I For ST Oc Cos

New
Storage Protection Options
NFPA 13, 2016 edition,

2015 and Beyond
Michael Billstroem
OSLO Director of International Technical Services

© 2015 Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. 2
5 2013 Edition
2013 Edition
© 2014 Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. 3 © 2014 Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. 4
Commodity Classification Commodity Classification Test
Based on makeup of individual storage unit

using definitions provided.
OR
“. . . [s]pecific test data of commodity
classification by a national recognized
testing agency . . . .”
NT FIRE 049 Ett exempel: Plastlådor av HDPE
• Tre försök med tre olika

vattentätheter.
• Fyra pallar med gods i varje försök.
• Brandeffekten mäts.
2013 Edition
NFPA 13
2016 Edition
Issue Date: 5/26/2015
(or 8/20/2015 if someone files an appeal)
New Protection Options 1. K25 ESFR & Vertical Barriers
NFPA 13 (2016 edition)

1. K25 ESFR & Vertical Barriers
2. K8+ In-Rack & Horizontal Barriers
• Protection of Expanded Group A Plastics in
Beyond
Rack Storage
3. K25 Extended Coverage In-Rack &
Horizontal Barriers
Fire Protection Research Foundation

Project Team Approach
Ceiling Only Sprinkler Protection
Sponsors Technical Panel Large Orifice, Intermediate Temperature Sprinklers
IKEA Ken Linder, Swiss Re
Viking Sprinkler Rich Pehrson, Rep. IFMA
Reliable Sprinkler Jason Huczek, SwRI
Vertical Barriers
Tyco Fire and Building Products John Denhardt, Strickland Fire Protection
XL Insurance Steve Wolin
Property Insurance Research Matt Klaus, NFPA Staff Liaison
Group
Procter & Gamble 8ft(2,4m) Aisless
Project Contractor Model N25
Target
Underwriters Laboratories K25.2
Aon Insurance ESFR
NFPA 13 NFPA 13
Chapter 21 Chapter 21
Alternative Sprinkler System Designs for Storage Criteria (Section A21.2)
Requires series of large scale fire tests Number of operated sprinklers
• High clear/low clear No sustained combustion at the outer edges of
• Ignition location relative to sprinklers the target arrays
Number of sprinklers used in the design must based No sustained combustion at the far end of the
on the worst-case result obtained in the full-scale main test array
fire test series increased by a minimum of 50% No sprinklers should operate at the outer edges
• Minimum of 12 sprinklers for standard coverage of the installed sprinkler system
• 768 sf (71,3m2) minimum operating area 1000°F (538°C) maximum 1 minute average
steel temperature measured above the fire
Test A: Setup
Test Program High Clearance
Test A Test B Test C
Ignited Between 2
Storage Arrangement Double Row Rack Sprinklers
Nom. Storage Height 20 ft (6,0m) 35 ft (10,7m) 30 ft (9,1m)
Ceiling Height 40 ft (12,2m)
Commodity Polystyrene Meat Trays on Hardwood Pallets
Vertical Barriers
Material Metal Metal 3/8 inch Plywood
Horizontal distance ~16 ft (4,9m) ~16 ft (4,9m) ~16 ft (4,9m)
Transverse Flue Spaces Blocked Open Open
Aisle Width 8 ft (2,4m)
Sprinkler ESFR K25.2 Intermediate Temperature at 60 psi (4,1bar)
Ignition Location Between 2 Sprinklers Under 1 Sprinkler
Test A: Damage
Results Summary
Test A Test B Test C
Nom. Storage Height (ft) 20 (6,0m) 35 (10,7m) 30 (9,1m)
Transverse Flue Spaces Blocked Open Open
Ignition Location Between 2 Sprinklers Under 1 Sprinkler
No. of Sprinklers Operated 6 7 7
First – Last (min:sec) 0:44 – 3:21 0:48 – 2:28 0:47 – 1:28
Max. 1 minute avg. steel 117 (47,2C) 134 (56,7C) 127 (52,8C)
temperature (°F)
Ignition of Target None
Extent of Fire Travel on 1 bay beyond 1 pallet position 1 pallet position
Main Array barrier beyond barrier beyond barrier
NFPA 13 Criteria NFPA 13 Criteria

Storage Arrangement Sprinkler System
Single-, Double-, and Multiple-row racks K25.2 Intermediate Temperature
Max. 40 ft (12,2m) ceiling ESFR sprinklers
Max. 35 ft (10,7m) storage Ceiling only
Min. 8 ft (2,4m) aisles Hydraulic Design Criteria
Exposed expanded Group A plastic 12 sprinklers at 60 psi(4,1 bar)
commodity Approx. 2,350 gpm(8,896 lpm) raw
aw Model N25
sprinkler water demand K25.2
ESFR
NFPA 13 Criteria
2. K8+ In-Rack & Horizontal Barriers
Vertical Barriers
3/8-inch (10mm) plywood, 3/8-inch particle board,
Alternative protection to supplement overhead
22 gauge metal (0,7mm), or equivalent sprinkler system
Max. 16-1/2 ft ( 5,0m) between barriers
Permitted for Group A plastics and Class I-IV
Max.124 sf (11,5m2)of storage between barriers and commodity
aisles
Similar to:
Extend through longitudinal flue space
FM Global Scheme 8-9A
Commodity may extend nominally 4 inches (0,1m)
past barrier into aisle NFPA 13 (2013) Section 17.1.5.7 for solid
Barrier must extended from max. of 4 inches (0,1m) shelves
above floor to top of storage Prior combustible liquids tests
Horizontal Barriers Hydraulic Design

3/8-inch (10mm) plywood or 22 gauge (0,7mm) Calculation
metal
Not balanced with overhead system
Cover flue spaces
60 gpm (227lpm) per in-rack sprinkler
3-inch (0,08m) max. gap permitted at uprights
Single row racks: 6 in-rack sprinklers
3-inch (0,08m) max. gap permitted at rack
members, pipe drops, etc. Double/Multiple row racks: 8 in-rack
Vertical spacing sprinklers
Open frame: 12 ft (3,6m) max. Hose demand: 500 gpm
Solid shelving: every level Water supply duration: 2 hours
In-Rack Sprinklers Single Row Racks
K8.0 or larger
Quick-response
Ceiling or in-rack
Model GL112
K11.2
Pendent & Upright
Spray Sprinklers
Double Row Racks Multiple Row Racks
K25 EC In-Rack & Horizontal
3.
Barriers
Conventional vs. N-RACK-ECTM
Conventional In-Rack Sprinkler N-RACK-ECTM
New concept for in-rack sprinkler protection
Supported by full-scale fire testing at UL
Not in NFPA 13
Patent Pending
N-RACK-ECTM Model N252 EC

Extended Coverage In-Rack Sprinkler System
K25.2 30 spr vs. 2 spr
Extended Coverage
CMDA\CMSA Sprinkler
The Sprinkler N-RACK-ECTM Tests

Conventional In-Rack N-RACK-ECTM
K8 or K11.2 Standard Coverage K25.2 Extended Coverage Exposed Expanded Group A plastics
Cartoned Unexpanded Group A plastics
Combustible Liquids
Lithium Ion Batteries
Aerosols
Exposed Expanded Group A plastics
Double-Row Racks
Horizontal
barriers at 20 ft
(6,0m) intervals
for EEP
Rack Storage of
Exposed Expanded Group A Plastics
Ceiling Height = 40 ft (12,2m)

Storage Height = 35 ft (10,7m)
3/8-inch Plywood Horizontal Barrier at 20 ft (6,0m)
Ceiling Sprinklers
K-16.8 ESFR @ 50 psi (3,4bar)
In-Rack Sprinklers
212° F (100C) K-25.2 EC Pendent @ 30 psi (2,0bar)
C-C 2,5m
Damage
Results Applications
Extent of fire spread: 1 bay from ignition Protection for high hazard commodities
Ignition of target: No Existing buildings with increase in hazard
1-min avg. Steel Temp: 102°F (38,9C) classification
Ceiling sprinklers operated: 1 Buildings taller than 48 ft (14,6m)
In-Rack sprinklers operated: 2 Areas with limited water supplies
Water savings
The Future of Storage
80’/120’
60’/90’
40’/60’
20’/30’
Summary
New options to protect Exposed Expanded
Group A plastics
Option Sprinkler Barriers Max. Ceiling In-Rack Water
(Interval) Height Sprinklers Demand
Storage
1 K25 ESFR Vertical 40 ft N/A 2,350+ gpm
(16-1/2 ft) (12,2m) (8,896lpm)
(5,0m)
2 K8+ QR Horizontal Unlimited Yes 480+ gpm
(12 ft) Repeat ~5 per level per (1,817lpm)
(3,7m) protection bay in a DRR
3 Reliabe Horizontal Unlimited Yes 420+ gpm

N252 EC (20 ft) Repeat 1 per level per (1,590lpm)
K25.2 (6,0m) protection bay in a DRR

Outline Why is Storage Different?
Why is storage different?
Definitions
Commodities
Michael Billstroem
Director of International Technical Services
The Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc.
Codes & Standards Definitions

