MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • UNIVERSITY
    • JOIN
    • CATALOG
    • CONTENT LIBRARY
    • [THE ALL-NEW SITE]
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT
Picture

When are fire sprinkler volumes important?

2/19/2018

 
It does not necessarily come up often, but the volume of a fire sprinkler system does carry several requirements.

​Dry and Preaction systems carry water delivery requirements, while all systems carry requirements for drainage. Today I'm summarizing requirements related to when volumes of fire sprinkler systems are important to consider.

Dry System Capacity

Systems under 500 gallons (1900 L):
  • Not required to meet any water delivery time to inspector's test connection (NFPA 13 2002 A.7.2.3.1, 2007-2016 7.2.3.3).

Systems between 500 and 750 gallons (1900 - 2850 L):
  • Not required to meet any water delivery time when a quick-opening device is provided (NFPA 13 2002 A.7.2.3.1, 2007-2016 Section 7.2.3.4).

Systems over 750 gallons (2850 L):
  • Subject to water delivery times (NFPA 13 2002 11.2.3.9, 2007-2016 Table 7.2.3.6.1, below):
Hazard      No. of Remote Sprinklers Initially Open        Max. Time of Water Delivery
Dwelling Units                       1 sprinkler                                                                           15 seconds
Light                                          1 sprinkler                                                                          60 seconds
Ordinary I                                2 sprinklers                                                                        50 seconds
Ordinary II                               2 sprinklers                                                                        50 seconds
Extra I                                       4 sprinklers                                                                        45 seconds
Extra II                                      4 sprinklers                                                                        45 seconds
High Piled                               4 sprinklers                                                                         40 seconds
​
Note for Dwelling Units:
​
Dry systems must discharge water in 15 seconds, regardless of system size (NFPA 13 2002 11.2.3.9.1, 2007-2016 7.2.3.1).
​

Picture
Inspector's Tests are used to test water delivery times for dry systems when water delivery time test is required. See this article for details and components on inspector's test and drains.
Pre-Action System Capacity

Single-Interlock and Non-Interlock Systems:
  • Must serve no more than 1,000 sprinklers (NFPA 13 2002 7.3.2.2.1, 2007-2016 7.3.2.2)

Double-Interlock Systems of 500 gallons or less (1900 L):
  • Not required to meet any water delivery time to inspector's test connection (NFPA 13 2016 7.3.2.3.1.1).

Double-Interlock Systems over 500 gallons (1900 L):
  • Subject to water delivery times (NFPA 13 2002 7.3.2.2.3, 2007-2016 7.3.2.3.1 and Table 7.2.3.6.1, above)
  • System size based on calculating water delivery (NFPA 13 2007-2016 7.3.2.3.1.4)
  • listed quick-opening devices are permitted to help meet trip-time requirements (NFPA 13 2007-2016 7.3.2.3.2)
  • Note: NFPA 13-2002 Edition only requires water delivery times for systems 750 gallons or greater (NFPA 13 2002 7.3.2.2.2 and 7.3.2.2.3) 
Dry and Pre-Action System Drainage

Auxiliary Drain Location:
  • must be accessible where located in areas subject to freezing (NFPA 13 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.3.1)
  • where maintained at freezing temperatures, must be minimum 1-inch and accessible with plug or nipple and cap (NFPA 13 2010-2016 8.16.2.5.3.2)
  • locations and number of drains must be identified at the dry pipe or preaction valve (NFPA 13 2007 8.166.2.5.3.6, 2010-2016 8.16.2.5.3.7)

Trapped Sections less than 5 gallons (20 L):
  • minimum 1/2-inch valve with a plug or a nipple and cap (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.3.1, 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.3.2)

Trapped Sections more than 5 gallons (20 L):
  • provide auxiliary drain with drum drip leg in accessible location, see figure above (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.3.3, 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.3.5)
  • where multiple trapped branch pipe occurs, minimum 1-inch tie-in drains shall be provided and sloped at 1/2-inch per 10-feet (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.3.4, 2007 8.16.2.5.3.5, 2010-2016 8.16.2.5.3.6)
Wet System Drainage

Trapped sections of pipe less than 5 gallons (20 L):
One of the following is required (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.2.3, 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.2.3.):
  • auxiliary drain with nipple and cap or plug not less than 1/2 inch in size
  • removal of a single pendent sprinkler allows for drainage of the trapped section of pipe
  • an auxiliary drain with flexible coupling or other easily separated connection

Trapped Sections between 5 and 50 gallons (20 - 200 L):
  • Minimum 3/4-inch auxiliary drain with valve and plug or nipple and cap (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.2.2, 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.2.2). 

