Recent Changes and

Trends in NFPA 13
SFPE - BC BRANCH
MEETING JUNE 2013

NEW DEFINITIONS NFPA 13 (2013)

3.3.22* Sprinkler System. A system that
consists of an integrated network of piping
designed in accordance with fire protection
engineering standards that includes a water
supply source, a water control valve, a
waterflow alarm, and a drain and is

NEW DEFINITIONS NFPA 13 (2010)

3.6.4.1* Control Mode Specific Application
(CMSA) Sprinkler. A type of spray sprinkler
that is capable of producing characteristic
large water droplets and that is listed for its
capability to provide fire control of specific
high-challenge fire.

NEW DEFINITIONS NFPA 13 (2010)

3.9.3.7.6 Rack Shelf Area. The area of the
horizontal surface of a shelf in a rack defined
by perimeter aisle(s) or nominal 6 in. (152
mm) flue spaces on all four sides, or by the
placement of loads that block openings that
would otherwise serve as the required flue
spaces.

GENERAL REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13 (2007)

4.3 Owners Certificate

This is a document where owner or owners
agent describes the building structure and
occupancy. It is required by NFPA 13 and
becomes part of the project documentation.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS NFPA 13 (2013)

6.1.1.2.1 Valve components (including valve

trim, internal parts, gaskets, and the like) shall
not be required to be individually listed.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS NFPA 13 (2013)

6.2.1.1 When a sprinkler has been removed

for any reason, it shall not be reinstalled.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS NFPA 13 (2013)

6.3.1.1.1* Underground pipe shall be

permitted to extend into the building through
the slab or wall not more than 24 in. (0.6 m).
A.6.3.1.1.1 Extending the underground pipe
into a building provides working room to
transition to the appropriate aboveground
piping.

SYSTEM COMPONENTS NFPA 13 (2013)

6.5.3 Groove Joining Methods.

6.5.3.1* Pipe, fittings, valves, and devices to be
joined with grooved couplings shall contain cut, rolled,
or cast grooves that are dimensionally compatible
with the couplings.
A.6.5.3.1 It is not the intent to require specific listing
of every combination of grooved coupling, pipe, fitting,
valve, and device, provided the standard groove
dimensions as specified in ANSI/UL 213, Rubber
Gasketed Fittings for Fire Protection Service, are
used.

SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13 (2007)

SYSTEM COMPONENTS NFPA 13 (2013)

7.6.2* Antifreeze Solutions.

7.6.2.1* Except as permitted in 7.6.2.2,
antifreeze solutions shall be listed for use in
sprinkler systems.
7.6.2.2 Premixed antifreeze solutions of
propylene glycol shall be permitted to be used
with ESFR sprinklers where the ESFR
sprinklers are listed for such use in a specific
application.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
NFPA 13 clarifies that Shadowed
areas are allowed:
A.8.1.1(3) Notwithstanding the obstruction
rules provided in Chapter 8, it is not intended
or expected that water will fall on the entire
floor space of the occupancy.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007) & (2013)
NFPA 13 - 8.1.1 provides further
clarifications:
(7) Furniture, such as portable wardrobe units,
cabinets, trophy cases, and similar features not
intended for occupancy, does not require sprinklers to
be installed in them. This type of feature shall be
permitted to be attached to the finished structure.
(8)*Sprinklers shall not be required to be installed
within electrical equipment, mechanical equipment, or
air handling units not intended for occupancy.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)
8.2.4 Multiple buildings attached by canopies, covered
breezeways, common roofs, or a common wall(s) shall
be permitted to be supplied by a single fire sprinkler
riser. The maximum system size shall comply with
8.2.1.
8.2.5.2 When acceptable to the authority having
jurisdiction, detached structures shall be permitted to be
supplied by the fire sprinkler system of an adjacent
building.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

8.3.2 Sprinkler Temperature Rating

NFPA 13 (2010) allows use of ordinary and
intermediate temperature sprinklers throughout
buildings.
NFPA 13 (2013) does not allow ordinary
temperature sprinklers in attics any more. They
have to be intermediate temperature.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.5.5.4 Closets.
In all closets and compartments, including
those closets housing mechanical equipment,
that are not larger than 400 ft3 (11.33 m3) in
size, a single sprinkler at the highest ceiling
space shall be sufficient without regard to
obstructions or minimum distance to the wall.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.6.3.4.2, 8.7.3.4, 8.8.3.4.2, 8.9.3.4, 8.10.3.3
Baffles required between sprinklers spaced less
than 6 ft apart will no longer be required to be
placed midway between sprinklers and will be
required to be of solid and rigid material rather
than of noncombustible or limited combustible
material.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)
Combustible Attics 8.6.2.2.1(a)
Unoccupied attics having combustible wood joist or
wood truss construction with members less than 3 ft. on
center with slopes having a pitch of 4 in 12 or greater
have reduced area of coverage to 120 sq. ft. per head
(max. 15 ft. parallel and max. 10 ft. perpendicular to the
slope) and require 20 PSI minimum pressure at the
sprinkler head if the dimension perpendicular to the
slope exceeds 8 ft.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)
8.15.1.6 Sprinklers used in horizontal combustible
concealed spaces (with a slope not exceeding 2 in 12)
with combustible wood truss or wood joist construction
having a combustible upper surface and where the
depth of the space is less than 36 in. (914 mm) from
deck to deck or with double wood joist construction with
a maximum of 36 in. (914 mm) between the top of the
bottom joist and the bottom of the upper joist shall be
listed for such use.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)
8.15.4* Vertical Openings.
8.15.4.1* General. Unless the requirements of
8.15.4.4 are met, where moving stairways,
staircases, or similar floor openings are
unenclosed and where sprinkler protection is
serving as the alternative to enclosure of the
vertical opening, the floor openings involved
shall be protected by closely spaced sprinklers
in combination with draft stops in accordance
with 8.15.4.2 and 8.15.4.3.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.15.5.3 Automatic sprinklers are permitted
to be eliminated from elevator machine rooms,
elevator machinery spaces, control spaces, or
hoistways of traction elevators installed in
accordance with NFPA 101 or the applicable
building code if all of the following conditions
are met:

