NFPA 13 – Chapter 21

Alternative Sprinkler System Designs

for Chapters 12 -20

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 Why Chapter 21??

• Add a New Chapter

• Performance-Based Discharge Criteria

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 Chapter 21
• General
• Palletized, Solid-Piled, Bin Box, Shelf or
Back-to-Back Shelf Storage of Class I-IV and
Plastic Commodities
• Open-Frame Rack Storage of Class I-IV and
Plastic Commodities
• Hose Stream Allowance and Water Supply
Duration
• Minimum Obstruction Criteria

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 Baseline
• Three Categories of Sprinklers
– Control Mode Density/Area (CMDA)
– Control Mode Specific Application (CMSA)
– Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR)

• Minimum Hydraulic Design Criteria

– Density/Area
– ESFR

• Hose Stream Demand

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 The Challenge
• General Rules of Chapters 12-20

• Storage Variables
– Arrangement
– Commodity Classification
– Commodity Mixtures
– Configurations

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 Chapter 21
• Method for full-scale fire testing
– Specific Storage Arrangements
– Specific Maximum Ceiling Heights

• Resulting in
– Specific Design Requirements based on performance
– Minimum safety factors

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 Intent

• Guidance for planning research for Technical

Committee review and acceptance.

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 Alternative Approach
• Specific Data

• Specific Storage Arrangement

• Particular Commodity

• More Flexibility in Design

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 General Requirements
• 21.1.1 Sprinklers intended to protect storage
fire risks shall be permitted to be installed
using water supply design criteria that are
different from the design criteria specified for
the sprinklers described in Chapters 12
through 20 when specifically listed for such
use within the limitations described in this
chapter.

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 General Requirements
• Chapters 12 through 20 apply unless modified

• In-rack protection requirements of Chapters

12 through 20 apply when storage racks are
equipped with solid shelves and in-rack
sprinklers are required per the applicable
chapter.

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 General Requirements
• Requirements of the applicable chapter apply
when ceiling-only protection options are not
available in this chapter.

• Design criteria cannot be used to permit a

reduction in the water supply requirements
for in-rack sprinkler protection.

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 Large Scale Fire Tests
• Challenging test scenarios
• Range of variables associated with the
intended
• Evaluate the ability of the sprinkler to protect
representative storage fire risks
• Based on the manufacturer’s installation and
design parameter instructions and referenced
in the listing.

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 Typical Considerations
• Highest Commodity Classification
• Storage Arrangement Type
• Maximum Storage Height
• Sprinkler Spacing
• Sprinkler Temperature Rating
• Ceiling Height
• Clearance to Ceiling
• Sprinkler Distance Below Ceiling
• Minimum Operating Pressure
• Aisle Width
• Ignition Location
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 Installation & Design Parameters
(1) Commodity or commodities to be protected
(2) Storage arrangements allowed
(3) Installation guidelines including obstruction
and ceiling construction limitations
(4) Maximum ceiling and storage heights with
associated minimum operating pressures and
number of sprinklers required to be included in
the hydraulic calculation
(5) Hose stream allowance and duration

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 Number of Sprinklers
• Twelve sprinklers for standard coverage
sprinklers

• Eight sprinklers for extended-coverage

sprinklers based on a spacing of 12ft×12ft
(3.7m×3.7m)

• Six sprinklers for extended-coverage sprinklers

based on a spacing of 14ft×14ft (4.3m×4.3m)

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 Minimum Area of Operation

• Based on the proposed sprinkler spacing,

• Not be less than 768 ft2 (71m2).

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21.2

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21.2

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21.3

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21.3

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Hose Stream Allowance & Duration
Sprinkler Type Sprinkler Number of Hose Stream Allowance Water
Spacing Type Sprinklers in Supply
Design Area gpm L/min Duration

CMDA & CMSA Standard Up to 12 250 950 60

Over 12 to 15 500 1900 90
Over 15 to 25 500 1900 120
Over 25 500 1900 150
CMDA & CMSA Extended Up to 6 250 950 60
Coverage Up to 8 (144ft2) 250 950 60
Over 6 to 8 500 1900 90
Over 8 to 12 500 1900 120
Over 12 500 1900 150

ESFR Standard Up to 12 250 950 60

Over 12 to 15 500 1900 90
Over 15 to 25 500 1900 120
Over 25 500 1900 150

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Comparison of Design Requirements
Chapters 12 through 19
Sprinkler Type Number of Hose Stream Allowance Water
Design Supply
Sprinklers gpm L/min Duration

CMDA 20 or More 500 1900 120 or More

EC/CMDA 11 or More 500 1900 120 or More
CMSA 15 or More 500 1900 90 or More
ESFR 12 250 950 60

Chapter 21
Sprinkler Type Number of Hose Stream Allowance Water
Design Supply
Sprinklers gpm L/min Duration
CMSA & ESFR 12 250 950 60
EC-CMSA 8 250 950 60
(3.7m x 3.7m)
EC-CMSA 6 250 950 60
(4.3m x 4.3m)

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 EC-CMSA
• Nominal K-Factor – 25.2 (360)
• Commodity Storage
– Palletized, Solid pile and Open Rack Storage
– Commodities of up to Cartoned, Expanded
Group A Plastics
• Maximum Storage Height
• Coverage Areas
– 12ft x 12ft (3.7m x 3.7m)
– 14ft x 14ft (4.3m x 4.3m)

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 Minimum Obstruction Criteria
• Based on the number of sprinklers included in
the design.

• Correlates to requirements for

CMDA/CMSA/EC/ESFR

• Number of sprinklers in the design area

impacts the obstruction requirements

• Options
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 Thank You!

• National Fire Sprinkler Association

• www.nfsa.org

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