¾ NFPA 13 2013 edition ¾ Available Height for Storage
• Chapter 12 General Requirements for Storage • The maximum height at which
• Chapter 13 Miscellaneous and Storage < 12’-0” commodities can be stored
• Chapter 14 Class I-IV Palletized, Solid Piled, Bin above the floor and still
Box and Shelf Storage maintain the necessary
• Chapter 15 Plastic & Rubber Storage Palletized, clearance from structural
Solid Piled, Bin Box and Shelf Storage members and the required
• Chapter 16 Class I-IV Storage on Racks clearance below sprinklers.
• Chapter 17 Plastic & Rubber Storage on Racks
• Chapter 18 Rubber Tire Storage ¾ Cartoned
• Chapter 19 Roll Paper Storage • Storage consisting of
• Chapter 20 Special Storage Designs corrugated cardboard or
• Chapter 21 Alternative Sprinkler system Design paperboard fully enclosing the
commodity
Definitions Definitions
¾ Compact Storage ¾ Compact Storage
• Storage arranged as part Module
of a compact storage
module on shelves not • A type of shelving unit
exceeding 36” in depth, no whereby the units move
more than 30” between to allow for storage to
shelves vertically with no
be pushed together
internal vertical flues
creating storage with
¾ Carton Records Storage no flues or minimal
• A Class III commodity flues. Modules can be
consisting predominantly
of paper records in manual or electric
cardboard cartons
¾ Encapsulation ¾ Encapsulated
• A method of packaging consisting of a plastic sheet
completely enclosing the sides and top of a pallet
load containing a combustible commodity.
Combustible commodities individually wrapped and
stored exposed in a pallet load are encapsulated.
Totally noncombustible commodities on wood pallets
enclosed by plastic sheet are not considered
encapsulated.
Banding (wrapping the sides only) is not considered
encapsulation.
Holes or voids greater than 50% on the top are not
encapsulated
Does not apply to plastic enclosed packages inside a
large, non-plastic enclosed container.
¾ Non Encapsulated ¾ Expanded Plastics
(Foamed or Cellular)
• Plastics in which the
density is reduced by
the presence of
numerous small
cavities (cells),
interconnecting or not,
dispersed throughout
their mass
Definitions
¾ Exposed Plastics
• Plastics not in packaging or
coverings that absorb water
or appreciably retard the
burning hazard of the
commodity. (Paper wrapped or
encapsulated, or both, should
be considered exposed).
¾ Free Flowing Plastics
• Plastics that fall out of their
containers during a fire, fill
flue spaces and create a
smothering effect on the fire.
(Powder, pellets, flakes or
random-packed small objects)
Standard Commodities for Testing
Definitions
¾ High Piled Storage
• Solid-piled, palletized, rack storage, bin
box, and shelf storage in excess of 12 feet
Class 2 Class 3 Class 4 in height.
¾ Miscellaneous Storage
Cartoned
onedd Cartoned Exposed • Storage that does not exceed 12 feet and is
incidental to another occupancy group.
Unexp
Unexxxp.
xp
p. Expanded Expanded Storage shall not constitute more than 10
Group A Group A Group A percent of the building area or 4000 ft² of
sprinklered area whichever is greater.
Storage shall not exceed 1000 ft² per pile
Each pile shall be separated by 25 feet from
other piles
Classifications based on NFPA 13
Images © 2013 UL LLC. All rights reserved.
Used with permission.
¾ Pallets
¾ Pallets
• Conventional Pallet – a material handling
aid designed to support a unit load with
openings to provide access for material
handling devices.
• Plastic Pallet – Any portion consisting of
plastic
• Reinforced Plastic Pallet – A plastic pallet
incorporating a secondary reinforcing
material (such as steel or fiberglass) within
the pallet.
• Slave Pallet – A special pallet captive to a
material handling system.
• Wood Pallet – A pallet constructed entirely
of wood with metal fasteners.
¾ Closed Array ¾ Shelf Storage
• Storage arrangement where air • Storage on structures up to and including 30
movement in the pile is restricted in. deep and separated by aisles at least 30 in.
because of 6 in. or less vertical wide.
flues. ¾ Back to Back Shelf Storage
¾ Open Array • Two solid or perforated shelves up to 30 in. in
depth, not exceeding a total depth of 60 in.,
• Storage arrangement where air separated by a longitudinal vertical barrier
movement in the pile is enhanced such as plywood, particleboard, sheet metal,
because of 6 in. or larger vertical or equivalent, with a maximum 0.25 in.
flues. diameter penetrations and no longitudinal flue
space and a maximum storage height of 15 ft.
¾ Bin Box Storage
• Storage in a five-sided wood, metal,
¾ Solid-Piled Storage
or cardboard boxes with open face • Storage of commodities stacked on each other
on the aisles. with no pallets or aides. Piles can be stable or
unstable.
¾ Rack ¾ Double Row Rack
• Any combination of • Racks less than or equal to 12 ft. in depth or single row
vertical, horizontal, racks placed back to back not exceeding 12 ft.
and diagonal structural
members that support
stored materials or
commodities.
¾ Single Row Rack
• Racks that have no
longitudinal flue space
and that have a depth
up to 6 ft. in width with
aisles of at least 3.5 ft.
between loads on
racks.
¾ Multiple Row Flow Through Rack Portable Rack
Racks
• Racks greater
than 12 ft. in
depth or
single or
double row
racks
separated by
aisles less
than 3.5 ft.
wide having
an overall
width greater
than 12 ft.
¾ Open Rack ¾ Solid Shelving
• Racks without shelving or with shelves in racks that are fixed in • Fixed in place, slatted, wire mesh, or other type of shelves located
place with shelves having a solid surface and a shelf equal to or within racks. The area is defined by an aisle or flue space on all
less than 20 ft² or with shelves having wire mesh, slatted surface, four sides. Solid shelves having an area equal to or less than 20 ft²
or other material with openings representing the horizontal area of shall be defined as open racks. Shelves of wire mesh, slats, or
rack members and where the flue spaces are maintained. other materials more than 50% open shall be defined as open
racks.
¾ Longitudinal Flue
Space
¾ Horizontal Barrier
• The space between • A solid barrier in the horizontal position
rows of storage
perpendicular to the covering the entire rack, including all flue
direction of loading spaces at certain height increments to
with a width not
exceeding 24 in. prevent vertical fire spread.
between storage.
¾ Transverse Flue ¾ Bulkhead
Space • A vertical barrier across the rack.
• The space between
rows of storage
parallel to the
¾ Roof Height
direction of loading. • The distance between the floor and the
underside of the roof deck within the
storage area.
¾ Pyramid Tire Storage
¾ Laced Tire • On-floor storage in which
Storage tires are formed into a
pyramid for stability
• Tires stored ¾ On Side Tire Storage
where the • Tires stored horizontally
sides of the or flat.
tires overlap, ¾ On-Tread Tire Storage
creating a • Tires stored vertically or
woven or laced on their treads.
appearance.
Typical Open Portable Rack Typical Palletized Portable Rack
Definitions Commodity Classification

