MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • TOOLKIT
    • ALL TOOLS
    • BUY THE TOOLKIT
  • UNIVERSITY
    • ALL COURSES
    • JOIN THE UNIVERSITY
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE PREP SERIES
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
    • TOOLKIT-ONLY LOGIN
    • UNIVERSITY LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • JOB OPENINGS
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT
Picture

How to Properly Sprinkler a Vertical Shaft?

8/20/2021

10 Comments

 
​I'm laying out the fire sprinklers for a building where the architect has used the IBC exception in Section 403.2.1.2 that requires sprinklers to be installed at the top and alternating floor levels of a vertical shaft. This reduces the required shaft enclosure to be 1-hour for highrises up to 420 feet.

NFPA 13 doesn't seem to address this specific arrangement. I've looked and I'm not finding any installation requirements. I have concerns with just putting sprinklers in the shaft.

What's the best type of sprinkler for this?

Should they have water shields?

Should I have concerns for obstructions?

Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance.

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
10 Comments
Pete
8/20/2021 06:34:40 am

I think it might be mentioned in NFPA 13 8.15.2 (2016 edition.)

Reply
schulman
8/20/2021 08:12:06 am

linen and trash chutes ? .... NFPA 13 Ch. 22 maybe ?

Reply
Matt
8/20/2021 08:15:24 am

I don't know if the guidance of NFPA 13 8.15.2 would apply here. This would be an application in excess of NFPA 13 minimums.

Can you tell us more about the shaft? Does it have landings at the floors? What is in it? are there access openings?

If it is wide open from top to bottom, I would definitely recommend water shields.

Could stuff be dropped down the shaft? Should the heads have impact protection?

Is the shaft conditioned? Open to atmosphere at the top and bottom where it might freeze?

Any additional details would be helpful

Reply
Glenn Berger
8/20/2021 08:19:20 am

Matt has it right! More information is required to provide good guidance.

Reply
Jesse
8/20/2021 08:19:33 am

Vertical shafts are covered in 2016 NFPA 13 Ch. 8.15.2

Trash and laundry chutes specifically are in NFPA 13 22.15.2.2.1

I sometimes forget Chapter 22 exists

Reply
Kenneth Casey Milhorn
8/20/2021 09:08:43 am

Besides the info in Chapter 22, just applying some common sense, I wouldn't think water shields wouldn't really do a whole lot to help heat collection, but could maybe help protect from mechanical damage if someone is doing maintenance on something in the shaft. Just like in trash and linen chutes, the alcove or shield provided is more to protect from mechanical damage or collection of trash/linen. Dangerous to assume, but I would think a pendent head, with guard and shield, stubbed 6 inches into the shaft on alternating floors would meet the intent, but that's just my opinion. It would be interesting to see if any fire testing has been done to prove the reduction in rating based on sprinklers in the shaft. I would feel very confident that that many heads in basically what is a chimney, will activate quickly and flood that shaft. The most difficult part of it might be trying to find a clean entry point into the shaft that is free of mechanical equipment.

Reply
Franck
8/20/2021 02:51:28 pm

Just one additional comment regarding the water shield: they won’t be beneficial at all to collect the heat (many studies have demonstrated that even larger plates above the sprinkler has limited added value), but would prevent water from above sprinklers to wet the thermal element and delay the sprinkler activation (just as for in-racks). In a vertical shaft, there are high chances that the top sprinkler will activate first. Sprinklers at lower levels would only be required in case of dramatic fire to avoid a possible lateral fire spread at lower levels. Thus the “umbrella” (water shield) to avoid a delayed activation.
But you’re right, just like guards, it would also protect the sprinkler from “falling items” like in a shaft collecting clothes… (hospital, hotel…)
A lesser problem in shaft only used for cable trays (but then, vertical fire separation is highly recommended as vertical fire spread on cables is more problematic as for horizontal cables).

Reply
Franck
8/20/2021 02:53:38 pm

As indicated above, more info is needed, in particular regarding what is expected in the shaft : cables, trash, linen, nothing…)

Reply
Alex
8/21/2021 09:56:13 am

HI Anonymous,

Similar to everyone else, I believe we need more information before we can truly guide you in the right direction. If the shaft is closed, continuous, and has no internal obstructions, alternating sprinklers would be more than enough coverage I believe.

