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Is ESFR ever permitted as a dry system (for applications like unheated warehouses)?
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13 Comments
Brett
4/7/2025 06:45:27 am
It's technically permitted per 14.2.2 of NFPA 13 (2019-2025) but I don't know of any ESFR sprinklers that are listed to be used as part of a dry system. There are ESFR dry pendents that can be connected to a wet system. Tyco's Quell system is the closest thing that I know of to a dry ESFR system but it's not ESFR.
Glenn Berger
4/7/2025 08:13:49 am
I have reviewed several cut sheets and they all indicate that their ESFR sprinklers are approved for wet systems only.
Jesse
4/7/2025 08:27:11 am
Yep indeed. Once upon a time, when I was in Loss Control, ESFR was wet-system only. I actually got to survey one of the first dry ESFR systems at a cold-storage warehouse in Texas.
Jay
4/7/2025 09:58:50 am
Connecting dry barrel sprinklers to a wet-pipe system does not make it a dry-pipe system.
Jesse
4/7/2025 10:09:26 am
Of course not.
Mike Morey
4/7/2025 08:37:13 am
I believe there was (and may still be) a listed antifreeze ESFR system for some applications. There are also listed ESFR dry pendents, but I believe they have to be fed from a wet system (generally used on "box in a box" freezers). If you're in a jurisdiction that can use FM guidelines they also have some dry criteria for larger "storage" heads (FM doesn't differentiate ESFR from QR Storage).
Chris
4/7/2025 09:10:12 am
I was fortunate to get to witness a TYCO test using a normal ESFR installation (not ESFR dry pendents) on a traditional dry system the results where that to many ESFR sprinklers activated by the time the water reached the open sprinklers which caused the water supply to deteriorate to the point the ESFR sprinklers where not adequate enough to control the fire in the racking as listed. If memory serves me correctly I believe 30 heads had activated by the time water reached the open heads. Which is why they were to be installed on only wet systems or antifreeze.
Pete H
4/7/2025 10:26:24 am
I know Viking has a Dry ESFR sprinkler. But even that is listed for "wet pipe systems only".
Jack G
4/7/2025 11:19:30 am
Viking has a single interlocked pre trimmed pre action system that utilizes its V510 ESFR sprinkler, however, an antifreeze system is a type of wet system . 4/7/2025 11:29:54 am
If there is an approved ESFR dry system, where are the rules for calculating the water demand. Not in NFPA 13 as far I can see - don't think its anything in the FM Loss Prevention Sheet either.
Brett
4/7/2025 12:16:44 pm
Very good question... My guess is that the criteria would be added once a dry ESFR system is subjected to full scale fire testing. The criteria would be based on the test results.
Anthony
4/9/2025 07:43:46 am
Wasn't this the whole point of the quell system? JCI/Tyco have that Ultra K34 sprinkler and the software for delivery times.
Jay
4/9/2025 08:12:30 am
The Ultra K34 is not an ESFR sprinkler Leave a Reply. |
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