Changes to NFPA 13

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.

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.