From the new issue of nfpa journal while the small room rule has been around for 40 years it remains a source of confusion in the application of nfpa 13 installation of sprinkler systems the rule is never clearly stated but exists as a combination of special allowances made for rooms no larger than 800 square feet 74 3 square meters in size.
Small room rule nfpa 13 2013.
The wording has been tweaked numerous times since then for example the standard used to refer to the largest room whereas today the verbiage references the room that creates the greatest demand.
Based on nfpa 13 13ed fig a 8 6 3 2 4 i ve always thought the only time you would exceed the 15 0 spacing for a sprinkler is when you have a single sprinkler in a small room.
However section 11 2 3 5 2 does not allow.
Origin and development of nfpa 13 nfpa 13 represents the first standard published under the auspices of the nfpa commit tee on automatic sprinklers.
The rule allows the head to be no more than 9 from a single wall within a room 800 sq ft or less but how do you measure that.
As per the sprinkler exemption form instructions a plumber can only install one sprinkler is a room of 130 sq.
Typically nfpa 13 acknowledges small hazardous rooms as ordinary hazard and sprinklers are limited to 130 sq.
Small room rule i ve been reading this thread and come to think i ve miss understood how to apply this exception.
This edition of nfpa 13 was approved as an american national standard on august 26 2009.
What is the small room rule.
The industry benchmark for design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems nfpa 13 addresses sprinkler system design approaches system installation and component options to prevent fire deaths and property loss.
These instances are in small rooms 2.
Nfpa 13 code allows us to space sprinklers up to 9 0 off of a single wall under certain instances.
To be a small room code says it has to meet all the following.
It is important to note that nfpa 13 02 section 8 6 2 1 2 allows the actual area of coverage for each sprinkler in a small room as defined in section 3 3 20 to be the area of the room divided by the number of sprinklers in the room.
Doorways were first provided in nfpa 13 1975.
Additionally the corresponding rules for the protection of openings ie.
Originally titled rules and regulations of the national board of fire.
By russell fleming p e.