Trapped Sections 50 gallons (200 L) or more:
  • Minimum 1-inch auxiliary drain pipe to accessible location (NFPA 13 2002 8.15.2.5.2.1, 2007-2016 8.16.2.5.2.1).
  • Annex material notes that a typical accessible location would be a valve located 7 feet above floor level to which a hose could be connected to discharge water (NFPA 13 2002 A.8.15.2.5.2.1, 2007-2016 A.8.16.2.5.2.1).

Subscribe & Share
Want more like this? Subscribe to our free weekly articles here. 
Already subscribed? Send to a friend or share on LinkedIn.
Mike
2/21/2018 08:11:43 am

Great summary Joe!...

One caution for an issue that I've dealt with a few times. When designing a dry system for a parking garage, the system air pressure and accelerator reaction pressure have to be carefully coordinated. Overnight temperature drops and resulting dip in air pressure may be enough to cause the accelerator to open and trip the valve.

Noah
2/22/2018 07:17:41 am

Mike,

I am working on an existing garage right now that has a dry system with an accelerator that is tripping. What solutions are there to solve this problem?

Thanks!

Mike
2/22/2018 09:08:30 am

We used the Victualic model accelerator. The tech rep for Victualic advised that there is a nut at the bottom of the unit that can be loosed which will change the sensitivity of the accelerator. The unit will then react to 3-5 psi drop, rather than the out-of-the-box 2 psi drop.

I haven't contacted the other manufacturer's yet.

Robert Richter link
2/22/2018 08:27:26 am

Great Article! I don't do residential, so I was not aware of the 15 sec. water delivery requirement for dwelling units. I am always amazed at what I find in the field when it comes to drainage. Careful planning to achieve drainage could have eliminated many of the auxiliary drains I find. It has been a long time since I have seen an auxiliary drain piped to an accessible location.

Ed duran
3/7/2018 08:31:04 am

Will you share it?

Joe Meyer
3/7/2018 10:38:07 am

Stay tuned in the next few weeks via the blog; I'll have some opportunities to get all of these calculators. Thanks Ed!


Comments are closed.
    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    ALL-ACCESS

    Picture
    GET THE TOOLKIT

    SUBSCRIBE

    Get Free Articles via Email:
    + Get calculators, tools, resources and articles
    + Get our PDF Flowchart for Canopy & Overhang Requirements instantly
    Picture
    + No spam
    ​+ Unsubscribe anytime
    I'm Interested In:

    AUTHOR

    Joe Meyer, PE, is a Fire Protection Engineer out of St. Louis, Missouri who writes & develops resources for Fire Protection Professionals. See bio here: About


    FILTERS

    All
    Announcements
    Book Review
    Calculators
    Career
    Course
    Design Challenge
    Fire Alarm
    Fire Events
    Fire Suppression
    Flammable & Combustible Liquids
    Flexible Drops
    Floor Control Valve
    Life Safety
    News
    NICET
    Passive Fire Protection
    PE Exam
    Products
    Site Updates
    Special Hazards
    Sprinkler Systems
    Standpipes
    Tools
    Videos


    ARCHIVES

    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015

    RSS Feed

Picture
​Home
Our Cause
The Blog
The Forum
PE Exam Prep
The Toolkit

MeyerFire University
​Pricing
Login
​Support
Contact Us
Picture

MeyerFire.com is a startup community built to help fire protection professionals shine.
Our goal is to improve fire protection practices worldwide. We promote the industry by creating helpful tools and resources, and by bringing together industry professionals to share their expertise.

​MeyerFire, LLC is a NICET Recognized Training Provider and International Code Council Preferred Education Provider.

All text, images, and media ​Copyright © 2023 MeyerFire, LLC

We respect your privacy and personal data. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. 
The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence.

Discussions are solely for the purpose of peer review and the exchange of ideas. All comments are reviewed. Comments which do not contribute, are not relevant, are spam, or are disrespectful in nature may be removed. Information presented and opinions expressed should not be relied upon as a replacement for consulting services. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a small commission for orders placed elsewhere.

  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • UNIVERSITY
    • JOIN
    • CATALOG
    • CONTENT LIBRARY
    • [THE ALL-NEW SITE]
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT