MODULE 2

LEARNING OUTCOMES:
1. State the primary and secondary objectives of Fire Protection system
2. List the Fire protection system requirements and founding organizations.
3.Describe the Fire Protection systems anchored on performance based codes.
4.Identify their corresponding applications
5. Describe the function of Automatic Fire Sprinkler system
6. Discuss the four types AFSS with illustrations and applications
7. Identify the basic components of AFSS
8. Design the piping system based on NFPA requirements and Standards.

FIRE PROTECTION
Fire protection is the study and application of scientific and technical principles of
mitigating the unwanted effects of potentially destructive fires

Three Primary Objectives of Fire Protection:

1. Prevent fire from becoming destructive
2. Reduce the impact of uncontrolled fire
3. Save lives and property

Secondary Objectives:
1. Compliance to legislations (Fire Code of the Philippines, National Building Code,
Phil. Electrical Code and the Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code)
2. Peace of mind knowing that your property is fire protected
3. Reduce premium cost on insurance

Fire Protection involves the implementation of safety planning practices and drills,
education on fire, research, investigation, building construction, safe operations,
training and testing of mitigating systems and also includes evacuation procedures.

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Republic Act No. 9514 known as the “Revised Fire Code of the Philippines of 2008” dictates
it’s the State policy to ensure public safety & promote economic development through the
prevention and suppression of all kinds of destructive fires
 Chapter 23, Section 2003 of the 2012 Philippine Mechanical Engineering Code
stated that “An approved automatic sprinkler systems in new buildings and structures
shall be provided in the locations in accordance with the RA 9514, Revised Fire Code
of the Philippines of 2008.”
 The 2012 PME Code specifies that buildings 55 Feet (16,764 mm) or more in
height requires that automatic sprinkler system shall be installed throughout
buildings with a floor level having an occupant load of 30 or more above the lowest
level of fire department vehicle access.

 The Code also specifically stated that spaces or areas in telecommunications

buildings used exclusively for telecommunications equipment, associated
electrical power distribution equipment, batteries and standby engines are
exempted provided:
a. Those spaces or areas are equipped throughout with an automatic fire alarm
system, and
b. Separated from the remainder of the building by fire barriers consisting of not less
than 1-hour fire-resistance-rated walls and 2-hour fire-resistance-rated floor/ceiling
assemblies.

SUMMARY OF RA 9514 FIRE PROTECTION REQUIREMENT:

a. Assembly Occupancies
• Bars with live entertainment
• Dance halls, Discotheques
• Assembly occupancies with festival seating.
• Occupant load greater than 300 persons.

b. Educational Occupancies
• Every portion of educational buildings below the floor of exit discharge shall
be protected with complete automatic sprinkler protection.
• Any flexible building or open building in which the travel distance to exits
exceeds forty six (46) meters shall have approved, supervised sprinkler systems.

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 c. Health Care Occupancies
• Approved, supervised sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all
hospitals, nursing homes, and residential-custodial care facilities.

d. Detention and Correctional Facilities

• All buildings classified as Use Condition II – V under the National Building
Code shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised automatic
sprinkler system.

e. Residential Occupancies (Hotels, dormitories and apartment buildings)

• All buildings shall be protected throughout by an approved, supervised
sprinkler system except in buildings where all guest sleeping rooms or guest
suites have a door opening directly outside at the street or grade level or
exterior exit access in buildings up to and including three (3) storeys in height.

f. Mercantile Occupancies
• Approved and supervised automatic sprinkler system protection shall be
provided for mercantile occupancies as follows: 1. throughout all mercantile
occupancies three or more storeys in height OR exceeding 1,115 m2 in total
floor area. 2. Floor area exceeding 232 m2 when used for the sale, storage or
handling of combustible goods and merchandise.

g. Business Occupancies
• All business occupancy buildings fifteen (15) meters or more in height shall be
provided throughout with approved, supervised sprinkler system. Building height shall
be measured from the ground level to floor of the topmost storey.

g. Industrial and Storage Occupancies

• Every high hazard occupancy shall have:
1. Automatic fire suppression system protection or other equivalent protection
as may appropriate to the particular hazard
2. Explosion venting for any area subject to an explosion hazard,
3. Any other means of protection designed to minimize danger to occupants in
case of fire or other emergency before they have time to utilize exits to
escape.

