Blogs

Sprinkler System Demand Flows Greater than 500gpm?

By Terin Hopkins posted 16 days ago
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To understand when a sprinkler system fire department connection (FDC) needs to be supplemented vs supplied, we must first discuss the widely used term, system demand . This term is not defined in any of the fire sprinkler standards, but National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems does require a system to have a hydraulically calculated water demand flow rate, and this term is defined by NFPA 13. The waterflow rate for a system must be calculated using acceptable engineering practices and is commonly referenced as the system demand. 3.3.109 Hydraulically Calculated Water Demand Flow ...
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The Travels of the Trailers

By Vincent Powers posted 18 days ago
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The first half of 2022 has been the busiest six months for the National Fire Sprinkler Association’s Live Fire Sprinkler Demonstration Training Trailer(s). Before we get to the travels of the trailer, let us discuss why the trailers where created and what they can provide. Valve trailers are not a new concept for NFSA as we have many other trailers with different systems installed in them that are located all around the country. The Live Fire Sprinkler Demonstration Training Trailers, as there are two were one of the first projects I worked on after joining NFSA. The concept of the valve trailer is live fire service training, but the trailer has expanded capabilities. ...
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2022 NFPA Technical Meeting and NFPA 25

By Vincent Powers posted 18 days ago
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This is the first in person meeting for the Annual NFPA Conference and Expo since 2019 and it did not disappoint. The attendance was great with over one hundred ten live education sessions over three days and more than two hundred exhibitors. This conference and expo also are a fantastic opportunity to network with some of the industry leaders from all over the world as well as see some of the latest products. This is also where the technical meeting is held for the current codes and standards in cycle. The technical meeting is where the CAMs are debated and a final vote is made on the amending motions. Only NFPA members in attendance can vote on the amending ...
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Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 2

By John Swanson posted 19 days ago
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Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 2 In Part 1 of the Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring article, we discussed some of the basic requirements in the model codes, NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 for monitoring. To find Part 1, please click on the link below to learn more about some of the basic monitoring requirements in the codes and standards. https://community.nfsa.org/blogs/john-swanson/2022/05/24/sprinkler-supervision-and-monitoring-nfpa-13-and-n Criteria for how to send sprinkler waterflow and fire alarm signals from the protected premises to the supervising station have caused confusion and raised many questions from installers ...
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Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72

By John Swanson posted May 24, 2022
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Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 1 In most cases, the model fire codes used in the United States require new buildings to monitor sprinkler waterflow in accordance with NFPA 72. The International Fire Code (IFC), Section 903.4, requires valves controlling water supply for automatic sprinkler systems to be supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit. NFPA 1 and 101 contain similar requirements. But what does it mean to be electrically supervised in accordance with NFPA 72? What does electrically supervised mean? Electrically supervised means, a listed fire alarm control unit is provided at the protected premises to supervise ...
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NFSA’S GUIDE TO NFPA’S 2022 ANNUAL TECHNICAL MEETING

By Jeffrey Hugo posted May 24, 2022
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NFSA Participation in the NFPA Codes and Standards Process The fire sprinkler industry relies heavily on NFPA codes and standards to ensure fire protection systems are installed correctly, and that the performance of these systems will save lives and property. The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) and the activities of the Engineering and Standards Committee (E&S) and Code Development Team (CDT) performs a very active role in the codes and standards revision process with over 80 member and staff representatives on dozens of NFPA technical committees An important step in the codes and standards revision process is the Technical Meeting (also ...
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The Magic Number is Three

By Terin Hopkins posted Apr 25, 2022
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The Magic Number is Three Signage Requirements for Fire Department Connections (FDC’s) Frist, we must address who the signage is for, and it’s intended use. The reason for placing signage on a fire department connection (FDC) is to provide the end user or fire department some basic information about the fire protection system installed within a building or structure. This allows them to properly understand what type of system is in the building, pressure requirements needed to properly supplement, or supply that system demand, and which areas are being served during an emergency. Many jurisdictions see this as an opportunity ...
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Portable Orchestra Enclosures and Sprinkler Protection

