Residential Density	New: 0.10 gpm/sqft Existing: Listing of Sprinkler [NFPA 13 2002 11.2.3.5.2, 2007 11.3.1.2, 2010-16 11.3.1.3]	0.05 gpm/sqft or listing of sprinkler [NFPA 13 2002 6.7.1.1.2.2, 2007 6.8.1.1.1.2, 2010-19 7.1.1]	0.05 gpm/sqft or listing of sprinkler [NFPA 13D 2002-10 8.1.1, 2013-19 10.1.1]
Calculation Method	NFPA 13 Hydraulic Calculations	NFPA 13 Hydraulic Calculations	NFPA 13D Worksheet Calculations

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Sean

9/23/2018 03:26:29 pm

This glosses over one big requirement the IBC area increase. The building maybe perfect for NFPA 13R but the area has increased and the building now requires a NFPA 13 system.

Joe

9/23/2018 03:40:20 pm

Well said - expanding on an existing building with an NFPA 13R system can require a formal fire wall separating what becomes to separate buildings. I could probably break this out a little better.

The trouble I often see with the discussion of NFPA 13R vs. NFPA 13 is that in a 'design-build' scenario the sprinkler contractor is the only one asked if NFPA 13R can be used while the architect may be making different assumptions when making egress and code decisions.

Jeff Nagel

2/1/2019 09:32:01 am

What about laundry rooms under 55 sf?

MODERATOR

2/22/2019 07:09:17 am

Jeff, good question. This is being discussed further today here:

https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/sprinkler-laundry-room-under-nfpa-13d-13r-13

Jess

3/26/2019 03:59:55 pm

What about the domestic demand for calcs in 13R? I have been taught to calculate the domestic demand and use that flow in my calcs instead of the hose allowance.

MNewell

9/18/2019 12:35:28 pm

I believe this to only be required if it is a combination fire/domestic line and it doesn’t have an automatic shut off for the domestic system. Then it would be required per NFPA 13R 2016 9.6.

Michael Graber

9/2/2019 02:32:43 pm

Does the proximity to a residence and the number of windows make a difference in which system is used? What are those requirements that make it change?

Brandon Ivy link

12/18/2019 05:20:20 pm

I would like to double check on the coverage of attached garages in 13R. There is a separate reference other than 6.6.6 on the coverage of attached garages. The way I read it, they must be covered under this standard. Please advise.

JOE MEYER

12/20/2019 07:46:30 am

Great catch Brandon! Yes it differs between NFPA 13R and 13D. I also see the criteria elsewhere in 13R.

I've updated the PDF and the post to reflect the 13R requirements. Thanks for posting!

Fakhri Albobali

8/9/2020 04:02:02 am

Objective for NFPA 13R shall be updated as the property damage is mentioned refer to section 1.2.1 edition [2016].

Comments are closed.

Summary of Differences in NFPA 13, 13R, & 13D

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