Module 4

DESIGN APPROACHES

OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE CONTROL APPROACH

STORAGE DESIGN APPROACH

SPECIAL OCCUPANCY DESIGN APPROACH

 Sprinkler System Failures

There are three principal causes of unsatisfactory sprinkler

performance:
1. A closed valve in the water supply
2. Inadequate water supply delivery
3. Occupancy changes negating the system design

Pre-planning, accurate design, proper identification of hazards,

inspections, proper maintenance and testing should correct these
problems.

One of the leading causes of sprinkler system ineffectiveness occurs

when storage contents or configurations change and the system is not
altered to match the new hazard.

Moreso, fire protection engineers should never underestimate the

hazard that will cause fire spread.
The design, equipment specification and installation of
Automatic Fire Sprinkler System shall be in accordance with
the applicable minimum design requirements set forth by the
following codes and standards

1. NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems

2. NFPA 14, Standard for the Installation of Standpipe, Fire Hydrant,
and Hose Systems
3. NFPA 20, Standard for the Installation of Stationary Pumps for Fire
Protection
4. NFPA 22, Standard for Water Tanks for Private Fire Protection
5. NFPA 24, Standard for the Installation of Private Fire Service Mains
and Their Appurtenances
6. Factory Mutual Approval Guide
7. UL (Underwriters Laboratories) Listing Guide
8. RA 9514 - Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008
9. RA 6541- National Building Code of the Philippines
10. Philippine Mechanical Code of 2012
11. Philippine Electrical Code
12. Philippine Electronics and Communication Code (FDAS)
IV. Automatic Sprinkler System
THREE TYPES OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS DESIGN
ACCORDING TO PIPING ARRANGEMENT

Looped Sprinkler System

A sprinkler system in which multiple cross mains are tied together so as
to provide more than one path for water to flow to an operating sprinkler
and branch lines are not tied together.

WATER SUPPLY
Gridded Sprinkler System- a type of sprinkler system in which
parallel cross mains are connected by multiple branch lines. An
operating sprinkler will receive water from both ends of its branch line
while other branch lines help transfer water between cross mains

WATER SUPPLY
Tree Sprinkler System – a type of sprinkler system in which multiple
branch lines are directly connected to the cross main. An operating
sprinkler will receive water only from its branch lines. Branch lines are
not tied together. Most widely used design.

WATER SUPPLY
The 2012 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code requires that
Automatic Fire Sprinkler Systems shall be designed and
installed in accordance with NFPA-13, Standard for the
Installation of Automatic Sprinkler System

• All new sprinkler system shall be hydraulically designed.

• Pipe schedule system shall not be used except in renovation
Section of existing sprinkler system that is less than 185.9 square
2003.3.1.1 meters (2000 square feet).

• Water Supply for sprinkler system and standpipe system

shall be in accordance with NFPA 13 and 14 but not less
than the following requirements:
Sub-section • 1. Sprinkler Water supply-minimum of 1 hour fire duration
2003.3.1.1.1 • 2. Standpipe System water supply-minimum of 45 minutes fire
duration

• Fire pumps shall be UL Listed or FM approved fire pumps.

Sub-section • Pump suppliers shall submit certified pump performance
2003.3.1.1.2 curve prior to acceptance of the installation.
 • Required sprinkler protection shall be provided in all parts of the
building.
Section • Partial sprinkler protection is not acceptable.
2003.3.1.2 • Areas that cannot be provided with automatic sprinkler system
shall be isolated by at least two hour wall construction.

• Sprinklers shall not be omitted from any room merely because it is

Section damp, of fire resistance rated construction or contains electrical
2003.3.1.3 equipment.

