The Worldwide Use of Fire Sprinklers

Russell P. Fleming, P.E.

President, National Fire Sprinkler Association (USA)
Managing Director, International Fire Sprinkler Association

United States
Fire Sprinkler Experience

Sprinklers 96.2-96.5% Effective

Sources: NFPA 1897-1969
and New York Fire Patrol 1969-1979

Reasons for Unsatisfactory

Sprinkler System Performance
(NFPA Statistics)

Closed Valves (1.1-1.9 %)

Partial Protection (0.2-0.3%)
Inadequate Water Supply (0.1-0.4%)
Faulty Construction (0.2%)
Other Preventable (0.1-1.2%)
Explosion (0.2-0.5%)
External Exposure (0.1%)
Other Nonpreventable or Unknown (0.4%)

Australian and New Zealand Fire

Sprinkler Experience 18861968

Sprinklers 99.8% Effective

Source: Marryatt, AFPA

Fire Sprinkler System Capability

U.S. General Services Administration for Federal Fire Service Act of 1992

An automatic sprinkler system is expected to:

1. Prevent flashover in the room of fire origin
2. Limit the fire size to no more than 1 MW, and
3. Prevent flames from leaving the room of origin

Fire Sprinkler System Capability

U.S. General Services Administration for Federal Fire Service Act of 1992

An automatic sprinkler system is expected to:

1. Prevent flashover in the room of fire origin
2. Limit the fire size to no more than 1 MW, and
3. Prevent flames from leaving the room of origin

Other than preventing the fire in the first place,

there is no other fire protection measure that can
do this.

Growth in Annual Sprinkler Usage

in the United States and Canada
1975-2000
4
4

2.9

3.5
2.6

2.2

2.5
2
1.5

Growth of
Sprinkler
Market
Based on
1975 = 1

1.4
1

1
0.5
0
1975

1980

1985

1990

1995

2000

Fire Death Comparisons

Fire Death Rates per Million Population

40

Canada
U.S.
U.K.
Japan
Sweden

35
30
25
20
15
10
5

99

97

95

93

91

89

87

85

83

81

79

77

Fire Sprinkler Results (1989 -1998 NFPA Data)

Average reduction of civilian fire deaths in
specific occupancies:

Manufacturing
Stores and offices
Health care
Hotels and motels

60%
74%
75%
91%

Average reduction of property loss in

specific occupancies:

Stores and offices

Manufacturing
Health care
Public assembly

53%
60%
66%
70%

Fire Sprinkler Results

Because U.S. fire statistics only capture
sprinkler usage in fires reported to fire
departments, actual usage of sprinklers (and
therefore reduction in losses) is estimated to
be greater
In general, fire data shows ability of sprinklers
to reduce fire deaths and property loss by at
least one-half to two-thirds
Data indicates ability of sprinklers to reduce
fire deaths in residential occupancies at least
74%

International Fire
Sprinkler Association
"to promote and enhance the business of
manufacturing and installing fire sprinkler, water spray
and water mist systems and devices in all buildings,
from homes to high-rise, worldwide, with the highest
degree of competence and professionalism, for the
purpose of saving lives and protecting property.

IFSA Vision
The International Fire Sprinkler Association will
be the worldwide center for information on
automatic water-based fire suppression systems
and the leader in advancing the widespread use
of such systems.

IFSA Vision Achieved Through

1. Development of National and Regional
Organizations to Promote Proper Use of
Fire Sprinklers
2. Development of Information Systems to
Protect Product Integrity and Industry
Identity
3. Delivery of Training and Education
4. Enhancement of Codes, Standards and
Legislation

IFSA Goal 1
Development of National and Regional
Organizations
Goal: To foster the development of national and regional
organizations whose activities would increase the use of
competently installed automatic water-based fire suppression
systems for the purpose of saving lives and protecting property.

Support of National and Regional Organizations

National Fire Sprinkler Network (UK)

Residential Sprinkler Association (UK)
Sprinklerfrmjandet (Sweden)
European Fire Sprinkler Network
Including country managers for Netherlands,
France and Germany
SP Technical Research Institute (Sweden)
British Automatic Fire Sprinkler Assn (UK)
ABSpk (Brazil)
AMRACI (Mexico)

IFSA Goal 2
Development of Information Systems to Protect
Product Integrity and Industry Identity
Goal: To pursue such efforts and relationships that
promote the widespread distribution of accurate
industry information while protecting the separate
and distinct identity of the automatic water-based
fire suppression systems industry.

Protecting Product Integrity

To protect the excellent record of fire sprinkler
system performance, we must be on guard
against:
Counterfeit products
Noncertified products

Sprinkler Usage by Continent

World Market 1994 = 39.5 million

North America

South America
Europe
Asia
Africa

Sprinkler Usage by Continent

World Market 2013 = 141.9 million

North America

South America
Europe
Asia
Africa

U.S. vs. China Sprinkler Usage

(estimated in millions)
50

45
40
35
30

China

25

U.S.

