How Do You Fill an NFPA 13 Placard with CMSA?

6/25/2024

What is the correct way to fill a "Hydraulic Design Information sign" when using a "CMSA" approach?

For CMSA we do not have a typical design area and instead we are working for number of sprinklers and minimum pressure. The placards typically call for design area, density, etc.

Thanks in advance for the input.

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6 Comments

Pete H

6/25/2024 07:40:24 am

For a sample, this is a basic calc of 15 16.8k upright CMSA heads on a ceiling only system as per Table 17.2.2.1 (NFPA 13 2016 ed.)

Doing this on the most basic sign that asks the fewest questions:

Location - Location of system. Zone 1-whatever. North Riser. East riser. Whatever applies.

No. of Sprinklers - Probably the easiest/most important to handle on the cmsa. As this is your design. So an example would be "15 @ 22 PSI" (15 heads with a minimum operating pressure of 22 PSI)

Density and Square footage for basis of design "N/A" - Neither are the basis of your design. The basis of your design is 15 cmsa sprinklers @ 22 psi.

System Demand - As per your calcs.

---

If I was using the version found in Figure 23.3.5.1.2(a) Summary Sheet in NFPA 13 (2016):

Project Name: Name of Building
Location: Same as above
Drawing No.: Whichever drawing has your calc area and design criteria data
Date: Date you wrote the sign out.

Design:
Remote Area Number: If there are multiple remote areas in a building, pick the corresponding area as per your plans. Otherwise, just write 1.
Remote Area Location: Like Location, but for your remote area.
Occupancy Classification: I'm assuming "Storage." if you're using CMSA heads, but apply as necessary.
Density: "N/A" (Not applicable. The density is not how you accomplish a CMSA calc.)
Area of Application: - Here cross out the square footage recording and just put "15 Heads"
Coverage per Sprinkler - Square footage per sprinkler. Likely something between 80 square feet and 100 square feet.
Type of Sprinklers Calculated: 16.8k CMSA
Number of Sprinklers Calculated: 15 @ 22 PSI
In-Rack Demand: N/A
Hose Streams: 500 gpm
Total Water Required (w/ Hose streams): X GPM (as per your calc) @ X PSI (as per your calc)
Volume of Dry or Preaction System: N/A

Water Supply Information and Name of contractor are as per your project.

Glenn Berger

6/25/2024 08:09:45 am

Agree with Chris - I would just have said - mark all information that went into the design from the hydraulic calculations with a permanent label maker.

Jesse

6/25/2024 08:14:35 am

I do CMSA the same way I do ESFR. Basically something akin to 12 K=16.8 ESFR @ 52 psi in the design info

Dan Wilder

6/25/2024 08:21:26 am

As we don't have a separate calc plate for CMSA, ESFR, or standpipes I typically do the following:

Basis of Design (When I designed the last calc plate iteration, I left off units in this section for this specific reason)
Density - GPM or Pressure required per discharge device
Design Area - # of discharge devices

The line can accept up to 15 characters on each line so plenty of space. We also employ a local laser engraving shop for all out calc plates and owners information signage...super clean and it will never get "wiped" off.

Daniel Bobadilla

6/25/2024 09:51:39 am

CMSA and ESFR systems hydraulic calculations don't require a density and design area. Just include the number of sprinklers calculated (usually 12 for ESFR) and sprinkler pressure required according to NFPA 13 or the sprinkler listing, add the hose flow, and the required flow and pressure in the base of the riser.

The rest of the information is based on the commodity classification, storage and ceiling height, location, and name of the contractor.

Jack G

6/25/2024 10:08:27 am

Agree.
What I do is have custom hydraulic placards made for the different system types/ parameters.
For instance I have one “ standpipe system hydraulic placard “ modeled after the NFPA 14 plackard in the phablet. Not many contractors do this. One at pump. One for each stand pipe and Siamese connections.
A Csma hydraulic place. Modeled after Csma requirements. ESFR. —— DELUGE. Etc.
Modeled after systems based on “ a mandated number of heads.
I try not to make the 13 plackard “ fit all”. Confusing down the road— 5 years later or so.
it will read better and no confusion this way.
Once you have the templates made up, reproducing them is cheap. I use a local family operated sign company.

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How Do You Fill an NFPA 13 Placard with CMSA?

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