By John Swanson posted Apr 07, 2022
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Portable Orchestra Enclosures and Sprinkler Protection Fires in theaters, or more specifically, stages inside theaters, have been a fire problem for hundreds of years. The combination of combustible materials, sources of ignition and lots of people has been a fire safety issue spanning modern time. While the installation of automatic sprinkler systems has saved countless lives and reduced the severity of fires that are happening, unfortunately, the number of fires occurring in assembly occupancies is still too high. To complicate things, architects are constantly introducing new construction features requiring the sprinkler industry to reevaluate protection ...
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Supplies Might Be Limited, But Fire Sprinkler Companies Are Generous!

By Cindy Giedraitis posted Mar 28, 2022
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On March 24, 2022, the NFSA Texas Chapter hosted a virtual training session focused on Fire Sprinkler - Supply Chain. The meeting format focused on Questions from NFSA Member Contractors and Answers by our Regional Suppliers, Manufacturers and Distributors. Moderators – NFSA Texas Chapter Board Contractors Dale Payne, Branch Manager, Northstar Fire Protection of Texas John Pecot, Design Manager, JCI Industrial Fire Solutions Panelists – NFSA Texas Regional Suppliers, Manufacturers Distributors Perry Adams – Viking Supply, Senior Territory Sales Manager Nick Martin – Johnson Controls, Territory Manager Tate Hitzeman – Potter Electric, South Central ...
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Tiny Fires in Tiny Homes

By Terin Hopkins posted Mar 15, 2022
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One might assume that the size of a home is a direct indication of survivability from fire. The concept is simple, we can safely egress from smaller spaces, but the reality is many of the fire protection features found in larger or more crowded spaces are not applicable to these smaller spaces. This means no fire sprinklers systems, passive fire protection or even early warning systems. That is strange because fires start in the same places regardless of the size of the home and quickly spread toxic gases through the home, no matter the size. In fact, toxic smoke can fill small spaces even faster, with the same rules of physics applying to fire spread and the ...
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Sprinkler Protection and Vertical Openings

By John Swanson posted Mar 13, 2022
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On November 21, 1980, a fire at the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada took the lives of 85 people and injured over 650. At the time of the fire, 5,000 people were either in the casino or staying in one of the 2,000 hotel rooms. The fire began around 7:00am in one of the first-floor restaurants while most people were asleep in the hotel. The fire spread quickly throughout the 26-story partially sprinklered building. Today, the MGM Grand Fire remains the third deadliest hotel fire in United States history and had a significant impact on building and fire codes throughout the country. One of the most concerning statistics from this fire was, 61 of ...
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2022 National Fire Sprinkler Association Business and Leadership Conference

By Terin Hopkins posted Mar 10, 2022
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Join us September 28-30,2022 at the Sheraton Sand Key Clearwater, Florida for the NFSA Business and Leadership Conference. Please see the Link for details and room arrangements.
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What is your sign

By Vincent Powers posted Mar 04, 2022
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NFPA 25, Standard for the Inspection Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems , provides the minimum requirements for properly maintaining water-based fire sprinkler systems. Within this standard are several requirements for maintaining proper signage. Many in the industry are unaware of the requirements for proper signage. Of course, the requirements do change from edition to edition. In this blog we will cover the requirements for these signs. Let us start with what is not required. Many technicians cite the building owner for not having signs such as main drain, inspector’s test connection, and alarm line signage. These signs are required ...
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Unsinkable Buildings

