Prep Series 2020 Week 16 #8

9/20/2020

JG: Please see question #8 of week 16 attached and the reference from page 16-102 of the 20th edition of the Fire Protection Handbook, listing dormitories under the NFPA 13D standard. What are your thoughts?

2 Comments

Chris Campbell

9/21/2020 03:23:27 pm

This is an interesting question on a nuanced issue. Essentially, the applicable codes (in this case NFPA 101) tells you when a sprinkler system is required and what standard it has to be installed to. Per Chapter 28 of NFPA 101, dormitories require either an NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R system.

I don't believe the referenced section of the FPH is incorrect, but it could explain the issue a little more clearly. While residential sprinklers can be provided in dwelling units, that does not mean that all dwelling units can be provided with an NFPA 13D system. Residential sprinklers have different installation and spacing requirements from sprinklers for other occupancies, but their installation still must comply with the standard being used for the project. So for the question at hand, a dormitory can be provided with residential sprinklers, but the installation must comply with either NFPA 13 or 13R.

Joe Meyer

9/23/2020 11:49:21 am

I'd agree - although a dormitory in my opinion would still not be allowed under NFPA 13D mostly because of the limitations of 13D being single and two-family homes that's defined in the standard itself. A dormitory would always exceed this limitation.

The exam itself references NFPA 101, which would be the basis here, but even so 13D wouldn't be appropriate.

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