An American Fire Sprinkler

SprinklerAge
Association Publication

Vol 25 / 10
October 2006

AFSA
Celebrates
Silver
Childs Captures
the Gold

0610layout.indd 1 11/1/06 1:31:29 PM

 Seismic Changes
to NFPA 13
NFPA 13, 2007 Edition Requirements: Part 1
CHRISTIAN DUBAY, P.E. | National Fire Protection Association

As previous discussed in “Seismic Changes to NFPA 13, The
Landscape is Shifting,” (Sprinkler Age May 2006), there have
been significant changes to NFPA 13, Standard for the Installa-
tion of Sprinkler Systems, between the 2002 edition and the 2007
edition. The history and reasoning for these changes were
discussed in detail in May. This article will address the major
technical changes that are contained within the 2007 edition of
NFPA 13 relating to seismic protection of automatic sprinkler
systems. This article will not cover each and every change or
review the existing requirements that have been contained in
previous editions of NFPA 13. The 2007 edition made specific
9.2.1.3.3* Flexible Sprinkler Hose Fittings.1
A.9.2.1.3.3 Examples of areas of use include clean
rooms, suspended ceilings, and exhaust ducts.1
9.2.1.3.3.1 Listed flexible sprinkler hose fittings and
its anchoring components, intended for use in
installations connecting the sprinkler system piping
to sprinklers shall be installed in accordance with
the requirements of the listing including any
installation instructions. 1
HF_AD 12/15/05 1:07 PM Page 1

seismic changes in nine specific areas including flexible sprinkler

hose fittings, obstructions to sprinklers caused by seismic
bracing or restraint, flexible couplings, seismic separation Your Best Value In Residential
assemblies, lateral sway brace spacing and loads, horizontal Water Delivery Systems
seismic loads, maximum allowable brace loads, maximum
allowable fastener loads, and restraint of branch lines. Each of
these areas will be discussed in detail with the final text of NFPA D System Patent #4366865

13 included in grey (versus black) text.

1. Flexible Sprinkler Hose Fittings While on the surface

the new requirements for the use and installation of flexible
sprinkler hose fittings does not appear to have an impact on
seismic design, the committee provided additional annex
material addressing the potential benefit of utilizing flexible
sprinkler hose fittings in seismic areas due to their ability in
providing the necessary deflection under seismic conditions.
Currently, ASCE 7-05, Section 13.5.6.2.2(e) requires that where
the suspended ceiling and the sprinkler system are not tied The D System
together to respond as an integral unit, either a 2 in. (50 mm) A complete pre-wired factory
oversized opening be provided to allow for at least 1 in. assembled unit
(25 mm) of free movement in all directions or a swing joint be � Installs in 3 easy steps
provided that can accommodate 1 in. (25 mm) of ceiling � Meets NFPA quality standards
movement in all horizontal directions. While flexible sprinkler � Components UL approved

hose fittings are not required to be utilized by NFPA 13, they The D Cono Line
provide a listed alternative to large oversized openings around New super affordable systems
sprinkler penetrations in seismic areas. When adding the � Tanks available to fit 800.786.7133
requirements to NFPA 13, the committee addressed three main through 29” doorway 800-PUMP 13D
areas including listing (9.2.1.3.3.1), ceiling construction and w w w. t h e d s y s t e m . c o m
installation (9.2.1.3.3.2) and maximum unsupported length
(9.2.1.3.3.3) as shown in NFPA 13 Section 9.2.1.3.3 as follows:
Sprinkler Age | October 2006 13

0610layout.indd 13 11/1/06 1:31:30 PM

 9.2.1.3.3.2 When installed and supported by additional sway bracing as required in 9.3.5.3.7. The
suspended ceilings, the ceiling shall meet ASTM flexible couplings shall be installed as follows:1
C635, Standard Specification for the Manufacture,
Performance, and Testing of Metal Suspension (2) Within 12 in. (305 mm) above and within 24 in.
Systems for Acoustical Tile and Lay-In Panel (610 mm) below the floor in multistory buildings.
Ceilings and shall be installed in accordance with When the flexible coupling below the floor is above
ASTM C636, Standard Practice for Installation of the tie-in main to the main supplying that floor, a
Metal Ceiling Suspension Systems for Acoustical flexible coupling shall be provided as follows:1
Tile and Lay-In Panels.1
(a)*On the horizontal portion within 24 in. (610 mm)
9.2.1.3.3.3* Where flexible sprinkler hose fittings of the tie-in where the tie-in is horizontal or,1
exceed 6 ft (1.83 m) in length and are supported by a
suspended ceiling, a hanger(s) attached to the (b)*On the vertical portion of the tie-in where the
structure shall be required to ensure that the tie-in incorporates a riser1
maximum unsupported length does not exceed 6 ft
(1.83 m).1 See “Figure A.9.3.2.3(2)(a) Flexible Coupling on Horizontal
Portion of Tie-In” below.
A.9.2.1.3.3.3 The committee evaluation of flexible
sprinkler hose fittings supported by suspended Ceiling/floor assembly
ceilings was based on a comparison of the weight
of a 6 ft, 1 in. diameter Schedule 40 water-filled ≤ 24 in. (610 mm) Flexible coupling
unsupported armover weighing approximately 13 lb
to the weight of a 6 ft, 1 in. diameter water filled
Flexible coupling
flexible hose fitting weighing approximately 9 lb.
The information provided to the committee showed ≤ 24 in. (610 mm)
that the maximum load shed to the suspended
ceiling by the flexible hose fitting was approximate-
ly 6 lb and that a suspended ceiling meeting ASTM
C635, Standard Specification for the Manufacture,
Performance, and Testing of Metal Suspension
Systems of Acoustical Tile and Lay-In Panel Ceil- Flexible coupling
ings, and installed in accordance with ASTM C636,
Standard Practice for Installation of Metal Ceiling
≤ 12 in. (305 mm)
Suspension Systems for Acoustical Tile and Lay-In
Panels, can substantially support that load. In Ceiling/floor assembly
addition, the supporting material showed that the
flexible hose connection can be attached to the Figure A.9.3.2.3(2)(a) Flexible Coupling on Horizontal Portion of Tie-In.1
suspended ceilings because it allows the necessary
deflections under seismic conditions.1