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
(1) Dedicated to elevator equipment only
(2) Protected by smoke detectors, or other automatic fire
detection, installed in accordance with NFPA 72
(3) 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 that specified by the
applicable building code
(4) No materials unrelated to elevator equipment are
permitted to be stored
(5) The elevator machinery is not of the hydraulic type.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.15.8.1 Bathrooms.
8.15.8.1.1* Sprinklers shall not be required in
bathrooms that are located within dwelling units
of hotels and motels, that do not exceed 55 ft2
(5.1 m2) in area, and that have walls and
ceilings of noncombustible or limitedcombustible materials with a 15-minute thermal
barrier rating, including the walls and ceilings
behind any shower enclosure or tub.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.15.9* Hospital Clothes Closets. Sprinklers
shall not be required in clothes closets of
patient sleeping rooms in hospitals where the
area of the closet does not exceed 6 ft2 (0.55
m2), provided the distance from the sprinkler in
the patient sleeping room to the back wall of the
closet does not exceed the maximum distance
permitted by 8.5.3.2.

INSTALLATION REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
8.16.1.5 Floor Control Valve Assemblies.
8.16.1.5.1* Multistory buildings exceeding two stories
in height shall be provided with a floor control valve,
check valve, main drain valve, and flow switch for
isolation, control, and annunciation of water flow on
each floor level.
8.16.1.5.3 The floor control valve, check valve, main
drain valve, and flow switch required by 8.16.1.6.3 shall
not be required where the total area of all floors
combined does not exceed the system protection area
limitations of 8.2.1.

HANGING REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
9.2.3.2.5 and 9.2.4.7 clarifies that every single
peace of pipe does not have to be supported as
long as distance between hangers complies
with Tables 9.2.2.1(a) and 9.2.2.1(b).

SEISMIC BRACING NFPA 13 (2007)

SEISMIC BRACING NFPA 13 (2007)

DESIGN APPROACHES NFPA 13 (2007)

As per 11.3.1.2* minimum required discharge from

each of the four hydraulically most demanding
residential sprinklers shall be the greater of the
following:
(1) In accordance with minimum flow rates indicated in
individual listing
(2) Calculated based on delivering a minimum of 0.1
gpm/ft2 (4.1 mm/min) over the design area in
accordance with the provisions of 8.5.2.1 or 8.6.2.1.2

DESIGN APPROACHES NFPA 13 (2013)

11.1.7* High Volume Low Speed (HVLS) Fans. The

installation of HVLS fans in buildings equipped with
sprinklers, including ESFR sprinklers, shall comply with
the following:
(1) The maximum fan diameter shall be 24 ft (7.3 m).
(2) The HVLS fan shall be centered approximately
between four adjacent sprinklers.
(3) The vertical clearance from the HVLS fan to
sprinkler deflector shall be a minimum of 3 ft (0.9 m).
(4) All HVLS fans shall be interlocked to shut down
immediately upon receiving a waterflow signal from the
alarm system in accordance with the requirements of
NFPA 72.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2007)
12.2* Hose Connections.
12.2.1 Small hose connections [112 in. (38
mm)] shall be provided where required by the
authority having jurisdiction in accordance with
8.17.5 for first-aid fire-fighting and overhaul
operations.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
12.1.3.4 The section regarding excessive
clearances is being rewritten, with a new first
subsection addressing how to measure
clearance to ceiling, and revisions of the
subsections dealing with Chapters 16 and 17.

STORAGE REQUIREMENTS NFPA 13

(2013)
12.6.7.1 and 12.6.7.2 permits use of ESFR
and quick response CMSA sprinklers for
protection of light and ordinary hazard
occupancies.
12.6.7.3 permits use of standard response
CMSA sprinklers for protection of ordinary
hazard occupancies.

SPECIAL OCCUPANCIES NFPA 13 (2007)

Chapter 21 Special Occupancy Requirements

21.1 General.
21.1.1 Application.
21.1.1.1 In addition to the requirements of
Chapter 8, and Chapter 11 through 21 and Chapter
22, the following special occupancy requirements
shall apply. All provisions of design criteria in this
standard, including design area increases and
reductions, shall also apply to these special
occupancy requirements.

PLANS & CALCULATIONS NFPA 13 (2013)

Table 23.4.4.7.1 With the statement that

internal pipe inspections have revealed that dry
galvanized systems have the same level of
corrosion as black steel, the Committee acted to
remove the C-factor advantage for galvanized
piping, such that all steel pipe is assigned a C-factor
of 120 for wet systems and 100 for dry pipe and
preaction systems.

WATER SUPPLIES NFPA 13 (2013)

24.1.3.3* When a single main less than 4

in. (100 mm) in diameter serves both
domestic and fire systems, the domestic
demand shall be added to the hydraulic
calculations for the fire system at the point of
connection unless provisions have been
made to isolate the domestic demand.

NFPA 13

Thank you and get ready for 2016

edition of NFPA 13 standard.