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 THE FOUNDING ORGANIZATIONS OF FIRE PROTECTION
ENGINEERING

A. FACTORY MUTUAL (FM)

• FM provides comprehensive global commercial and industrial property

insurance, engineering-driven underwriting and risk management solutions and
services.

• FM Approved products provide the right materials to address exposures and

protection of facilities. The Approval Guide, an innovative product of FM
Approvals, contains “real-time” information about tens of thousands of
products and services tested and FM Approved, as well as essential engineering
data and technical information on the application and use of listed products.

• It started when Zachariah Allen, a prominent mill owner in Rhode Island in

1835, combined the concepts of mutual insurance and property protection to
form Manufacturers Mutual Fire Insurance Company. This insurance company
was based on the concept of insuring factories that were good risks and but
would ultimately pay less for insurance. By utilizing proper fire prevention
methods and regular fire inspections, the concept proved to be successful and
the Factory Mutual (FM) system was born.

• FM grew in influence and became one of the major insurers of highly

protected risks (HPRs) worldwide, continuing the concept of using fire
protection engineering to achieve property loss prevention.

B. UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES (UL)

• UL is a premier global independent safety science company, a benchmark of

trust and delivers peace of mind to businesses, governments and consumers all
over the world.

• UL certifies, validates, tests, inspects, audits, and advises and trains. It

provides expertise from compliance and regulatory issues to trade challenges
and market access.

• It started in 1893 when insurance companies concerns about the fire risk of
the electrical wiring of 100,000 Edison incandescent light bulbs at the Palace of
Electricity at the Worlds Columbian Exposition (World’s Fair) of 1893 in Chicago
. It resulted in the hiring of a young electrical engineer from Boston, William
Henry Merrill, to ensure that the exhibition was safe.

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 • The success of this venture led Merrill, with the financial support of the
National Board of Fire Underwriters (NBFU), to set up a laboratory to test the
safety of electrical products which became Underwriters Laboratories.

C. NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)

• Founded in 1896, NFPA is a global, non-profit organization devoted to

eliminating death, injury, property and economic loss due to fire, electrical
and related hazards. The association delivers information and knowledge
through more than 300 consensus codes and standards, research, training,
education, outreach and advocacy.

• In response to concerns about the reliability of automatic sprinkler systems

due to a lack of standardization, a group of insurance company representatives
formed NFPA to provide the science and improve the methods of fire protection
and to circulate information on this subject.

• NFPA organized technical committees of experts to establish consensus on

the design of fire protection systems and fire protection safeguards for various
hazardous occupancies.

• Throughout the 20th century, many of the advances in fire protection were
brought about as a reaction to disastrous fires. NFPA and its technical
committees were instrumental in shaping the foundation of fire protection
engineering. The rationale for fire protection engineering solutions was
published in the NFPA Fire Protection Handbook.

• Throughout the remainder of the 20th century, UL grew to become a major

independent, not-for-profit testing organization in America and a leader in
advancing the science of fire protection engineering.

FIRE PROTECTION IN LAND-BASED BUILDINGS, OFFSHORE

CONSTRUCTION OR ONBOARD SHIPS IS TYPICALLY ACHIEVED BY
THE FOLLOWING TYPES:

1. Passive fire protection - the installation of firewalls, fire proofing, fire

rated floor assemblies, isolation of fuel materials and compartmentalization
intended to limit the spread of fire, high temperatures and smoke.

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 2. Active fire protection - manual and automatic detection and suppression of
fires, such as fire sprinkler systems, fire hydrant, standpipes and fire alarm
and detection systems.

3. Education - the provision of information regarding passive and active fire

protection systems to building owners, operators, occupants, and
emergency personnel so that they have a working understanding of the
intent of these systems and how they perform in the fire safety plan.

ACTIVE FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM IS ANCHORED ON

PERFORMANCE BASED CODES THAT EMPHASIZE BOTH LIFE SAFETY
AND PROPERTY PROTECTION

1. WATER-BASE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

2. POWDER OR DRY CHEMICAL-BASE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

3. GAS-BASE SUPPRESSION SYSTEM

WATER-BASED SYSTEM
 HYDRANT

 WATER MIST SPRAY

 FOAM

 SPRINKLER

HYDRANT SYSTEM
A fire hydrant, also called fireplug, is a connection point by which firefighters can tap
into a water supply

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In a building, a fire hydrant system is a safety measure or emergency equipment that
comprises a series of components that when assembled together provide a source of
water to assist fire authorities in case of fire.