• Any room where the application of water, or flame and water,

constitutes a serious fire hazard.
• Any room or space where sprinklers are considered undesirable
because of the nature of the contents, when approved by the fire
Exception code official.
• Generator and transformer rooms separated from the remainder
of the building by walls and floor/ ceiling or floor/ceiling
assemblies having a fire resistance rating of not less than 2 hours.
The basic step in the hydraulically designed Automatic Fire
Sprinkler System is the identification of Occupancy Hazard
Classification in the building to be protected
Light Hazard

Light hazard occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or portions of other

occupancies where the quantity and/or combustibility of contents is low and fires
with relatively low rates of heat release are expected.
Light hazard occupancies include occupancies having uses and conditions
similar to the following:
(1) Animal shelters (13) Residential
(2) Churches (14) Restaurant seating areas
(3) Clubs (15) Theaters and auditoriums
excluding stage
(4) Eaves and overhangs and prosceniums
(5) Educational (16) Unused attics
(6) Hospitals, including animal hospitals and veterinary facilities
(7) Institutional
(8) Kennels
(9) Libraries, except large stack rooms
(10) Museums
(11) Nursing or convalescent homes
(12) Offices, including data processing
Ordinary Hazard Group 1

Ordinary Hazard under Group 1 occupancies shall be defined as

occupancies or portions of other occupancies where combustibility is low,
quantity of combustibles is moderate, stockpiles of combustibles do not
exceed 8 ft (2.4m), and fires with moderate rates of heat release are
expected.

Ordinary hazard (Group 1) occupancies include occupancies having uses

and conditions similar to the following:
1. Hospitals and Hotels
2. Libraries (excluding book stores)
3. Restaurants service areas
4. Schools and Offices
5. Data processing center (computer room excluding tape storage)
6. Laboratories (physical)
7. Laundries
8. Automobile parking and showrooms
9. Leather good factories
10. Meat factories, Dairy products manufacturing and processing
11. Bakeries and Canneries
12. Biscuit and chocolate factories
13. Beverage manufacturing
14. Glass and glass products manufacturing
15. Electronic Plants
Ordinary Hazard Group 2
Ordinary Hazard under Group 2 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies
or portions of other occupancies where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are moderate to high, stockpiles do not exceed 12 ft (3.7 m), and
fires with moderate to high rates of heat release are expected.

Ordinary hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:
1. Broadcasting and TV studios
2. Railway stations
3. Exhibition halls
4. Clothing factories, Weaving mills and Textile manufacturing
5. Furniture showrooms and upholstery shops with no plastic foams
6. Archives, Storage rooms, File rooms
7. Department stores and Shopping center
8. Corn mills, Dehydrated vegetable factory and Sugar factory
9. Tobacco products manufacturing
10. Radio equipment factory
11. Refrigerator and washing machine factory
12. Machine shops, Metal working, Wood products assembly
13. Paper and pulp mills, Plastic fabrication
14. Post offices, Printing and publishing
15. Automotive repair shops
16. Tire manufacturing
Ordinary Hazard Group 2

Ordinary hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:

(1) Agricultural facilities

(2) Barns and stables
(3) Cereal mills
(4) Chemical plants — ordinary
(5) Confectionery products
(6) Distilleries
(7) Dry cleaners
(8) Exterior loading docks
(9) Feed mills
(10) Horse stables
(11) Leather goods manufacturing
(12) Libraries — large stack room areas
(13) Machine shops
(14) Metal working
Extra Hazard Occupancies

Extra hazard occupancies represent the most severe fire

conditions addressed under the occupancy hazard
classifications in NFPA 13 and present the most severe
challenge to sprinkler protection.

The extra hazard occupancy examples are classified on

the basis of actual field experience with sprinkler system
operations in occupancies having conditions similar to
those identified.
Extra Hazard Group 1

Extra Hazard under Group 1 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies

or portions of other occupancies where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are very high and dust, lint, or other materials are present,
introducing the probability of rapidly developing fires with high rates of heat
release but with little or no combustible or flammable liquids.

Extra hazard (Group 1) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:
1. Aircraft hangars (except as governed by NFPA 409)
2. Combustible hydraulic fluid use areas
3. Die casting
4. Metal extruding
5. Plywood and particleboard manufacturing
6. Printing using inks having flash points below 100°F (38°C)
7. Rubber reclaiming, compounding, drying, milling, vulcanizing
8. Saw mills
9. Textile picking, opening, blending, combining of cotton, synthetics, wool
shoddy, or burlap
10. Upholstering with plastic foams
Extra Hazard Group 2

Extra Hazard under Group 2 occupancies shall be defined as

occupancies or portions of other occupancies with moderate to
substantial amounts of flammable or combustible liquids or
occupancies where shielding of combustibles is extensive.