20
15

10
5
0
2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

Product Integrity Concerns

Use of counterfeit or non-certified products in a
fire protection system can compromise the safety
and protection afforded by the system.
To ensure that fire sprinkler systems will continue
their record of high performance, component
products should be certified by a reputable,
independent certification organization.
Users should confirm that the product is
authorized to have the certification mark, since
counterfeiting is a large and growing problem
within the global marketplace.
22

Product Certification
Laboratory certifications indicate
product quality
But be aware of the possibility of
counterfeit certifications

Sprinkler Performance Requirements

Categories of performance requirements intended to
investigate the ability of sprinklers to provide fire
control or suppression.
Physical Strength and Leakage Tests
Operation Tests
Exposure and Corrosion Tests
Water Flow and Distribution Tests
Fire Tests

24

Sprinkler Performance Requirements

Dozens of individual tests are conducted to ensure that fire
sprinklers will properly operate when needed:
Load on heat responsive element
Strength of heat responsive element
Glass bulb thermal shock
Hydrocarbon exposure
Antifreeze exposure
Dry sprinkler deposit loading
Dezincification
Stress-corrosion of copper alloy and stainless steel parts
Strength of frame
Impact resistance
Rough usage
Operating Temperature (Bath) determine temperature rating
Sensitivity Oven / Room Heat to measure thermal sensitivity
Operation Lodgment to ensure all operating parts clear

Flow Endurance
Leakage
Hydrostatic Strength
Dry sprinkler air
tightness
30-day leakage
Water hammer
Vacuum
High temperature
Vibration
Freezing
10-day corrosion
30-day corrosion
90-day moist air
Temperature cycling

Sprinkler Performance Requirements

Water Flow and Distribution Tests
Calibration (K-factor determination)
10-pan (Standard Coverage Spray)
16-pan (Standard Coverage Spray)
Horizontal Distribution (Standard
Coverage Sidewall)
Horizontal Distribution
(Conventional 40% to 60% of
water directed downward)

26

Vertical and Horizontal Distribution

(EC - Extended Coverage for Light
Hazard Occupancies)
Horizontal Distribution (ECOH Extended Coverage for Ordinary
Hazard Occupancies)
Horizontal and Vertical Distribution
(Residential)
Actual Delivered Density (Storage
and ESFR Early Suppression
Fast Response Sprinklers)

Sprinkler Performance Requirements

Fire Tests
Water Impingement
Residential Simulated
Furniture Package
EC Light Hazard 15 kg (33
lb.) Wood Crib
Standard Spray Large 159 kg
(350 lb.) Wood Crib
ECOH Large Wood Crib &
Storage Test Arrays
Storage Fire Tests Involving
Stored Commodities

27

Dangers of Counterfeit and Non-Certified Sprinklers

Sprinkler sample was exposed to 800C (1470F) for 3 minutes.
Sample started melting within 60 seconds.

Deflector (steel), cap

(brass) and loading
screw (steel).

Frame

Identifying Non-Certified Products

Is the price of the product substantially lower than the price for
the same product from other sources?
Is the source of the product authorized by the manufacturer to
supply their product?
If a counterfeit is suspected, compare to a known authentic
version to identify any differences in construction and marking.
Many counterfeit products have an aesthetically pleasing finish
(plating or coating) that conceals the use of inferior materials.
Search for public notices issued by certification organizations
or others regarding counterfeit products.
If there is the slightest concern regarding the authenticity of a
product, contact the manufacturer or the certifying
organization.
To determine if a product is certified, look for the authorized
certification mark on the product.

IFSA Goal 3
Delivery of Training and Education
Goal: To deliver programs of training and education
that further the efforts of the organization.

Delivery of Training and Education

Since its founding in 1999, IFSA has supported
training about fire sprinkler systems on six
continents
IFSA was the primary
host of international fire
sprinkler conferences in
Prague in 2002, Berlin in
2004, Lisbon in 2006,
Copenhagen in 2008,
and Panama in 2014

IFSA Goal 4
Enhancement of Codes, Standards and
Legislation
Goal: To work with international organizations in
the enhancement of codes, standards and
legislation while serving as a resource for parallel
local and national efforts.

Codes, Standards and Legislation

IFSA and the organizations it supports regularly work to
increase requirements for sprinklers in hotels, care
facilities, road tunnels, and other high risk occupancies
IFSA maintains liaison with various technical
committees that deal with sprinkler system equipment
quality and promotes the use of hydraulic calculations
IFSA has testified about the effectiveness of fire
sprinkler systems before legislative groups in several
parts of the world, including Brazil

Thank You

fleming@sprinklerworld.org
sprinklerworld.org