¾ Roll Paper Storage
• Closed Array
¾ Seven types of commodities
A vertical storage • Class I (FM – Glass jars in compartmented
arrangement in which the
distances between cardboard cartons)
columns in both directions
are short (not more than 2 • Class II (FM – Metal lined double tri-wall
in. in one direction and 1
in. in the other). cartons)
• Open Array
A vertical storage
• Class III (FM – Paper cups in
arrangement in which the compartmented cartons)
distance between columns
in both directions is • Class IV (FM – Polystyrene and paper cups
•
lengthy.
Standard Array
in compartmented cardboard cartons)
A vertical storage
arrangement in which the
• Group A Plastics (FM – Polystyrene cups in
distance between columns compartmented cardboard cartons)
in one direction is short (1
in. or less) and is in
excess of 2 in. in the other
• Group B Plastics (Same as Class IV)
direction. • Group C Plastics (Same as Class III)
Commodity Classification Commodity Classification
¾ Class I ¾ Examples of Class I Commodities
• Defined as a non-
combustible product • Alcoholic Beverages (up to 20% alcohol) in
that meets one of the metal, glass or ceramic
following criteria.
1) Placed directly on
• Appliances (stoves, refrigerators) not
wood pallets packaged with no appreciable plastic trim
2) Placed in single-layer • Bottles/Jars (plastic less than 5 gal filled
corrugated cartons,
with or without with noncombustible liquid)
single-thickness • Frozen foods (nonwax nonplastic
cardboard dividers,
with or without packaging)
pallets • Paints (friction top cans, water-based
3) Shrink-wrapped or [latex])
paper-wrapped as a
unit load with or • Poultry Products (frozen with nonwax
without pallets. nonplastic containers)

¾ Class II ¾ Examples of Class II Commodities
• Defined as a non- • Alcoholic Beverages (up to 20% alcohol) in
wooden containers
combustible product
• Appliances (stoves, refrigerators) in
that is in slatted corrugated cartons with no appreciable plastic
wooden crates, solid trim
wood boxes, • Baked Goods (cookies, cakes and pies) frozen
multiple-layered and in plastic coated package
corrugated cartons, • Frozen foods (waxed paper containers,
or equivalent cartoned)
• Plastic Containers (Noncombustible liquids in
combustible larger than 5 gal containers)
packaging material, • Poultry Products (frozen on paper or plastic
with or without trays)
pallets. • Wood Products in solid piles
¾ Class III ¾ Examples of Class III Commodities
• Defined as a product • Aerosols (Level I) (shaving cream)
fashioned from wood,
paper, natural fibers • Baked Goods (cookies, cakes packaged in
(cloth or leather), or cartons)
Group C plastics with
or without cartons, • Charcoal (bagged)
boxes, or crates and • Frozen Foods (on plastic trays)
with or without • Grains (packaged in cartons)
pallets.
• Paper products (Books, magazines,
• Allowed to have a stationery, cartoned tissue products)
limited amount of
Group A or B plastics • Textiles except rayon and nylon (natural
(5 percent by weight fibers)
or volume or less) • Wood furniture (no plastic coverings or
foam plastic cushioning)

