When are Sprinklers Required in Cooling Towers?

4/1/2025

Can you omit fire sprinklers in HVAC towers where the entire building is sprinklered?

The HVAC towers have a full-size door and HVAC equipment inside.

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6 Comments

David Kendrick l

4/1/2025 08:56:18 am

Comment from “not the sharpest tack in the box”.
NFPA standards provide guidance “when” protection is required.
The driving force behind requiring protection is from the AHJ, insurance underwriters, building codes, customer preference and in this case could be UL standards.
Cooling towers can be constructed of materials that have a low to no flame spread rating and sought UL/FM acceptance to omit protection requirements.
Without specifics of this situation be it existing or in planning, I’d seek guidance from the manufacturer and underwriter.
If it’s existing that’s more difficult.
None of this would be driven by the building having 100% protection.
Many towers I’ve worked on were located away from the building it supported for one reason to avoid losing the building if the tower caught fire, protected or not.

Glenn Berger

4/1/2025 09:09:27 am

Yes; Sprinklers are required in Cooling Towers when the AHJ or other decision-making personnel require them. Typically Cooling Towers that are combustible and either located close-by or on top of facilities are locations where I have needed to have sprinklers installed.

Jack G

4/1/2025 09:30:24 am

The manufacturer can supply you with the construction material tower type and resins used in your tower for filler and partitions.
Per the IBC the sprinklers must be designed per
NFPA 214. (And / or FM as owner insurance)
Towers with combustible fill material like wood, fiber or plastic must have sprinklers.
The need for sprinklers also depends on the towers location, type, and exposure to buildings, equipment, or business interruption.
Factors like continuity of operation, size, construction of the tower, type of tower, location of tower, water supply, and climate could also influence the fire protection requirements.
On a job I did for a cooling tower ( Delaware pharmaceutical company) the tower was located away from the building but near a dense tree line. The tower was not operational during winter months. It was made from non combustible materials. Sprinklers were required as they found leaves accumulating in the towers base ( empty - no water res. )

Franck

4/1/2025 10:47:01 am

Everytime the cooling tower is combustible. Even if it is only the fill (plastic packing inside is quite usual) as when the tower is not in operation this is extra dry with a lot of fresh air to make a nice fire.

Only exception: if alone (single unit), not important for the process and not creating a fire exposure to other equipment/building. Or if it is a large hyperbolic cooling tower (as for Power Plants) because it is almost impossible to protect.

Jesse

4/1/2025 01:22:05 pm

In most cases , the answere is "yes" protection is required when the cooling tower core is combustible - i.e. wood or plastic (both are common). As always though, check with your AHJ

Todd E Wyatt

4/3/2025 01:27:40 am

If the scoping Code (e.g. IBC-2024) requires an automatic sprinkler system (ASPS ... see 903.2 Where Required) based on the building's Occupancy Classification (see 903.2.1 - 903.2.10), or per Specific Building Areas and Hazards (see 903.2.11), or during construction (see 903.2.12), then ASPS protection is required "throughout".

The scoping Code includes select rooms/areas/spaces where the ASPS is exempted (see 903.3.1.1.1 Exempt Locations) but "HVAC towers" is not specifically listed unless the AHJ approves of ASPS exemption based on it being of "noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible contents" (see 903.3.1.1.1 #3).

The scoping Code defines what is "noncombustible" (see 703.3 Noncombustibility Tests) as tested in accordance with ASTM E136.

REFERENCES
IBC-2024
Chapter 9 Fire Protection and Life Safety Systems
Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems
903.3.1 Standards
903.3.1.1 NFPA 13 Sprinkler Systems
903.3.1.1.1 Exempt Locations
Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. Sprinklers shall not be omitted from a room merely because it is damp, of fire-resistance-rated construction or contains electrical equipment.
1. A room or space where sprinklers constitute a serious life or fire hazard because of the nature of the contents, where approved by the fire code official.
2. Generator and transformer rooms separated from the remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
3. ROOMS OR AREAS THAT ARE OF NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONSTRUCTION WITH WHOLLY NONCOMBUSTIBLE CONTENTS.
4. Fire service access elevator machine rooms and machinery spaces.
5. Machine rooms, machinery spaces, control rooms and control spaces associated with occupant evacuation elevators designed in accordance with Section 3008.
903.3.1.1.2 Bathrooms
In Group R occupancies sprinklers shall not be required in bathrooms that do not exceed 55 square feet (5 m2) in area and are located within individual dwelling units or sleeping units, provided that walls and ceilings, including the walls and ceilings behind a shower enclosure or tub, are of noncombustible or limited-combustible materials with a 15-minute thermal barrier rating.
903.3.1.1.3 Lithium-Ion or Lithium Metal Batteries
Where automatic sprinkler systems are required by this code for areas containing lithium-ion or lithium metal batteries, the design of the system shall be based on a series of fire tests. Such tests shall be conducted or witnessed and reported by an approved testing laboratory involving test scenarios that address the range of variables associated with the intended arrangement of the hazards to be protected.

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When are Sprinklers Required in Cooling Towers?

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