Is There an Arson or Act of God Clause in NFPA 13?

8/4/2022

In NFPA 13, or any related/referenced standards, is there some guidance on where design criteria originates, and what its limits are?

I thought there was something that addresses the intent of the standard not to address arson, acts of God, etc.

I recall something to that effect but thought it was a jurisdictional requirement. I couldn't find any such thing.

Is there any such verbiage like this?

Thanks in advance.

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7 Comments

Alex

8/4/2022 05:52:29 am

Hi,

The closest thing I can think of is NFPA 13 (2013) 1.1.3 which states the standard is written assuming "the sprinkler system is designed to protect against a single fire originating within the building".

A.1.1.3 further states the systems are design for "protection of a fire from a single ignition source".

The standard doesn't contain either the words arson or God. For arson, we protect our system against tampering by installing tamper switches, chains (to hold valves open), etc. But not sure of specific verbiage regarding either word.

Thanks,
Alex

Jesse

8/4/2022 08:08:26 am

Alex is right. 13 indeed states the standard is for protection of a single ignition. There are a lot of engineering reasons for this, but the primary one being each ignition represents a single fire event and the water supply would be too taxed. I once investigated an arson fire with 23 separate ignitions so I understand the spirit of your question.

Dan Wilder

8/4/2022 08:11:59 am

I would say that most of the NFPA and Building codes out there preface their documents with - "...purpose of this code/standard is to establish the minimum requirements to provide a reasonable level of safety..." or some varied version of that.

There are codes/standards/risk management documents out there to address higher hazard structures that may take this into account but it will be specific to that scope.(things like hardening of structures for terrorism won't be in an IBC, but will be a supplement to that base standard of construction).

Chris Nelson

8/4/2022 08:22:36 am

Only partially relevant, but I remember being taught by my professor that generally PBD Design Scenario 2 was an arson fire. Just my two cents.

Overall I would agree with Dan Wilders portion. We design a fire to what is expected to occur in the building. We generally dont expect arson and in terms of Force Majeur: grounding for lighting strikes, seismic restraints for seismic zones, dry/preaction for cold or accidental discharges etc etc.

Brad K

8/4/2022 09:42:00 am

I would add that any presence of accelerants would be outside of the scope of light and ordinary hazard occupancies as an expected event. You may reference the occupancy definitions/examples from NFPA 13.

Mike

8/4/2022 10:30:19 am

That's insurance policy nomenclature who would be responsible for paying a claim in the event of a fire.

Franck

8/4/2022 12:34:24 pm

As indicated above, the fire protection is designed to be controlled over a designed area, with the assumption that the fire starts at a single point (following a single event) and spread as expected by design.
With arson, you normally have multiple starts of fire (not a single event), have additional combustible (accelerants) which definitely change the occupancy hazard, and may even impair the fire protection system (closed valve…).
For all these reasons, this out of the scope of NFPA 13.
It has been diplomatically defined as “… is designed to protect a single fire originating within the building” or “a fire from a single ignition form”. You can translate it into “not to address arson, act of God, etc.”, as it may be easier to understand. But not NFPA 13 wording.

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Is There an Arson or Act of God Clause in NFPA 13?

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