Fire hydrant systems comprise the following primary components:

•Water Supply •Pipework & Valves
•Pump Set

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•Hydrant Valve or Landing Valve & Coupling
•Fire Hose

WATER MIST SPRAY

A water mist system is a fire protection system which uses a very fine water sprays
that produces mists.

THE SMALL WATER DROPLETS ALLOW THE WATER MIST TO CONTROL,

SUPPRESS OR EXTINGUISH FIRES BY:
1. Cooling both the flame and surrounding gases by evaporation
2. Displacing oxygen by evaporation
3. Attenuating radiant heat by the small droplets themselves

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The effectiveness of a water mist system in fire suppression depends on its spray
characteristics, which include the droplet size distribution, flux density and spray
dynamics such as the shielding of the fuel, fire size and ventilation conditions.

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WATER MIST FIRE SUPPRESSION, WHEN COMPARED TO THE USE OF
GASEOUS AGENTS AND TRADITIONAL SPRINKLER SYSTEMS, HAS THE
FOLLOWING ADVANTAGES:
1. Immediate activation
2. High efficiency in the suppression of a wide variety of fires
3. Minimized water damage
4. Environmentally sound characteristics
5. No toxic issues

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FIRE SUPPRESION FOAM SYSTEM
Fire suppression foam is comprised of three parts: foam concentrate, water and
air.

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When mixed correctly, these parts form a homogeneous foam blanket that
extinguishes flames by the combined mechanisms of:
1. Cooling
2. Separating the flame source from the product surface
3. Suppressing vapors
4. Smothering

AIR FOAM CONCENTRATE MAKES FINE FOAMS WITH EXCELLENT STABILITY AND
THERMAL RESISTANCE, AND FREELY FLOWS AND DEVELOPS ON LIQUID SURFACE
SUCH AS PETROLEUM TO PROMPTLY EXTINGUISH A FIRE. IT ALSO STICKS FIRM TO A
SOLID SURFACE, LEVEL OR VERTICAL, TO PREVENT THE FIRE FROM SPREADING.

THE FOAM BLANKET EFFICIENTLY TRANSPORTS SMALL AMOUNTS OF WATER TO

THE FIRE, ENCAPSULATING THE FLAMMABLE VAPORS AND CAUSING SUPPRESSION
AND EXTINGUISHMENT.

APPLICATIONS:
1. Aircraft hangars
2. Basements and cable tunnels
3. Flammable packaging areas
4. Flammable and combustible liquid drum storage areas
5. Hazardous waste facilities
6. LNG tank farms and loading facilities
7. Mines
8. Roll-paper warehouses
9. Shipboard engine rooms
10. Storage buildings and warehouses

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The system comprises Water Source, Fire Pump, Air Foam Concentrate, Proportioner,
Foam Maker, Foam Discharge Outlet, Control Panel, Pipe, Fire Alarm and Detectors

POWDER OR DRY-CHEMICAL-BASE SYSTEM

The extinguishing powders used in powder extinguishing systems are highly efficient,
quick-acting extinguishants.
The three-dimensional extinguishing effect of the powder cloud is caused by the
suffocation effect and the so-called anti-catalytic effect, a chemical intervention into
the combustion process.
Extinguishing powders mainly consist of nonpoisonous inorganic salts mixed with
waterproofing and pouring agents. They are used for fires with solid, liquid or gaseous
substances and for metal fires.

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APPLICATIONS:
• Chemical plants
• Tank farms
• Compressor stations
• Substations for oil and gas
• Gas burner stations on boilers systems
• Oil storage facilities
• Rolling mills
• Motor test beds
• Hydraulic systems
• Aircraft hangars
• Storage facilities for hazardous substance and flammable liquids
• Laboratories
• Special waste facilities

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49
 BASICS OF WET TYPE AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM
DESIGN
a. AFSS BRIEF
b. SPRINKLER SYSTEM PIPING DESIGN
c. BASIC COMPONENTS OF WET TYPE AFSS
d. DESIGN REQUIREMENTS AND STANDARDS

WATER-BASED FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

A fire sprinkler system is an ACTIVE fire protection measure, consisting of water
supply system, providing adequate pressure and flow of water through a distribution
piping system, onto which fire sprinklers are connected.

Sprinkler systems have been around since the late 1880’s.

Combustion of products is limited with extinguishment in the incipient stage.
Controls 70% of all fires with five or fewer sprinklers activated.