Extra hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having

uses and conditions similar to the following:
1. Asphalt saturating
2. Flammable liquids spraying
3. Manufactured home or modular building assemblies (where
finished enclosure is present and has combustible interiors)
4. Open oil quenching
5. Plastics manufacturing
6. Solvent cleaning
7. Varnish and paint dipping
 Amount of Amount of
Hazard Combustibilit Heat
Combustible Flammable
Class y of Content Liberation
s Liquid

Light Low Low Low None

Ordinary
Low Moderate Moderate None
Group 1

Ordinary Moderate - Moderate -

Moderate None
Group 2 High High

Extra Hazard
Very High Very High Very High Little amount
Group 1

Extra Hazard Substantial

Very High Very High Very High
Group 2 amount
 NFPA 13 Standards for maximum Spacing Requirement and
Protection Area per Sprinkler
Protection Areas and Maximum Spacing for Light Hazard Occupancy
(For Standard Spray Upright and Standard Spray Pendent Sprinkler)
(NFPA 13, Table 8.6.2.2.1a)
Sprinkler Spacing
 Protection Areas and Maximum Spacing for Ordinary Hazard Occupancy
For Standard Spray Upright and Standard Spray Pendent Sprinkler
(NFPA 13, Table 8.6.2.2.1b)

For Standard Sidewall Spray Sprinkler

(NFPA 13, Table 8.7.2.2.1)
Light Hazard Ordinary Hazard
Noncombustible Noncombustible
Combustible or Limited- Combustible or Limited-
Finish Combustible Finish Combustible
Finish Finish
Maximum distance
14 ft 14 ft 10 ft 10 ft
along the wall (S)
Maximum room
12 ft 14 ft 10 ft 10 ft
width (L)
Maximum
protection area
For SI units, 1 ft = 0.3048 m; = 0.0929
 Protection Areas and Maximum Spacing for Extra Hazard Occupancy
(For Standard Spray Upright/Standard Spray Pendent Sprinkler)
(NFPA 13, Table 8.6.2.2.1c)
Protection Spacing
Area (maximum)
Construction System
ft m
Type Type
All Pipe 90 8.4 12 3.7
schedule
[In buildings with
storage bays 25 ft
(7.6 m) wide, 12 ft 6
in. (3.8 m) shall be
permitted]
All Hydraulically 100 9.3 12 3.7
calculated
with density
≥0.25
[In buildings with
storage bays 25 ft
(7.6 m) wide, 12 ft 6
in. (3.8 m) shall be
permitted]
All Hydraulically 130 12.1 15 4.6
calculated
with density
<0.25
In the design of wet type Automatic Fire Sprinkler System,
NFPA 13 identifies three (3) design approaches where
water demand requirement shall be determined

OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE CONTROL APPROACH

This is the most common design approach used in Automatic Fire Sprinkler
System. There are two ways to design a sprinkler system:

 Pipe Schedule Method

• Pipe is sized according to system pressure, required flow and number
of sprinkler heads a certain pipe size is tested to accommodate.
• Sprinkler discharge density and estimated area of coverage determine
pipe size.

 Hydraulic Calculation Method

• An engineered approach to match the fire hazard with the calculated
potential water supply pressure and volume required
• The design is primarily based on density/area curve and it is
commonly use in light and ordinary hazards occupancies
• The minimum duration of water supply should last by at least 60-90
minutes
The most favored design approach for wet type Automatic Fire
Sprinkler System is the Hydraulic Calculation Method where
water demand requirement is based on Density/Area Curve

Density / Area Curve

STORAGE DESIGN APPROACH

NFPA 13 Chapter 12 defines that Storage Design Approach shall only be

apply to meet the requirements of Storage arrangements and commodities.