2. Obstructions to Sprinklers Where bracing and

restraint is added to mains and now in some cases to branch
lines, there is a possibility that if either the brace or the
restraint is located too close to the sprinkler it will obstruct the
discharge of the sprinkler and, therefore, the obstruction rules
of Chapter 8 apply in these cases as follows.
Section 9.3.2.4 was added to address the required locations for
flexible coupling on drops. These new requirements are
dependent on the level of support provided for the drop as
shown in Figure A.9.3.2.4.

9.3.1.4 Obstructions to Sprinklers. Braces and
restraints shall not obstruct sprinklers and shall
comply with the obstruction rules of Chapter 8.1
3. Flexible Couplings Two specific areas requiring flexible
couplings were added or modified to address flexible couplings
for floor tie-ins and for drops to hose lines, rack sprinklers, and
mezzanines. Section 9.3.2.3(2) was modified to address the
location of flexible couplings where a floor tie-in does not
incorporate a riser and where the tie-in is horizontal only.
Figure A.9.3.2.3(2)(a) illustrates this arrangement.
9.3.2.3 Systems having more flexible couplings
than required by this section shall be provided with
9.3.2.4* Flexible Couplings for Drops. Flexible
couplings for drops to hose lines, rack sprinklers,
and mezzanines shall be installed regardless of pipe
sizes as follows:1
(1) Within 24 in. (610 mm) of the top of the drop1
(2) Within 24 in. (610 mm) above the uppermost
drop support attachment, where drop supports are
provided to the structure, rack, or mezzanine1
(3) Within 24 in. (610 mm) above the bottom of the
drop where no additional drop support is provided1

14 Sprinkler Age | October 2006

0610layout.indd 14 11/1/06 1:31:31 PM

 See “Figure A.9.3.2.4 Flexible Couplings for Drops” below.
≤24 in. (610 mm) [Paragraph 9.3.2.4(1)]
In-rack sprinkler drops
Flexible couplings
Flexible couplings
≤24 in. (610 mm)
[Paragraph 9.3.2.4(3)]
Figure A.9.3.2.4 Flexible Couplings for Drops.1
4. Seismic Separation Assemblies For the 2007 edition
the committee has expanded its requirements and allowances for
seismic separation assemblies. Figure A.9.3.3(b) was added to
address an example of the new allowance for the use of flexible
piping in lieu of a series of pipe, fittings and couplings. The
required (9.3.3.2) movement must accommodate closing of the
separation and opening of the separation to twice its normal size
with movement in the other two dimensions equal to the
separation distance. Section 9.3.3.3 and 9.3.3.4 address the need
for a four-way seismic brace within 6 ft (1.8 m) on both sides of
the seismic separation assembly and the requirement that no
bracing be attached to the seismic separation assembly.
9.3.3* Seismic Separation Assembly.1
See “Figure A.9.3.3(b) Seismic Separation Assembly Incorpo-
rating Flexible Piping” below.
Figure A.9.3.3(b) Seismic Separation Assembly Incorporating Flexible Piping.1
16 Sprinkler Age | October 2006
0610layout.indd 16
9.3.3.1 An approved seismic separation assembly
shall be installed where sprinkler piping, regardless
of size, crosses building seismic separation joints
above ground level.1
9.3.3.2 Seismic separation assemblies shall consist
of flexible fittings or flexible piping so as to allow
movement sufficient to accommodate closing of
≤24 in. (610 mm) the separation, opening of the separation to twice
[Paragraph
9.3.2.4(2)] its normal size, and movement relative to the
Drop supports separation in the other two dimensions in an
amount equal to the separation distance.1
9.3.3.3* The seismic separation assembly shall
include a four way brace upstream and downstream
within 6 ft (1.83 m) of the seismic separation
assembly.1
A.9.3.3.3 Each four-way brace should be attached
to the building structure on opposite sides of the
seismic separation joint.1
9.3.3.4 Bracing shall not be attached to the seismic
separation assembly.1 ■
EDITOR’S NOTE: Part 2 of this article will appear in a future issue of
Sprinkler Age.
REFERENCES:
1. Reproduced with permission from NFPA 13-2007, Installation of
Sprinker Systems, copyright © 2006 NFPA. This excerpt does not
represent the complete and official position of the NFPA on the refer-
enced subject which is represented only the standard in its entirety.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Christian Dubay is a principal fire protec-
tion engineer with the NFPA’s Systems Applications Engineering
Department, where he is responsible for NFPA’s Automatic Sprin-
kler Systems Project and is the editor of the Automatic Sprinkler
Systems Handbook. Dubay holds a Bachelor of Science degree in
Fire Protection Engineering from the University of Maryland. He
is a registered professional engineer in the State of Connecticut
and is a member of the Society of Fire Protection Engineers.
11/1/06 1:31:32 PM