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The 2012 PME Code defines an Automatic Fire Sprinkler System as an
integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in
accordance with the fire protection engineering standards

The portion of the system above the ground is a network of specially sized or
hydraulically designed piping.

Automatic sprinklers are connected in a systematic pattern.

The application of heat will cause that single sprinkler to operate, permitting
water to discharge over its area of protection.

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THREE TYPES OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS DESIGN ACCORDING TO PIPING
ARRANGEMENT

LOOPED SPRINKLER SYSTEM -a sprinkler system in which multiple cross mains are
tied together so as to provide more than one path for water to flow to an operating
sprinkler and branch lines are not tied together.

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GRIDDED SPRINKLER SYSTEM- a type of sprinkler system in which parallel cross mains
are connected by multiple branch lines. An operating sprinkler will receive water
from both ends of its branch line while other branch lines help transfer water
between cross mains.

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TREE SPRINKLER SYSTEM – a type of sprinkler system in which multiple branch lines
are directly connected to the cross main. An operating sprinkler will receive water
only from its branch lines. Branch lines are not tied together. Most widely used
design.

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FOUR TYPES OF SPRINKLER SYSTEMS ACCORDING TO CONDITIONS OF
APPLICATION

Wet Pipe Sprinkler System is the most common installation in an environment not
subject to freezing to protect the property, contents and personnel.

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USING WATER AS ITS EXTINGUISHING AGENT, ONE WET SYSTEM MAY
COVER AS MUCH AS 4,831 M2 IN A SINGLE FIRE AREA (LIGHT &
ORDINARY HAZARD)

 Pipes are always filled with water. Heat from fire opens a sprinkler head.

 Usually only one or two heads open.

 Water flows until it is manually shut off.

 The open sprinkler head(s) is replaced and the system is reset.

 A check valve prevents water from re-entering the water supply.

 Gauges on both sides of the main valve, register pressure on the supply and
system sides.

 A retard chamber prevents sudden pressure surges which could cause a

false alarm.

 An alarm check valve detects water flow and activates the alarm system.

 There is a main drain valve which drains the system during maintenance.

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  An Inspectors Test Valve, usually at the end of the system, used to simulate
flow from a single head and to measure the system response.

Wet type Sprinkler System is the least expensive type of automatic

sprinkler system.

MAJOR DRAWBACK:
1. Cannot be used in areas where temperatures drop below freezing
2. Will also flow water if a sprinkler head is accidentally opened or a leak occurs in
the piping

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DRY PIPE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS USED WHERE THE WATER IN THE PIPING
WOULD BE SUBJECT TO FREEZING. WATER IS HELD BACK FROM THE
PIPING NETWORK BY A SPECIAL DRY PIPE VALVE WHICH IS KEPT CLOSED
BY AIR OR NITROGEN PRESSURE MAINTAINED IN THE PIPING.

Dry Pipe Sprinkler System uses a dry pipe valve that keeps pressurized air above
the supply water pressure

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  Dry pipes systems are used in unheated buildings, but the valve room must
be heated.

 Pipes are not filled with water (but with pressurized gas or air).

 Heat from a fire opens a sprinkler head. Usually only one or two heads
open.

 Air pressure drops in the piping and opens the dry-pipe valve that allows
Water fills the pipes and exits through an open sprinkler head(s).

 The clapper valve has a locking mechanism to keep the clapper open until it
is reset by draining the system and resetting the lock.

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DELUGE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS A SYSTEM THAT DOES NOT USE
AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS BUT OPEN TYPE SPRINKLERS TO DELIVER A
LARGE QUANTITY OF WATER OVER A SPECIFIED AREA IN A SHORT
PERIOD OF TIME FOR HIGH HAZARD APPLICATION.

 Fire suppression agent may be water or foam.

 A deluge valve is activated by a fire detection system installed in the same area as
the sprinklers.
 When the deluge valve opens, water flows into the system and discharges from all
the attached sprinklers in the system.

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 DELUGE SPRINKLER SYSTEM

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 DELUGE SYSTEMS ARE USED FOR PROTECTION AGAINST RAPIDLY
SPREADING, HIGH HAZARD FIRES OR EXTRA HAZARD OCCUPANCIES

 PIPES IN PROTECTED AREA ARE EMPTY, IT IS NOT FILLED WITH WATER (OR
GAS).

 ADETECTOR SIGNAL TRIGGERS THE SYSTEM, ALLOWING WATER/FOAM TO

ENTER

 PIPES AND FLOW FROM ALL SPRINKLER HEADS (WHICH ARE ALREADY OPEN).

 PRIMARILY INSTALLED IN SPECIAL HAZARD AREAS THAT HAVE FAST

SPREADING FIRE OR LOW FLASH POINT, ( I.E. FLAMMABLE LIQUID STORAGE,
LUMBERYARDS, LARGE AIRPLANE HANGARS AND ELECTRICAL
TRANSFORMERS.

 ALSO USED TO APPLY PROTEIN AND FOAMS SUPPRESSION AGENT.

 ACTIVATION CAUSES WATER TO FLOW SIMULTANEOUSLY FROM ALL OF THE

OPEN SPRINKLERS THUS CREATING A FIRE BUFFER ZONE BY COOLING
SURFACES TO PREVENT DEFORMATION OR STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE .

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 PREACTION SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS SIMILAR TO A DRY SYSTEM
THAT USES AUTOMATIC SPRINKLERS. AIR PRESSURE IS USUALLY
MAINTAINED IN THE PIPING NETWORK TO ENSURE THAT THE
SYSTEM IS AIR TIGHT.

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 PRE-ACTION SYSTEMS ARE GENERALLY USED WHERE ACCIDENTAL
DISCHARGE OF WATER COULD SEVERELY DAMAGED FACILITIES OR
EQUIPMENT SUCH AS HISTORICAL ITEMS OR COMPUTER AREAS.

 SIMILAR TO DRY-PIPE AND DELUGE SYSTEM;

 PIPES ARE NOT FILLED WITH WATER.

 PIPING IN A PREACTION SYSTEM DOES NOT CONTAIN WATER AND MAY OR MAY
NOT BE FILLED WITH PRESSURIZED AIR OR GAS,
 WATER DOES NOT FLOW TO THE SPRINKLER HEADS UNTIL DETECTOR
ACTIVATES.

 WATER FROM THE SUPPLY PIPING IS HELD BACK BY A PREACTION VALVE AND IS
RELEASED TO THE SYSTEM PIPING WHEN THE FIRE DETECTION SYSTEM AND/OR
SPRINKLERS ARE ACTIVATED.

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  ALL SPRINKLER HEADS ARE OF THE STANDARD CLOSED TYPE. WATER ONLY
FLOWS FROM A SPRINKLER HEAD IF IT IS OPENED BY HEAT FROM A FIRE.

 WATER FLOWS UNTIL SYSTEM IS SHUT OFF AND RESET IS DONE.

TYPES OF PREACTION SPRINKLER SYSTEMS

1. SINGLE INTERLOCK PREACTION SYSTEM:

It uses a deluge valve with single interlock trim, the system is used to protect
high-value electronic equipment in areas such as computer rooms.

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 DOUBLE INTERLOCK SYSTEM:

Double Interlock uses Electric and Pneumatic Actuation designed for use in
applications, such as refrigerated areas, requiring the maximum degree of
protection against inadvertent flooding of the sprinkler system piping.

The Double Interlock Preaction System will automatically actuate only when
both the Dry Pilot Actuator and the Solenoid Valve are open at the same time.
Activation of either one will only cause an alarm and no water flow.

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 BASIC COMPONENTS OF WET PIPE AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER
SYSTEM

ALARM CHECK VALVE ASSEMBLY is designed to hold back water pressure in

the piping system until the sprinkler is activated.

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 WATER ALARM GONG OR BELL is a mechanical device, operated by the flow of
water oscillating a hammer that strikes a gong, causing an audible alarm
signal.

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 PRESSURE GAUGES are used to monitor water pressures in the system and in
the water supply as well as the air pressure in the system.

RETARD CHAMBER primarily serves as a hydraulic time delay to prevent false

alarms associated with fluctuating water supply pressure.

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER is a fire suppression or control device that operates

automatically when its heat-responsive element is heated to its thermal rating
or above, allowing water to discharge over a specified area.

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 GATE VALVE is the isolating and flow controlling device for the system. It is
basically located and installed in the system riser or the supply piping. For fire
protection service, an outside screw and yoke (OS and Y) type Gate Valve is
required.

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 CHECK VALVE is a backflow prevention device.

FIRE DEPARTMENT CONNECTION is a connection through which the fire

department can pump supplemental water into the sprinkler system or
standpipe system.

