6. FIRE EXTINGUISHING SYSTEMS
6.1 Sprinkler Systems:
A. Automatic sprinklers systems shall be installed in buildings when required by Section 1 of this
document and to meet the goals stated in the INTRODUCTION.
B. Installation shall comply with NFPA 13. This includes all spaces including elevator machine
rooms, walk-in freezers and cold rooms, computer rooms, telephone switch rooms, radiology
and MRI suites, loading docks, electrical rooms, plumbing or utility closets, audiometric booths,
vaults, paint spray booths, dry type lint collectors, dust collectors, and generator rooms.
Exception: Sprinklers are not required where specifically exempted by NFPA 13, and in:
1. Interstitial spaces, except
a. Sprinklers are required in electrical closets, signaling rooms, etc., located within
interstitial spaces, and
b. A single line of sprinklers is required above the tracks of electric track vehicle
systems (ETVS) in interstitial spaces.
2. Electrical rooms and vaults which are enclosed with a barrier having a two-hour fire
resistance rating with 1.5 hour self or automatic closing doors and where the loss of
property, including building contents, will not exceed 0,000 and critical business
functions will not be interrupted longer than 24 hours.
3. Audiometric booths where the booths are constructed and listed with a one-hour fire
rating with 45 minute self or automatic closing doors.
C. Design wet pipe sprinkler systems, unless installed in areas subject to freezing. Dry pendant
or sidewall sprinklers, dry pipe, or antifreeze systems can be used in areas subject to freezing.
Propylene glycol shall be used if antifreeze systems need to be installed. Do not use pre-
action type systems.
Note: NFPA 25 requires dry sprinklers to be removed and tested every 10 years due to
extremely high failure rates of these types of sprinklers. They are not recommended.
D. Sprinkler systems shall be hydraulically calculated by any design approach allowed by NFPA
13, except that the Special Design Approach shall not be used in Health Care. Pipe schedule
systems may be used for extension of existing pipe schedule systems where water supply is
adequate. Sprinkler systems shall be designed based on available water supply without the
fire pump operating, where possible. A safety factor shall be included by calculating the
demand to a point no greater than 10% below the available water supply curve. Or, a ten
percent safety factor shall be provided (subtract 10% from the available water supply curve)
for each sprinkler demand including the required hose streams.
E. Sprinkler densities shall comply with NFPA 13, except in rooms containing movable/mobile
shelving (high density storage) where the density shall be Ordinary Hazard (Group 2).
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