Like Kenneth mentioned, shields are typically for mechanical damage not heat. Not stating that heat isn’t gathered as some plates are intended to collect gases to raise the temperature.

Looking forward to more information!
Thanks,
Alex

Reply
Shawn G
8/23/2021 08:49:08 am

The shafts vary in size and purpose, but in general they are mechanical shafts that will not be accessible. There are openings from floor to floor that vary in size, but many of them have openings roughly the same size as the interior of the shaft.

Even the shafts encasing the trash chutes have the reduced rating, so there will be a sprinkler in the shaft and a sprinkler in the intake of the chute.

In general the shafts are not open to atmosphere but they are not conditioned.

The shafts are filled with varying amounts of obstructions, such as ductwork, conduit, and mechanical piping. There are some where there is almost no room to wedge the sprinkler between the ventilation ducts and the wall.

I wouldn't anticipate falling debris.

TIA

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    SUBMIT A QUESTION
    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    ALL-ACCESS

    Picture
    GET ALL OUR TOOLS

    SUBSCRIBE

    Subscribe and learn something new each day:
    I'm Interested In:

    COMMUNITY

    Top May '25 Contributors
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    SEE LEADERBOARD

    YOUR POST

    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    PE EXAM

    Get 100 Days of Free Sample Questions right to you!
    SIGN ME UP!

    FILTERS

    All
    A1171
    ABA
    ADA
    ASCE 7
    ASME A17.1
    ASTM E1354
    Blog Thread
    Daily Discussion
    Design-documents
    EN 12845
    Explosion Protection
    Explosion-protection-prevention
    Fire Detection And Alarm Systems
    Fire Dynamics
    Flammable And Combustible Liquids
    Flammable-combustible-liquids
    FM Global
    Human-behavior
    IBC
    ICC 500
    IEBC
    IFC
    IMC
    IPC
    IRC
    ISO
    Means Of Egress
    NBC
    NFPA 1
    NFPA 10
    NFPA 101
    NFPA 11
    NFPA 110
    NFPA 1142
    NFPA 1221
    NFPA 13
    NFPA 13D
    NFPA 13R
    NFPA 14
    NFPA 15
    NFPA 16
    NFPA 17A
    NFPA 20
    NFPA 2001
    NFPA 214
    NFPA 22
    NFPA 220
    NFPA 24
    NFPA 241
    NFPA 25
    NFPA 291
    NFPA 30
    NFPA 307
    NFPA 30B
    NFPA 31
    NFPA 33
    NFPA 37
    NFPA 400
    NFPA 409
    NFPA 415
    NFPA 45
    NFPA 495
    NFPA 497
    NFPA 5000
    NFPA 502
    NFPA 54
    NFPA 55
    NFPA 654
    NFPA 68
    NFPA 70
    NFPA 701
    NFPA 72
    NFPA 75
    NFPA 770
    NFPA 82
    NFPA 855
    NFPA 90A
    NFPA 92
    NFPA 96
    NICET
    OBC
    OSHA
    Passive Building Systems
    PE Prep Guide
    PE Prep Series
    PE Sample Problems
    Poll
    Smoke Management
    Special Hazard Systems
    UFC 3-600-01
    UFC 4-021-01
    UFC 4-211-01
    UPC
    Updates
    Water Based Fire Suppression
    Weekly Exams


    ARCHIVES

    June 2025
    May 2025
    April 2025
    March 2025
    February 2025
    January 2025
    December 2024
    November 2024
    October 2024
    September 2024
    August 2024
    July 2024
    June 2024
    May 2024
    April 2024
    March 2024
    February 2024
    January 2024
    December 2023
    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 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
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016


    PE PREP SERIES

    SEE LEADERBOARD

    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 © 2016-2025 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
  • TOOLKIT
    • ALL TOOLS
    • BUY THE TOOLKIT
  • UNIVERSITY
    • ALL COURSES
    • JOIN THE UNIVERSITY
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE PREP SERIES
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
    • TOOLKIT-ONLY LOGIN
    • UNIVERSITY LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • JOB OPENINGS
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT