Best Fire Sprinkler Temperature for Boiler Room?

1/8/2025

Anyone know what temperature the sprinkler should be for a school's boiler room?

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7 Comments

Dan Wilder

1/8/2025 07:17:11 am

Going to need to look at the room as a whole, then in specific areas of expected higher heat.

From the 13-2019 Edition

Start with Table 7.2.4.1 for the general expected maximum ceiling temps
Then apply 9.4.2.5 and Table 9.4.2.5(a-b-c) for areas that get closer to the heat producing devices
Finally, for areas near equipment (if provided) use Figure 9.4.2.5

Ideally, the room will all be 200°F with some sprinklers near equipment (and if there are unit heaters, boilers, steam pipes or hot air ducts including exhaust, blow off's) increase those sprinklers to 286°F. There may be a situation that a 350°F sprinkler but will likely be an exception overall.

Anthony

1/8/2025 08:07:50 am

Dan has it right on here. I like all my sprinkler heads to be 200°F minimum in mechanical spaces. Prevents problems in the future. with 286 near any flues, above boilers, or by unit heaters.

It might be worth your time checking the output temperature of the boiler equipment. Generally these are hot water heaters and not actual boilers with temperatures toping out at 180°F or there abouts. IF you have a true steam system extra care will be required above the steam lines themselves as the steam will be above 212°F thus requiring 286°F heads.

Glenn Berger

1/8/2025 08:07:53 am

As Dan mentioned - Need more information on this project. Please provide the type and size of the boiler. Also is the room dedicated to the boiler and its associated equipment or is it part of a larger Mechanical Equipment Space. The use of 200 deg F sprinklers would be a good starting point, with maybe 286 sprinklers actually required.

Jose R Figueroa

1/8/2025 09:39:21 am

Could you please specify the type of boiler? Is it a packaged system or a water heater? A temperature of 141°F is suitable for tankless water heaters, especially in Texas, where heating is typically provided through a gas furnace in the HVAC system.

Jose R Figueroa

1/8/2025 09:43:30 am

141°C (286°F) - I'm sorry for the typo.

Jeff Edick

1/8/2025 10:01:06 am

You need to know the ambient ceiling temperature. Use a digital thermometer in head locations to get the info. Compare it to the chart from NFPA ;
Max ceiling temp. Glass bulb colors
100f Orange or Red
150f Yellow or Green
225f. Blue
300f. Purple

Jack G

1/8/2025 11:59:56 am

There is a chart in the thermal sensitivity section of nfoa13 that correlates sprinkler temperatures to room temperatures.
Agree that more info is needed. If an existing boiler room ( are the boilers well insulated! Etc)
I would set thermocouple’s above boilers and in the room and record the temperatures ( or have the project engineer do so) and have him recommend the ceiling temperature sprinklers. It’s important that all the sprinklers are at the same deflector distance as inches matter here.

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Best Fire Sprinkler Temperature for Boiler Room?

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