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  Used as either as supplement or the main source of water when water
tank is empty.

 Should be visibly located near main entrance of building and must be

recognizable

 Have a sign with at least 1” letters that read “AUTO SPRINKLER”

 Min size of fittings 2 ½” (65 mm)

 Shall not be less than 18” or more than 48” above grade.

PRESSURE REDUCING VALVE is a valve designed for the purpose of

reducing the downstream water pressure under both flowing (residual)
and non-flowing (static) conditions. Usually use if the FP is installed in
the roof top of the building.

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 PRESSURE RELIEF valve is a device that is set to prevent a pressure
build-up on the fire protection to an amount the system is designed.

FLOW METER is a device installed on the discharge of a fire pump to

accurately determine pump performance.

WATER FLOW SWITCH is a device that actuates when water flow occurs
at the downstream of the system.

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 TAMPER/SUPERVISORY SWITCH is used to monitor the open position of
an OS&Y type gate valve.

PRESSURE SWITCH is provided in the system and the controller of the

pump and responsible for sending signal to automatically start the pump
within 10 seconds after detection of a pressure drop of more than 5
percent.

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 AIR RELEASE VALVE releases air that may accumulate in the piping

system.
INSPECTOR TEST CONNECTION provides both the test function and the
drain function for a wet fire sprinkler system. It is usually located at the
remotest area of the system however it could be also installed after the
water flow switch as Alarm Test Connection.

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RISER - the aboveground horizontal or vertical pipe between the water supply and the
mains (cross feed) that contains a control valve (either directly or within its supply
pipe) and a water flow alarm device.

FEED MAIN - the pipe supplying cross main, either directly or through riser.

CROSS MAIN – the pipe supplying the branch line, either directly or through the riser.

BRANCH LINES - the pipe in which the sprinklers are placed, either directly or
through risers.

THE MOST IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF AFSS IS THE WATER SUPPLY

THAT MUST ADDRESS SEVERAL CONSIDERATIONS
 WATER MAY COME FROM MUNICIPAL WATER SYSTEM, ONSITE STORAGE TANKS
OR STATIC WATER SOURCES.

 WATER SUPPLY MUST BE ABLE TO HANDLE DEMAND OF THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM,

AS WELL AS THE NEEDS OF THE FIRE DEPT.
 PREFERRED WATER SOURCE FOR A SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS A MUNICIPAL WATER
SUPPLY.

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  MINIMUM SUPPLY – TO HIGHEST SPRINKLER AT 15PSI
 FLOW DEPENDS ON – HAZARD, OCCUPANCY, BUILDING CONTENTS
 CONNECTION – ADEQUATE VOLUME, PRESSURE, RELIABILITY

FIRE PUMPS
Used when the water comes from a static source
May also be used to boost the pressure in some sprinkler systems, particularly for tall
buildings

STANDPIPE SYSTEMS
Network of pipes and outlets for fire hoses built into a structure to provide water for
firefighting purposes
Usually used in high-rise buildings, although they are required installation in many
other structures as well.

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CLASS I STANDPIPES
• Designed for use by fire department personnel only
• Each outlet has a 2 1/2" male coupling and a valve to open the water supply after
the hose is connected.

CLASS II STANDPIPES

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• Outlets generally equipped with a length of 1 1/2" single-jacket hose preconnected
to the system.
• Intended to enable occupants to attack a fire before the fire department arrives,
but safety and effectiveness is questionable.

CLASS III STANDPIPES

• Have the features of both Class I and Class II standpipes in a single system
• Have 2 1/2" outlets for fire department use as well as smaller outlets with attached
hoses for occupant use
• Fire fighters should use only the 2 1/2" outlets, even if they are using an adapter to
connect a smaller hose

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SPRINKLER HEADS ARE THE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE SYSTEM THUS
HEADS MUST BE SUITABLE IN DESIGN, PERFORMANCE, APPLICATION
AND TEMPERATURE FOR TYPE OF PROPERTY IT IS PROTECTING
 Standard heads are often marked with SSU (standard sprinkler upright) or
SSP (standard sprinkler pendent) on the deflector.

 The typical sprinkler head is activated by heat (temperature)

 opens when a triggering action occurs,
 a frangible bulb breaks (color indicates temperature setting),
 a fusible link melts,
 water flows when head is opened,
 water is manually shut off,
 once activated, head must be replace.

