How Many Sprinklers to Calc for Roll Carpet?

6/18/2026

FM Data Sheet 8-30 Having To Do With Roll Carpet Storage - on Table 1, how many sprinklers on a line do we calculate when we have 30 heads?

NFPA 13 does not cover roll carpet storage, and the NFPA 13 Equivalency Clause allows us to use FM Global.

Take a look below, and the only thing I can not figure out is if I am required to discharge 30 K11.2 sprinklers @ 7.0 psi, how many open sprinklers would I calculate on a line?

Maybe 7 sprinklers on 4 lines with 2 sprinklers on one line?

It has to be in writing somewhere, but I can not find it! Thanks in advance.

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5 Comments

Pete H

6/18/2026 06:37:53 am

It should be in writing on Data Sheets 2-0 or 8-9 as per section 2.4.2 of Data Sheet 8-30.

But I'm not seeing it there either.

I'd either do what you said or do five lines with 6 heads each.

anthony

6/18/2026 07:55:02 am

I think you need "Table 1. Determining the Number of Sprinklers Per Branch Line for Ceiling Sprinkler System Hydraulic Calculation" from FMDS 8-9 specifically equation 1

These should be part of the mid 2025 updates. Make sure you're regularly reviewing and downloading the latest files from the FM website.

Pete H

6/18/2026 08:16:54 am

This answer nails it, looking at the most updated 8-9 the chart and equation are there.

Seems like you need 6.57264 heads on a line calc'd (assuming 10' x 10' spacing).

So I'd say the 7 on four lines and 2 on the last line idea nails it.

Dennis Wilson

6/18/2026 09:37:40 am

This is how i have always used the FM design area chart.
number of heads x sq,ft. / head = area.
square root of area x 1.4 (FM) = length of design area, or number of heads / line.

example: 10x10 spacing x 30 would be 3000 sq.ft design area.
sq. rt. of 3000 x 1.4 =76.681
76.681 ÷ 10 = 7.6681 heads per line.
or 3 lines of 8 heads + 1 line of 6.

Pete H

6/18/2026 12:43:33 pm

Doesn't it depend if it's unobstructed or obstructed construction?

It seems to be 1.2 x square root of area in unobstructed.

I also can be wrong.

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How Many Sprinklers to Calc for Roll Carpet?

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