This design approach shall be applied for the protection of the following:
a. Plastic commodities
b. Commodities that are stored in Wooden or Plastic Pallets, Solid Piled,
Bin Boxes, Shelf and Multiple Racks storage
c. Plastic, Rubber Tires and Rolled Paper and related hazard commodities
(Class 1 to Class 4 commodities)

NFPA 13 mandatory requirements:

a. This design approach requires the use of Early Suppression Fast-
Response (ESFR) and Large Drop Sprinklers.
b. Aside from Automatic Sprinklers, NFPA 13 requires the installation of
Automatic Medium and High-Expansion Foam System in accordance with
NFPA 11A.
c. In the Density/Area Curve, storage design should start with Ordinary
Hazard 2 curve.
d. The minimum duration of water supply should last by at least 120-180
minutes.
SPECIAL OCCUPANCY DESIGN APPROACH

NFPA 13 Chap. 13 defines that Special Occupancy Design Approach shall only be
apply to meet the requirements of arrangements and commodities that includes:
a. Flammable and Combustible Liquids
b. Aerosol Products
c. Solvent Extraction Plants
d. Nitrate Film
e. Storage or vaults containing Pyroxylin Plastics
f. Laboratories Using Chemicals
g. Oxygen-Fuel Gas Systems for Welding, Cutting and Allied Processes
h. Acetylene Cylinder Charging Plants
i. Production, Storage and Handling of Liquefied Natural Gas
j. Electronic Computer Systems and Data Centers
k. Ventilation Control and Fire Protection of Commercial Cooking Operations
l. Piers, Terminals and Wharves
m. Aircraft Hangars
n. Storage of Organic Peroxides

The use of Wet Type Automatic Sprinklers has to be carefully studied since the
use of water in some of the above occupancies is not advisable.

The fire protection design for this should meet the requirement of separate NFPA
standards.
The use of Pipe Schedule is also a recognized method in
installing Automatic Fire Sprinkler System under the
Occupancy Hazard Fire Control Approach (NFPA 13, Chap. 11)

Pipe Schedule Method shall not be used, except in existing systems or extensions to
existing systems.

Pipe Schedule Method shall be permitted only for new installations of 5,000 ft 2 (465 m 2 )
or less or for additions or modifications to the existing pipe systems that is sized according
to Pipe Schedule.

Pipe Schedule Method shall be permitted for use in systems exceeding 5,000 ft 2 (465m 2)
where the flows required as specified in the table below are available at a minimum
residual pressure of 50 psi (3.4 bar) at the highest elevation of sprinkler.

The residual pressure requirement shall be met at the elevation of the highest sprinkler.
The lower flow value shall be permitted only where the building is of non-
combustible construction or the potential areas of fire are limited by building size
or compartmentation such that no open areas exceeded 3000 ft 2 (279 m2) for
light hazard or 4000 ft2 (372 m2) for ordinary hazard.

The use of Pipe Schedule method is limited only for Light and Ordinary Hazard
occupancies.

Pressures and flow requirements for extra hazard occupancies shall be based on
the hydraulic calculation methods.

Sprinkler systems having sprinklers with K-factors other than 5.6 nominal, extra
hazard Groups 1 and 2 systems, and exposure protection systems shall be
hydraulically calculated.
In using the pipe schedule design method, the number of
sprinkler heads on a given pipe size on one floor shall not
exceed the number specified for each classification of
occupancies.

Pipe Schedule for Light and Ordinary Hazard Occupancies

On Branchlines

Sprinkler heads for each branch line shall not exceed eight (8) on either
side of a cross main.

Where more than 8 sprinklers on a branch line are necessary, lines

maybe increased to 9 sprinklers by making the two end lengths 1 inch
(25.4 mm) and 1 ¼ inch (33 mm), respectively, and the sizes thereafter
standard.

