Automatic sprinkler systems installed in accordance with nfpa 13 installation of sprinkler systems are intended to serve two functions.
Nfpa 13 attic sprinklers.
An attic can be a concealed space if it is constructed and used as a concealed space as outlined in 8 15 1 2 1 of nfpa 13.
The restriction in the usage of antifreeze in wet pipe sprinkler systems protecting residential occupancies drives a need for a method to protect the piping installed in attic spaces from freezing.
The globe specific application attic protection scheme has undergone full scale fire testing with underwriters laborato ries and is listed to be utilized per nfpa 13 in conformance with the new technology and equivalency sections as well as the special sprinkler section.
Unlike nfpa 13 nfpa 13r works to make the installation of the sprinkler system more affordable and accessible for residential occupancies by targeting the areas of highest fire risk to life safety with sprinkler systems.
Nfpa 13r commonly allows for the elimination of fire protection in attics closets and bathrooms nfpa 13r allows for a lower water discharge demand from the sprinkler system leading to smaller pipe sizes nfpa 13r allows for a shorter duration of water supply than nfpa 13.
As shown in table 1 nfpa national fire protection association standards 13d and 13r both allow omission of sprinklers from attics not used or intended for living purposes or storage in the case of nfpa 13r and that do not contain fuel fired equipment.
Property protection and life safety.
The allowed method prescribed in nfpa 13d should be brought forward into nfpa 13 to solve this problem.
Swapping nfpa 13 and nfpa 13r is not simply a one for one exchange as their goals are overall quite different.
Concealed spaces may be constructed of or contain noncombustible or limited combustible material such as frtw and spaces constructed of such material are not required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system.
In order for the systems to achieve these goals the general rule is to provide sprinklers to protect all spaces within a building.
