13 Changes to NFPA 13
As the newest
edition of NFPA 13 is set to be presented next month, NFPA has published some
of the notable changes to this document:
1.
CPVC compatibility - where corrosion inhibitors are used in combination
systems that include coated steel pipe and CPVC pipe, the coating must be
tested for compatibility with CPVC.
2.
Freeze protection
requirements - tentative interim amendments regarding
antifreeze solution to prevent the freezing of water in sprinkler pipes has
been formally adopted into the standard
3.
Sprinkler requirements
for elevator spaces and hoistways - allows fire
sprinklers to be omitted from elevator machine rooms, elevator machinery
spaces, control spaces, or hoistways of traction elevators where a number of
conditions are met, and brings the standard in alignment with other model
building codes
4.
Title change to NFPA
13R - Standard for the Installation of
Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies
5.
Sprinkler protection
in small bathrooms - Apartment
buildings with bathrooms less than 55 square feet (5 square meters) must now
have sprinkler protection where they were not previously required to do
so.
6.
Shadow areas - shadow areas are permitted in the protection area
of a sprinkler as long as they do not exceed 15 square feet per sprinkler.
7.
"Sprinkler system" definition - modified to describe a system as an integrated network of piping that includes a water supply source, a water control valve, a water flow alarm, and a drain; this largely effects the requirements of NFPA 25.
"Sprinkler system" definition - modified to describe a system as an integrated network of piping that includes a water supply source, a water control valve, a water flow alarm, and a drain; this largely effects the requirements of NFPA 25.
8.
Backflow preventer
requirements - a forward flow test will now be
required on allNFPA
13/13R installations.
9.
Storage chapter - newly added; allows for an alternative design approach.
10.
Sloped ceilings - provides five common ceiling arrangements that allow for
hydraulic calculations
11.
Water mist systems - refers users to NFPA
750.
12.
Cloud ceilings - protection to follow the use of obstruction rules.
13.
ESFR and CMSA sprinklers - these will now be permitted to protect light and
ordinary hazard areas.