SPRINKLER HEADS ARE CLASSIFIED ACCORDING TO TEMPERATURE RATING, COLOR

CODING OF DEFLECTOR OR GLASS BUBS.

SPRINKLER HEADS ACCORDING TO INSTALLATION ORIENTATION

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 A. CONCEALED SPRINKLER IS A RECESSED SPRINKLER WITH COVER PLATES.
These are decorative sprinklers featuring a flat cover plate designed to conceal
the sprinkler. It is the best choice for architecturally sensitive areas such as
hotel lobbies, office buildings, churches & restaurants.

B. FLUSH SPRINKLER is a sprinkler in which all or part of the body, including the
shank thread, is mounted above the lower plane of the ceiling

C. PENDENT SPRINKLER is a sprinkler designed to be installed in such a way that

the water stream is directed downward against the deflector.

D. RECESSED SPRINKLER is a sprinkler in which all or part of the body, other than
the shank thread, is mounted within a recessed housing.

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 E. SIDEWALL SPRINKLER is a type of sprinkler having special deflectors designed
to discharge most of the water away from the nearby wall in a pattern
resembling onequarter or a sphere, with a small portion of the discharge
directed at the wall behind the sprinkler.

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 F. UPRIGHT SPRINKLER is designed to be installed in such a way that the water
spray is directed upwards against the deflector.

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84
 PER NFPA 13, THE BASIC STEP IN THE HYDRAULICALLY DESIGNED
AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS THE IDENTIFICATION OF
DIFFERENT OCCUPANCY HAZARD CLASSIFICATION IN THE
BUILDING TO BE PROTECTED

LIGHT HAZARD

Light hazard occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or portions of other

occupancies where the quantity and/or combustibility of contents is low and
fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected.

Light hazard occupancies include occupancies having uses and conditions

similar to the following:

1. Animal shelters
2. Churches
3. Prisons
4. Clubs
5. Eaves and overhangs
6. Educational
7. Museums
8. Residential
9. Restaurant seating areas
10.Theaters and auditoriums, excluding stages and prosceniums

Ordinary Hazard Group 1

Ordinary Hazard under Group 1 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies

or portions of other occupancies where combustibility is low, quantity of
combustibles is moderate, stockpiles of combustibles do not exceed 8 ft
(2.4m), and fires with moderate rates of heat release are expected.

Ordinary hazard (Group 1) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:
1. Hospitals and Hotels
2. Libraries (excluding book stores)
3. Restaurants
4. Schools and Offices
5. Data processing center (computer room excluding tape storage)
6. Laboratories (physical)
7. Laundries
8. Car parks

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 9. Leather good factories
10. Meat factories, Dairy products manufacturing and processing
11. Bakeries and Canneries
12. Biscuit and chocolate factories
13. Beverage manufacturing
14. Sheet metal product factories
15. Cement works

ORDINARY HAZARD GROUP 2

Ordinary Hazard under Group 2 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies

or portions of other occupancies where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are moderate to high, stockpiles do not exceed 12 ft (3.7 m), and
fires with moderate to high rates of heat release are expected.

Ordinary hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:

1. Broadcasting and TV studios

2. Railway stations
3. Exhibition halls
4. Clothing factories, Weaving mills and Textile manufacturing
5. Furniture showrooms and upholstery shops with no plastic foams
6. Archives, Storage rooms, File rooms
7. Department stores and Shopping center
8. Corn mills, Dehydrated vegetable factory and Sugar factory
9. Glass factory, Tobacco products manufacturing
10. Radio equipment factory
11. Refrigerator and washing machine factory
12. Machine shops, Metal working, Wood products assembly
13. Paper and pulp mills, Plastic fabrication
14. Post offices, Printing and publishing
15. Automotive repair shops
16. Tire manufacturing

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 EXTRA HAZARD GROUP 1

Extra Hazard under Group 1 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or

portions of other occupancies where the quantity and combustibility of
contents are very high and dust, lint, or other materials are present,
introducing the probability of rapidly developing fires with high rates of heat
release but with little or no combustible or flammable liquids.

