Is a wet-pipe sprinkler system allowed to be used to circulate water for heating and cooling purposes?
I am designing a wet-pipe sprinkler system under NFPA 13-2019 Edition. The building owner would like to use the sprinkler system as part of the building's heating system. I can find this described as "allowed" in NFPA 13-2016, but not in the 2019 Edition. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
12 Comments
Pete H
11/30/2021 07:00:57 am
I'm not sure where this is allowed in 2016 edition. I know 2013 edition talks about that situation as a "Circulating Closed-Loop System" in section 7.7 "Automatic Sprinkler Systems with Non-Fire Protection Connections", but that was removed in 2016 (more here: https://www.csemag.com/articles/combining-hvac-fire-suppression-piping/ ).
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Nick Pierce
4/27/2022 11:24:57 am
Can anyone provide a sequence of operations for a closed loop system? More specifically the order of events when a head is opened. Trying to test a system and a water flow alarm is not reporting back to the fire panel.
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Moderator
4/27/2022 11:50:44 am
Hi Nick, to get traction you might consider posting this as a new question here:
Jared
11/30/2021 08:14:27 am
From the NFPA 13 2019 Handbook. Chapter 8 - "Prior to the 2016 edition, NFPA 13 provided guidance on circulating closed-loop systems. The technical committee on sprinkler system installation decided to remove the language related to circulating closed-loop systems because they were concerned that additional fluids used to extend the life of nonsprinkler system components, such as heating units, chillers, or companion equipment associated with heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, might create a compatibility issue with some sprinkler system components. "
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Glenn Berger
11/30/2021 08:15:51 am
In the 2016 version - See 25.3.
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Franck
11/30/2021 11:23:09 am
At the end of NFPA 13 Edition 2019, there is a table with correspondences of section numbers between 2016 edition and 2019 edition.
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Jesse
11/30/2021 08:22:25 am
I'm not a fan. We have several of these tri-water systems our service division attends to. They were pretty popular a few years ago. The concept is defined in 2016 NFPA 13 3.4.2 just as a general concept. Its not disallowed per se. Thankfully in my area they have fallen out of favor
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Franck
11/30/2021 11:30:47 am
In addition to all above comments, I see many possible issues with such systems.
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Jack G
11/30/2021 11:49:44 am
Having installed these systems in the 90 s , there are many characteristics you have to follow, to make these things work properly .
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Dan Wilder
11/30/2021 01:20:58 pm
I've only done TI's on these but some issues we ran into in addition to the above comments on design considerations:
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Alex
12/1/2021 10:31:23 am
Hi,
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sean
12/31/2021 06:37:39 pm
i would recommend against this as the design now has to meet plumbing and fire sprinkler rules
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