By Terin Hopkins posted Feb 25, 2022
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On April 10 th , 1912, the White Star Liner, RMS Titanic, set sail from Southampton, England, on her first transatlantic crossing. At 883 feet and 52 tons, she was the largest, fastest moveable manmade object ever constructed to date. The White Star Line had produced an advertising brochure claiming the Titanic and her twin sister Olympic as being designed to be unsinkable. She was loaded with 3400 total onboard and included 2240 of the wealthiest passengers of the day. This passenger manifest included Margaret Molly Brown, an American born socialite and philanthropist. Molly was one of the 706 people to survive this tragedy and would come to be known as ...
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Fire Sprinklers with Hose Connections

By Terin Hopkins posted Jan 31, 2022
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NFPA 13 Hose Connections This use of hose connections on sprinkler systems has caused confusion in the fire service by not recognizing that not all hose connections in a building are created equal. Some are hose connections simply installed on sprinkler systems with an added inside hose stream allowance. This allowance only provides a minimal additional water supply not intended to provide the required flow for fire operations. It is intended for ancillary occupant use or for mop-up after a fire Inside hose stream allowance is the amount of additional water that is added to the sprinkler hydraulic calculation design ,  when ...
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Understanding Hose Stream Allowance

By Terin Hopkins posted Jan 31, 2022
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Hose Stream Allowance Hose stream allowance or demand is the amount of additional water that is added to the sprinkler hydraulic calculation design , when hose connections are added to sprinkler systems. This allowance is not required for most hose connections installed as part of a combined sprinkler-standpipe system using NFPA 14 Standard for the Installation of Standpipe and Hose Systems , designed as a Class I, II or III standpipe system. While sprinklers and standpipes can be supplied by a common riser in combined systems, the hydraulic system demands are done separately to the individual standard. NFPA 14 Section 7.10.1.3.1.1 ...
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To Replace or Not to Replace - System Gauges

By Vincent Powers posted Jan 11, 2022
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NFPA 25, The Standard for Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Sprinkler Systems is the minimum standard for building owners to properly maintain their buildings’ fire sprinkler systems. The requirement for inspection and testing of gauges can be found in Chapter 13 of the 2020 edition. Section 13.2.5 provides the inspection requirements, stating that water pressure gauges are inspected quarterly, and if constantly monitored, air or nitrogen gauges are also inspected quarterly. If not monitored, then these gauges must be inspected monthly. There are some other inspection requirements that can be found in this section for specific situations. ...
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Application of the Fire Code to Existing Buildings

By John Swanson posted Dec 14, 2021
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Application of the Fire Code to Existing Buildings I remember the day like it was yesterday. As a fire code official with only a few years of experience I was assigned to a complaint inspection. In this situation, the details of the complaint were valid. The complaint revolved around an existing 200,000 square foot warehouse with high-piled storage and the business was adding on an additional 150,000 square feet of storage space. The problem? The building addition was designed by the local lumber company in town (no architect) and the owner had no intention to install fire sprinklers. After I concluded my inspection, I sat down with the owner ...
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Calculating Standpipe Branch Lines

By Terin Hopkins posted Nov 29, 2021
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Standpipe Branch Lines A standpipe branch line is simply a horizontal pipe connecting a standpipe to a single hose connection. Branch lines are typically added to meet travel distance requirements or where it is impracticable to install an additional vertical standpipe in a building. This pipe must be sized for the required flow and be at least 2 ½ inches in diameter. If the pipe extends more than 40 feet, measured along the pipe from the standpipe to the hose connection, a control valve must be provided. This control valve allows for isolation of the branch line for testing and maintenance without causing interruption to the rest of the system. Calculating ...
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Standpipe System Working Pressure

By Terin Hopkins posted Oct 25, 2021
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Standpipe system working pressure definition has changed over the last few editions of NFPA 14 Standard for the Installation of Standpipes and Hose Connections . The original intent was to clarify maximum system working pressure, exclusive of surge pressure but inclusive of system design pressure required at the fire department connection (FDC). Simply speaking, the working pressure is the anticipated design pressure needed to meet system demand and must be included in the complete design aspect, including the FDC. While the intent of why the defined term was originally added has remained, the definition was incomplete, and the clarifying of ...
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