¾ Class IV ¾ Examples of Class IV Commodities
• Defined as a product or
Class I, II, or III product, • Ammunition (small arms or shotgun ammo
with or without pallets,
that meets one of the packaged in cartons)
following criteria:
1) Constructed partially or • Bottles/Jars (empty cartoned PET)
totally of Group B
plastics • Liquor (100 proof in glass or plastic bottles
2) Consists of free-flowing cartoned)
Group A plastic materials
3) Contains within itself or • Paints in friction top cans, cartoned
its packaging an
appreciable amount of • Pharmaceuticals (pills or powders in
Group A plastics
5 percent to 15 percent
plastic bottles cartoned)
by weight or • Vinyl floor tiles in cartons
5 percent to 25 percent
by volume
¾ Group A Plastics ¾ Examples of Group A Plastics
• Acrylic • Batteries (truck or larger)
• Butyl rubber • Candles packaged & Cartoned
• Natural rubber • Diapers (Disposable plastic & uncartoned)
(expanded) • Wood furniture with foam plastic
• PET (thermoplastic cushioning
polyester) • Mattresses (foam)
• Polyethylene • Milk (in plastic crates)
• Polypropylene • Paper products (Tissue products,
• Polystyrene uncartoned and plastic wrapped)
• Polyurethane • Stuffed toys (Foam or synthetic)
• Vinyl floor coverings (rolls)

¾ Examples of Group B Plastics ¾ Mixed Commodities
• Nylon • Use the highest classified commodity and
storage arrangement except as follows:
• Silicone rubber
Allowed up to 10 pallet loads per 40,000 ft²
• Natural rubber (not expanded) Higher hazard commodity randomly
¾ Examples of Group C Plastics dispersed with no adjacent loads in any
direction – including diagonally
• PVC (Rigid or lightly plasticized – such as If ceiling protection is Class I or II, only 5
PVC pipe & fittings) pallet loads of Class IV or Group A allowed
• Where higher hazard commodity is
confined to a designated area and
protected as such, lower hazard protection
can be used for lower commodity class
Commodity Classification [email protected]
¾ Plastic Pallets (Polypropylene or high density

polyethylene)
• All commodity classification rules assume that wooden or
steel pallets are used.
• Unreinforced plastic pallets may be used but classification
must be increased (1) class
Group A Plastics are not required to be increased.
Pallets shall be marked with a permanent symbol indicating they
are unreinforced otherwise classified as reinforced
Questions
• Reinforced plastic pallets may be used but classification
must be increased (2) classes.
Group A Plastics are not required to be increased.
Class IV commodities need to be increased (1) class.
• Commodity class increases not required if pallets have been
tested and listed to be equal to or less flammable than wood
pallets
• Plastic pallets can be used without increase if K-16.8 or
larger ceiling sprinklers are utilized
• Other plastic materials need to be listed or incur a (2) class
upgrade
All references to air supply in

NFPA 13 now also include:
“or nitrogen”.
The Days of the Air Compressor
are Numbered
Studies show: A piping system filled with nitrogen will

have a life expectancy 12-13 times that of being filled South-Tek Systems: Corrosion Inhibiting,
with air! Nitrogen Generators

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New

Storage Protection Options

NFPA 13, 2016 edition,

OSLO Director of International Technical Services

Based on makeup of individual storage unit

© 2014 Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. 5

NT FIRE 049 Ett exempel: Plastlådor av HDPE

• Tre försök med tre olika

NFPA 13 (2016 edition)

Fire Protection Research Foundation

NFPA 13 Criteria NFPA 13 Criteria

Horizontal Barriers Hydraulic Design

Double Row Racks Multiple Row Racks

N-RACK-ECTM Model N252 EC

The Sprinkler N-RACK-ECTM Tests

Ceiling Height = 40 ft (12,2m)

3 Reliabe Horizontal Unlimited Yes 420+ gpm

© 2014 Reliable Automatic Sprinkler Co., Inc. 47

Codes & Standards Definitions

Definitions Commodity Classification

Commodity Classification Commodity Classification

Commodity Classification Commodity Classification

Commodity Classification Commodity Classification

¾ Plastic Pallets (Polypropylene or high density

All references to air supply in

Studies show: A piping system filled with nitrogen will

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