Does "Vertical Change in Elevation" Affect ESFR?

4/20/2023

Does NFPA 13 2022 Section 10.2.6.1.1.3 about "Vertical Change in Ceiling Elevation Greater Than 36 in." apply to all types of sprinklers?

I have a contractor who argues that the paragraph does not apply to ESFR sprinklers.

The design has a change in elevation of 14-feet and the last sprinkler on the high-bay side is 8'-4" feet horizontally from the vertical plane.

Thanks for helping settle the disagreement here.

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7 Comments

Tim

4/20/2023 08:12:14 am

Chapter 10 is for standard uprights and pendents. Section 9.5 applies to ESFR except where modified by Chapter 14.

14.2.1 General.

All requirements of Section 9.5 shall apply except as modified in Section 14.2.

Brian Gerdwagen

4/20/2023 08:16:46 am

Perfect answer. Chapter 10 does not apply to ESFR.

Jesse

4/20/2023 08:25:46 am

He's right. This doesn't apply to suppression mode sprinklers.

Todd E Wyatt

4/20/2023 08:33:33 am

Tim is correct ...

As a former AHJ, we used to call this "cherry picking" from the Code and/or referenced Standard.

Some Design Professionals will respond to an AHJ-identified noncompliance issue by finding a portion of the Code and/or Standard that supports their argument BUT is not applicable. We then have to explain how to reference the Code and/or referenced Standard as well as explaining that referenced Standards (e.g. NFPA 13) are only applicable as defined by the scoping Code (e.g. IBC)

As you pointed out, this Standard’s subsections (e.g. 10.2.6.1.1.3) is part of “Chapter 10 Installation Requirements for Standard Pendent, Upright, and Sidewall Spray Sprinklers.”

ENHANCED CONTENT
Chapter 10 contains the specific requirements for the installation of standard pendent, upright, and sidewall sprinklers. The requirements in this chapter are in addition to the general requirements found in Chapter 9 and contain more detailed requirements regarding the spacing, deflector position, obstruction rules, and clearance requirements applicable to these types of sprinklers. These requirements had been contained in Sections 8.4, 8.6, and 8.7 of the 2016 edition and were then moved to create Chapter 10 for the 2019 edition.

“10.1 General” states “Standard pendent, upright, and sidewall sprinklers shall be selected for use and installation as indicated in this chapter and shall be positioned and spaced in accordance with Section 9.5.”
“10.2” subsection is for “Standard Pendent and Upright Spray Sprinklers.”
“10.2.6” sub-subsection is for “Deflector Position (Standard Pendent and Upright Spray Sprinklers)”
10.2.6.1 Distance Below Ceilings.
10.2.6.1.1 Unobstructed Construction.

... until we finally get to the referenced sub(x5)section :

10.2.6.1.1.3
The requirements of 10.2.6.1.1.1 shall not apply for light and ordinary hazard occupancies with ceilings of noncombustible or limited-combustible construction where either 10.2.6.1.1.3(A) or 10.2.6.1.1.3(B) applies.

James Evans

4/20/2023 08:37:51 am

In my book the sprinkler at 8'2" off the wall is over spaced. In too many situations there would be a rack at that elevation change either with this owner or with future tenants. It is always the best practice to space to that much of an elevation change no matter what the code indicates. This is not "good design".

Casey Milhorn

4/20/2023 02:23:43 pm

In laymen's terms the 3' elevation change rule is a common sense exception allowed for light and ordinary hazard occupancies only, and only up to 3'. Over 3' wouldn't be allowed for light and ordinary, so why would it be okay for storage/ESFR type occupancy or sprinklers? Activation time, the sprinkler activating nearest the heat source, and coverage are all issues at play here. NFPA many times says as much by NOT saying anything as to saying something. The intent of NFPA 13 is clearly to not allow what you have drawn in your schematic.

Panos

4/20/2023 02:24:47 pm

After a second look at the Standard, it seems to me that sub 10.2.6.1.1.3 is probably not the best subsection to justify that the specific design is not correct.

The whole 10.2.6.1 section is about Distance Below Ceilings.

Section 9.5.3.2 Maximum Distance from Walls however goes:

"9.5.3.2.1 The distance from sprinklers to walls shall not exceed one-half of the allowable maximum distance between sprinklers."

The last sprinkler is more than 6 feet from the wall, not complying. Can't think of a way to go around this section.

I agree with James.

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Does "Vertical Change in Elevation" Affect ESFR?

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