Looking for Sprinkler Plan Layout with Hydraulic Calculations?
Automatic Sprinkler System Characteristics
Automatic sprinklers are among the most effective fire protection measures for buildings. They extinguish most fires before they spread, making buildings safer for occupants while protecting property. Due to their reliability, fire sprinklers also make buildings eligible for better insurance plans with lower premiums. However, a sprinkler system must be well designed to offer reliability, meeting building codes and NFPA standards. The system should also have an optimal layout, since having more sprinkler heads than necessary is a waste of capital.
Ideally, an automatic sprinkler system should have the following characteristics:
- Offering full coverage for your building.
- Meeting local building codes, NFPA standards, and all applicable regulations.
- Using the smallest number of sprinkler heads that meets the two points above, and distributing water with the shortest piping length possible.
The best recommendation to meet these conditions is getting a professional design from qualified fire protection engineers. This ensures that fire sprinkler plans and all other specifications are code compliant and clear for contractors. Professional design services also help you find a sprinkler layout that offers reliable protection at an optimal cost.
According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), buildings with automatic sprinklers get an average discount of 7% in their insurance plans. However, insurance discounts of up to 50% have been achieved in some projects.
The Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition found that fire incidents cause an average damage of $45,019 in households without sprinklers. However, this is reduced to only $2,166 when an automatic sprinkler system is present.
The purpose of sprinklers is quenching fires automatically as soon as they start, without giving them a chance to spread. Contrary to popular belief, fire sprinklers only release water directly above an active fire, and not over the entire room as shown in movies and TV series.
- Sprinklers have a heat-sensitive seal, which opens with the hot air that rises above an active fire. This allows a localized response, preventing the release of water over areas that are not burning.
- In most applications, automatic sprinklers are not designed with a smoke response mechanism. This is to avoid accidental opening of sprinklers, since there are many sources of smoke other than fire incidents.
For example, if someone smokes inside a building, the corresponding smoke alarms will activate. However, fire sprinklers stay closed because there is no heat. Water damage is a common concern among property owners who are required to install a sprinkler system. However, this is due to the wrong image of sprinklers that is by movies and TV series.
There are special sprinkler systems that shower the entire area when fire or smoke are detected, just like those in movies. They are called deluge sprinkler systems, and they are not normally used in residential and commercial buildings. These systems are only used in critical applications where fire is a severe hazard, such as storage areas with explosive materials.
The localized action of sprinkler systems is especially useful in offices with computers, data centers and other IT equipment.
- If a fire incident occurs, water only falls above the affected area.
- IT equipment is only exposed to water if it is located in the burning area, but in these cases, it would be destroyed anyway.
- Therefore, it makes sense to use fire sprinklers even when electronic devices are present.
All sprinkler systems have the same basic principle, but they are classified into different types based on their operation. The following are the main types of sprinkler systems:
Filing Sprinkler Plans for Project Approval
Since automatic sprinkler systems have a critical role in buildings, local authorities normally have stringent requirements for their design and installation. Effective fire protection is always important, but especially in cities with a high density of buildings and people. For example, New York City has some of the most demanding fire protection requirements in the world.
Before installing a fire sprinkler system, the first step is drawing a set of sprinkler plans as required by local codes. These plans are then submitted to local authorities for review, and the project can only proceed until the documents are approved. Once an automatic sprinkler system is installed, inspectors are sent to verify that it matches the approved design, and also to make sure the system works properly.
All new sprinkler installations in NYC must be filed, regardless of how small they are. The sprinkler plans must be submitted to the NYC Department of Buildings for approval, and the procedure can only be carried out by a Registered Design Professional (RDP) - a Registered Architect (RA) or a Professional Engineer (PE).
The NYC DOB does not require filing for the following alterations in existing sprinkler systems, as long as their budget is under $35,000 over a 12-month period.
- Part replacements
- Modifications that don’t affect the operation of the sprinkler system
- Rearrangement of up to 20 sprinkler heads
- Addition of up to 5 sprinkler heads
After approving the sprinkler plans, only a qualified contractor can carry out the installation. Sprinkler systems in NYC must be installed by a Licensed Fire Suppression Contractor (LFSC), but a Licensed Master Plumber (LMP) is also eligible for projects with up to 30 sprinkler heads.
Looking for Sprinkler Plan Layout with Hydraulic Calculations?
The requirement to install sprinkler systems is determined by local authorities, and there are differences between cities, states and countries. In New York City, the conditions for mandatory sprinkler systems are determined by the building’s occupancy classification, floor area and a number of occupants. There are also special applications in which fire sprinklers become mandatory regardless of building area and occupancy.
Read More: When are sprinkler systems mandatory in New York City?
When new versions of building codes are published, they apply for new constructions, renovations and building expansions. Owners of existing buildings are not forced to upgrade their properties according to the new code, unless they carry out a renovation project.
In the case of existing buildings without fire sprinklers, the installation is only mandatory when requested by a NYC local law. For example, Local Law 26 of 2004 makes sprinklers mandatory for all buildings that belong to Business Group E (as defined back in 2004), with a height of at least 100 feet.
- The deadline to install fire sprinklers according to LL26/04 was July 1, 2019.
- Any building covered by the law that still lacks a sprinkler system is subject to penalties.
- Filing sprinkler plans is necessary to meet LL26. Even a building with sprinklers is not compliant if the project has not been filed yet.
Sprinkler systems are recommended even for buildings that are not covered by LL26/04, due to how effective they are as a fire protection measure. However, keep in mind that building codes are mandatory even if your fire sprinkler installation is optional. You must contact a Registered Design Professional (RDP) to get the sprinkler plans approved by the NYC Department of Building, and must then hire a qualified contractor for the installation.
Looking for Sprinkler Plan Layout with Hydraulic Calculations?
