sprinklers in wood-frame construction - woodworks · wall-mounted sprinkler heads, and area...

Presentedby: BrianD.KuhnJr.,P.E.(MA,CA,DC,6others),LEEDGreenAssociate

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SprinklersinWood-FrameConstruction:WhatArchitectsandEngineersNeedtoKnow

Disclaimer:ThispresentationwasdevelopedbyathirdpartyandisnotfundedbyWoodWorks ortheSoftwoodLumberBoard.

NateWittasek,P.E.,CFEI,LEEDAP,CASp

“TheWoodProductsCouncil” isaRegisteredProviderwithTheAmericanInstituteofArchitectsContinuingEducationSystems(AIA/CES),Provider#G516.

Credit(s)earnedoncompletionofthiscoursewillbereportedtoAIACES forAIAmembers.CertificatesofCompletionforbothAIAmembersandnon-AIAmembersareavailableuponrequest.

ThiscourseisregisteredwithAIACESforcontinuingprofessionaleducation.Assuch,itdoesnotincludecontentthatmaybedeemedorconstruedtobeanapprovalorendorsementbytheAIAofanymaterialofconstructionoranymethodormannerofhandling,using,distributing,ordealinginanymaterialorproduct.

______________________________Questionsrelatedtospecificmaterials,methods,andserviceswillbeaddressedattheconclusionofthispresentation.

Sprinklers are the most common form of active fire protection in multi-family and commercialbuildings. However, there is a misunderstanding among many building designers that sprinklercode requirements apply differently to wood-frame buildings vs. other types of construction.This presentation will cover code provisions related to the use of sprinklers in wood structures,including when and where they’re required, how they work, and a summary of differencesbetween NFPA 13 and NFPA 13R systems. Discussion will include the use of sprinklers inconcealed spaces (i.e., floor cavities and attics) and at large roof overhangs, ceiling- vs. sidewall-mounted sprinkler heads, and area coverage requirements. The session will end with alook to the future of sprinkler technology, with a focus on the role and effectiveness ofsprinklers in wood-framebuildings.

Limitations:The content provided in this presentation is generally representative of recent editions of building codes and sprinklerstandards. Designers and builders are always responsible for identifying applicable codes and standards on a project-by-project basis, including any local amendments and ordinances.

CourseDescription

1. Discusscoderequirementsfortheuseofsprinklersinnon-residentialandmulti-familybuildings,highlightingthefactthatsprinklercoderequirementsareindependentofstructuralmaterialsused.

2. Usingstatisticaldata,highlighttheeffectivenessofsprinklersinactualfireevents.

3. Reviewcommonrequirementsfortheuseofsprinklersinapplicationssuchascombustibleconcealedspacesandlargeroofoverhangs.

4. ReviewthedifferencesbetweenNFPA13andNFPA13Rsprinklersystemsandlookaheadtothefutureofsprinklertechnologyasitpertainstosuccessfulactivefireprotectioninwoodframestructures.

LearningObjectives

4October2017 SprinklerProtection inWood-FrameConstruction 5

EfficacyofSprinklers

Source:NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology,www.nist.gov


EfficacyofSprinklers

Source:NationalInstituteofStandardsandTechnology,www.nist.gov


EfficacyofSprinklers– StationNightclub

Source:HomeFireSprinklerCoalition,homefiresprinkler.org


TheStatistics

Source:NFPAFireStatistics&Reports


TheStatistics

Presenceofsprinklersbyoccupancy:

Healthcare

High-riseapartmentbuildings

Manufacturing

Passenger terminals

Hotelsandmotels

Prisonsandjails

Dormitoriesandbarracks

High-riseofficebuildings

Educational

Storesandoffices

Publicassembly

Homes

Structurefireswithsprinklerspresent:


TheStatisticsSprinklersoperatedinofallstructurefireslargeenoughtoactivatesprinklers

Whensprinklersoperated,theywereeffectiveofthetime.

Whensprinklersfailtooperate,reasonmostoftengivenis:

Shutoffofthesystembeforefirebegan

Manualinterventionthatdefeatedthesystem

Lackofmaintenance

Inappropriatesystemforthetypeoffire

Componentdamage


WhenSprinklersareRequired

Source:2012IBC



Source:2012IBCand2016CBC



Source:2015IBCand2016CBC



Sprinklersarerequiredbasedonoccupancytype,firearea,andforallowableheightandareaincreases

Constructiontypedoesnotgovernwhethersprinklersarerequired



Source:NFPA13RHandbook


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

LifeSafety,PropertyProtection

LifeSafetyPRIMARILY

29August2017 SprinklerProtection inWood-FrameConstruction 21

NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Nov/Dec2016NFPAJournalarticlebyRobertSolomon:ISTHISASPRINKLERSUCCESS?

“Does success for an NFPA 13R sprinkler system mostly meancontrolling a fire in a multifamily environment long enough toprevent deaths and injuries? Should success also includepreventing significant property damage? Where’s the sweetspot, and howwe get there? A panel of stakeholdersweighs in.”


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

ExemptionsforNFPA13R:• Attics• Penthouseequipmentrooms• Elevatormachinerooms• Crawlspaces• Floor/ceilingspaces• Elevatorshafts• Concealedspacescontainingonly

ventilationequipment• Otherconcealedspacesthatarenot

intendedforlivingpurposesorstorageanddonotcontainfuel-firedequipment Source:SGHProject


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Exemptedin13:• Bathrooms<55sf*• Closetsandpantries<24ft

• maxdimensionis3ft• hotelsandmotelsonly

• Exteriorprojections:• Lessthan4ft wide• OfNCorLCconstruction• Lessthan2ft withstorageof

combustiblesbelow• Exteriorexitcorridorswherewalls

are50%openandallofNCconstruction

Exemptedin13R:• Bathrooms<55sf• Closetsandpantries<24sf• Openandattachedporches,

balconies**,corridors,carports,porte cocheres,stairs

Source:NFPA13R,2016edition


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Pipematerials– CPVCallowedbybothstandardsBewarematerialcompatibility

Source:SGHProject


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Source:www.lubrizol.com


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

• ResidentialsprinklersallowedinbothNFPA13and13R• Listedcoverageareascanbeupto20ft x20ft (inexcessofNFPA13prescriptivelimits)

Source:Tyco literature


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Waterdischarge• NFPA13R:0.05gpm/sf• NFPA13:usetable

13Rsystems– smallerpipesizes,maybeeliminatefirepump

Source:SGHProject

Source:NFPA13,2013edition


NFPA13vsNFPA13R

Waterdischarge• NFPA13R:30mins• NFPA13:usetable

13Rsystems– potentiallyeliminateneedforwatertank

Source:NFPA13,2013edition


FireProtectionforWood-FramedBuildings

• Buildingarea/firewalls• Limitedheight• Fire-ratedseparations

• Testedassemblies• Calculatedfire-resistance

• Fireblocking/draftstopping• Interiorfinish• Activesystems

• Combustibleconcealedspacesprinklers


Credits

ThisconcludesTheAmericanInstituteofArchitectsContinuingEducationSystemsCourse

QUESTIONS?

NateWittasek,P.E.,CFEI,LEEDAP,CASp

SimpsonGumpertz&Heger(SGH)

[email protected]


sprinklers in wood-frame construction - woodworks · wall-mounted sprinkler heads, and area...

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