Ten sprinklers shall be permitted to be placed on a branch line, making

the two end lengths 1 inch (25 mm) and 1 ¼ inch (33 mm) respectively,
and feeding the tenth sprinkler by a 2 ½ inch (64 mm) pipe.
Arrangement of Branch Lines Supplying Sprinklers
Above and Below a Ceiling
[NFPA Figure 14.5.2.3 (a)]
Light Hazard Pipe Schedule

STEEL COPPER
SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER
HEADS HEADS
1 in. 2 heads 1 in. 2 heads
1-1/4 in. 3 heads 1-1/4 in. 3 heads
1-1/2 in. 5 heads 1-1/2 in. 5 heads
2 in. 10 heads 2 in. 12 heads
2-1/2 in. 30 heads 2-1/2 in. 40 heads
3 in. 60 heads 3 in. 65 heads
3-1/2 in. 100 heads 3-1/2 in. 115 heads
4 in. See Section 8.2 4 in. See Section 8.2

Light Hazard Pipe Schedule

(NFPA13 Table 14.5.2.2.1)
Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule

STEEL COPPER

SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER SIZE NO. OF SPRINKLER

1 in. 2 heads 1 in. 2 heads
1-1/4 in. 3 heads 1-1/4 in. 3 heads
1-1/2 in. 5 heads 1-1/2 in. 5 heads
2 in. 10 heads 2 in. 12 heads
2-1/2 in. 20 heads 2-1/2 in. 25 heads
3 in. 40 heads 3 in. 45 heads
3-1/2 in. 65 heads 3-1/2 in. 75 heads
4 in. 100 heads 4 in. 115 heads
5 in. 160 heads 5 in. 180 heads
6 in. 275 heads 6 in. 300 heads
8 in. See Section 8.2 8 in. See Section 8.2

Ordinary Hazard Pipe Schedule

(NFPA13 Table 14.5.3.4)
The Hydraulic Calculation Method of the Occupancy Hazard
Fire Control Approach is the most favored engineering design

DENSITY / AREA METHOD

The water supply requirement for sprinklers shall be calculated from the
density/area curve as shown below:
The minimum water supply requirement for a hydraulically
designed occupancy hazard fire control sprinkler system shall
be determined by adding the hose stream demand to the water
requirement as determined using the Density/Area Curve

Total Combined
Occupancy Inside Hose Inside and Outside Duration
(gpm) Hose (gpm) (minutes)

Light hazard 0,50, or 100 100 30

Ordinary
hazard 0,50, or 100 250 60-90

Extra Hazard 0,50, or 100 500 90-120

Note: For SI units, 1gpm=3.785 L/min

Hose Stream Demand and Water Supply Duration
Requirements for Hydraulically Calculated Systems
(NFPA Table 11.2.3.1.1)
For system with multiple hazard classifications, the
hose stream and water demand shall be in accordance
with the following

• Add the hose demand for the highest hazard classification within
the system, or

• Where the higher classification only lies within single room less
than or equal to 400 ft2 (37.18 m2 ) in area with no such rooms
adjacent, add the hose demand for the principal occupancy for the
remainder of the system.

• Where the combined sprinkler system demand and hose stream

allowance exceeds the requirements of NFPA 13 & 14, the higher
demand shall be used.

• Water demand of sprinklers installed in concealed spaces or under

obstructions such as ducts may be permitted to be excluded in the
computation for the total demand.
In determining the number of System Riser to be installed for
a given floor area to be protected, NFPA 13 set the following
standard for Maximum Protection Area Per System Riser

NFPA 13, Chapter 8, Section 8.2 states that the maximum floor area
on any one floor to be protected by sprinklers supplied by any one
sprinkler system riser or combined system riser shall be as follows:

1. Light hazard – 52,000 square feet (4,831 square meter)

2. Ordinary hazard – 52,000 square feet (4,831 square meter)

3. Extra hazard
a) Pipe schedule – 25,000 square feet (2,323 square meter)
b) Hydraulically calculated – 40,000 square feet (3,716 square
meter)

4. Storage – 40,000 square feet (3,716 square meter)

 THANK YOU

Alexander V. Listana, PME PE REA REB CEM CFSP

VP and Head of Engineering, Power V Engineering
[email protected]
09178637420