Extra hazard (Group 1) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:
1. Aircraft hangars (except as governed by NFPA 409)
2. Combustible hydraulic fluid use areas
3. Die casting
4. Metal extruding
5. Plywood and particleboard manufacturing
6. Printing using inks having flash points below 100°F (38°C)
7. Rubber reclaiming, compounding, drying, milling, vulcanizing
8. Saw mills
9. Textile picking, opening, blending, combining of cotton, synthetics, wool
shoddy, or burlap
10. Upholstering with plastic foams

EXTRA HAZARD GROUP 2

Extra Hazard under Group 2 occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or

portions of other occupancies with moderate to substantial amounts of
flammable or combustible liquids or occupancies where shielding of
combustibles is extensive.

Extra hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having uses and

conditions similar to the following:

1. Asphalt saturating
2. Flammable liquids spraying
3. Manufactured home or modular building assemblies (where finished
enclosure is present and has combustible interiors)
4. Open oil quenching
5. Plastics manufacturing
6. Solvent cleaning
7. Varnish and paint dipping

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THE MOST FAVORED DESIGN APPROACH FOR WET TYPE AUTOMATIC FIRE
SPRINKLER SYSTEM IS THE HYDRAULIC CALCULATION METHOD WHERE WATER
DEMAND REQUIREMENT IS BASED ON DENSITY/AREA CURVE

THE USE OF PIPE SCHEDULE IS ALSO A RECOGNIZED METHOD IN INSTALLING

AUTOMATIC FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEM UNDER THE OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE
CONTROL APPROACH (NFPA 13, CHAP. 11)
PIPE SCHEDULE METHOD SHALL NOT BE USED, EXCEPT IN EXISTING SYSTEMS OR
EXTENSIONS TO EXISTING SYSTEMS.
PIPE SCHEDULE METHOD SHALL BE PERMITTED ONLY FOR NEW INSTALLATIONS OF
5,000 FT2 (465 M2 ) OR LESS OR FOR ADDITIONS OR MODIFICATIONS TO THE
EXISTING PIPE SYSTEMS THAT IS SIZED ACCORDING TO PIPE SCHEDULE.

PIPE SCHEDULE METHOD SHALL BE PERMITTED FOR USE IN SYSTEMS EXCEEDING

5,000 FT2 (465M 2) WHERE THE FLOWS REQUIRED AS SPECIFIED IN THE TABLE

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BELOW ARE AVAILABLE AT A MINIMUM RESIDUAL PRESSURE OF 50 PSI (3.4 BAR) AT
THE HIGHEST ELEVATION OF SPRINKLER.

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THE HYDRAULIC CALCULATION METHOD OF THE OCCUPANCY HAZARD
FIRE CONTROL APPROACH WHICH IS THE MOST FAVORED ENGINEERING
DESIGN, CAN BE ACHIEVED WITH THE FOLLOWING SUB-METHODS

THE MINIMUM WATER SUPPLY REQUIREMENT FOR A HYDRAULICALLY DESIGNED

OCCUPANCY HAZARD FIRE CONTROL SPRINKLER SYSTEM SHALL BE DETERMINED BY
ADDING THE HOSE STREAM DEMAND TO THE WATER REQUIREMENT AS DETERMINED
USING THE DENSITY/AREA CURVE

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FOR SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE HAZARD CLASSIFICATIONS, THE HOSE
STREAM AND WATER DEMAND SHALL BE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
FOLLOWING
• ADD THE HOSE DEMAND FOR THE HIGHEST HAZARD CLASSIFICATION WITHIN THE
SYSTEM, OR
• WHERE THE HIGHER CLASSIFICATION ONLY LIES WITHIN SINGLE ROOM LESS THAN OR
EQUAL TO 400 FT2 (37.18 M2 ) IN AREA WITH NO SUCH ROOMS ADJACENT, ADD THE
HOSE DEMAND FOR THE PRINCIPAL OCCUPANCY FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE SYSTEM.
• WHERE THE COMBINED SPRINKLER SYSTEM DEMAND AND HOSE STREAM ALLOWANCE
EXCEEDS THE REQUIREMENTS OF NFPA 13 & 14, THE HIGHER DEMAND SHALL BE USED.
• WATER DEMAND OF SPRINKLERS INSTALLED IN CONCEALED SPACES OR UNDER
OBSTRUCTIONS SUCH AS DUCTS MAY BE PERMITTED TO BE EXCLUDED IN THE
COMPUTATION FOR THE TOTAL DEMAND.

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Prepared by:

MELCHOR A. MEANA
Instructor/Chairperson
August 3, 2020

Approved:

HARRISON R. FLORES
Dean, COE
August 10, 2020

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