FM Global recently updated their Property Loss Prevention Data Sheet 8-9, Storage of Class 1, 2, 3, 4 and Plastic Commodities (July 2019 edition), to include ceiling-only sprinkler designs for ceiling heights up to 50…
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Viking’s Model VK514 ESFR Storage Sprinkler is now FM Approved to provide ceiling-only protection for storage up to 50 ft. under ceilings up to 55 ft. in height. Key sprinkler data is as follows: K28.0,…
Read MoreAs the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) states, “NFPA 13 is the industry benchmark for design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems. NFPA 13 addresses sprinkler system design approaches, system installation, and component options…
Read MoreIron and steel sprinkler piping, particularly dry pipe sprinkler systems, are subject to blockage and degraded flow performance by internal corrosion and tuberculation of the interior of the piping. We are all familiar with common…
Read MoreThe Viking Corporation has introduced the next size in Early Suppression Fast Response (ESFR) technology with their model VK514 sprinkler head. This pendent head has a nominal Kfactor of 28.0 (404 metric), with a 1in.…
Read MoreCounterfeit equipment and materials, no matter whether it is currency, watches or medicine, affect the reliability of the end user’s systems as well as the reputation of the authentic manufacturers. Automatic sprinkler heads are no…
Read MoreYou might think that since you have smoke detection and/or heat detection in your building that it is almost as good as having sprinkler protection to protect your property. Is there really that much difference…
Read MoreThe old requirement/standard for the installation of pressure relief valves was only for gridded systems. Since 2010, NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems requires relief valves for all wet-pipe systems. The current…
Read MoreRecent studies by Liberty Mutual and National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA) have shown that sprinklers are the most effective way to reduce loss of life and property damage in industrial occupancies (warehouses and manufacturing facilities).…
Read MoreFlue spaces are necessary for rack storage arrangements to allow heat from a fire to quickly vent vertically. This is critical in order to help ensure the ceiling-level sprinklers will operate as quickly as possible.…
Read MoreIn times gone by, sprinkler heads came in basic flavors, with a few relatively limited options and permutations available: 1/2 inch orifice, 17/32 inch orifice, low, medium, or high temperature. Today, like much else in…
Read MoreMany jurisdictions have adopted NFPA 25, Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems, to help ensure that sprinkler systems are properly inspected and maintained. Many property insurance companies often require that this standard…
Read MoreIf the temperature can or will be below 40°F, the sprinkler piping or heads need to be protected against freezing. There are several methods of automatic sprinkler protection that should be evaluated. Antifreeze Because water…
Read MoreBooster pumps are often needed to boost the pressure of the city water supply to make it adequate for sprinkler system designs. However, an unintended result could be obtaining pressures that are too high. This…
Read MoreFM Global Data Sheet 3-26, Fire Protection Water Demand for Nonstorage Sprinklered Properties, is used to determine sprinkler system designs and hose demands for non-storage occupancies, which are not considered storage occupancies in facilities. FM…
Read MoreOur previous articles in October 2004 and August 2006 touched on the subject of the need for heat and smoke vents in fully sprinklered facilities. We wrote about engineering and fire testing research versus Building…
Read MoreHVLS fans were originally used in Australia in the dairy industry to help keep humidity low for the cattle. When the original design was introduced in Australia, it was mandatory for the HVLS fans to…
Read MoreOne of the most effective fire protection elements in buildings is automatic sprinklers. When sprinklers cover an area of fire origin, they operate in 95% of all reported structure fires that are large enough to…
Read MoreSeveral years ago a college student set fire to a dormitory at Seton Hall University located in Newark, NJ. The fire tragically killed several students. Automatic sprinkler protection was not installed in the dorm, nor…
Read MoreNFPA 13 is the most important standard for the design of automatic sprinkler systems. Fire protection engineers use this detailed standard to determine the design of an automatic sprinkler system. There are many factors that…
Read MoreOur technical articles, ESFR Sprinkler Summary and Managing Your ESFR Sprinkler System, detailed the history of Early Suppression, Fast-Response (ESFR) sprinklers, provided some installation details and listed some facts/figures for the various ESFR heads available.…
Read MoreComponents of a Sprinkler: What Causes Corrosion? Wet and dry sprinkler systems consist of metal pipe, water and trapped or compressed air. Any environment that places oxygen, metal and untreated water in prolonged contact with…
Read MoreWhen considering fire protection for situations where temperatures are below freezing, automatic fire sprinklers provide the best fire protection advantages; but sprinkler systems use water, and water presents a freezing problem. This is the dilemma…
Read MoreDuring inspections of electrical rooms, property loss prevention engineers should determine how much of a presence there is of “grouped power cables.” There are no clear definitions or criteria as to what amount of cables…
Read MoreEarly Suppression Fast-Response (ESFR) sprinklers are now commonly referred to as Suppression Mode Sprinklers. This is due to the fact that they are designed to actually extinguish a fire rather than to just control a…
Read MoreThe standard commonly used in the United States for sprinkler system testing and maintenance is NFPA 25, “Standard for the Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Water-Based Fire Protection Systems.” In Europe, the common standard is…
Read MoreThe fire protection engineering industry views smoke and heat venting in warehouse type occupancies as a waste of money and a hindrance to the performance of an automatic sprinkler system. Why do building codes constantly…
Read MoreThe owner of the large glass plant couldn’t remember the last time he tested the building’s dry-pipe sprinkler system. The facility had been sitting idle for at least a year, and he had three other…
Read MoreOne of changes in the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems that often goes unnoticed or enforced is the requirement of a building owner or their authorized representative to…
Read MoreThere are thousands of buildings in the United States that were built involving building codes that did not require automatic sprinkler protection. Most of them now have grandfather status and are not required to install…
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