Standard for theInstallation ofSprinkler Systems
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NFPA°13
Standard for the
Installation ofSprinklerSystems
2022 Edition
Technical Coittees nHanging andBracing oWaBasedFirProtetionSstmsPrivate This eitfNPA 1 f stllSpnSm was pred b Criteriaeeased y the Correlating omiteenAumaticSprinklestemsandacted nby WaterSuplyPipingStmsrinkltmDisharge CritraandprinestmIstllnthe NFPA membership during the 2021 NFPA Technical Meeting held June 14-July 2. It was issued by the Standards Council on August 26 2021 with an effective date of September 15 2021. andsupersedes all previous editions.
This document has been amended by one or more Tentative Interim Amendments TIAs) and/orErrata. See “Codes &: Standardsd at for more information.
This edition of NFPA 13 was approved as an American National Standard on September 15 2021.
Origin and Development of NFPA 13
Automatic Sprinklers Originally titled Rales amd Regulatiores of the National Board of Fire Undereries for NFPA 13 represents the fist standard published under the auspices of the NFPA Committee onin step with change. Sprin Eqipmens Afmti d OpenStems the stanard has been continuousy updated to keep
Proceedings. he dates of succesive editions are as follos: 1896 1905 1907 1908 1912 Full information about the NFPA actionson sarious changes wilbe foud in theNFPAsearate sanard as puihed nCaBsstemsThis wasintgratedinto the1931din 1913 1915 1916 1917 1919 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929.n 190 aFurther revisons were adoptedin 1934 1935 and 1936.A w-step revision was resented in the om ofaprogressreportin199and iallyadptd in1940Furheandmentwere maen1947 1950 1953 1956 1958 1960 1961 1963 1964 1965 1966 1968 1969 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1978 1980 1982 1984 1986 and 1989.
The 1991 edition incorporated an entire rewrite of the standard to make the owerall format useradditional refinements made in 1994. friendlusttiechangewermadeonumrous emdnitonsan deriptionwi
The centennial (1996) edition included a significant rework of the requirements pertaining tosprinkler technology. proided information on extended coverage sprinklers and recogized the benfis of fast-response theaplinmlcatningfiouf riklhg
The1999 edition enpassed amajorreorganization of NFPA's Sprinkle Project that incudedthe establishment of aTechnical Correlating Commitee on AutomaticSprinkler Sstems and four new sprinkler systems technical mitees the consolidation of FPA's sprinkler sstem desig andinstalation requirements and the implementation of mumerous technical changes.
edition contained information on the installation of underground pipe from NFPA 24 and sprinkler The scope of NFPA I3 was expanded to address allsprinkler sstem applications. The 1999tem ischageritrafornlooranrack stage fClasIIandasticmdiie rberrlotnndoll a at ee peu atdi31C 231E and 231F. Additinally prinkler steminfomation for specializedhazards from over 40 NFPA documents was eitherbrought intoNFPA13 using NFPA's extract policy or specificallysystem piping. A table of crosreferences to previous editions andmaterial that as in other NFPA referenced. A new chapter was also adled to adres the structural aspects of exposed and burieddocuments was included at the end of the 1999 edition.
qss peus dsnominal K-factorsew criteria forthe use f steel pipeinunderground applications was ad as well as aew proviiont guard againsmiroiologicallinfluncdorrosionObstrutionlesfrseificsprinklpesandrulesfrlocatingsprinklernconeald acereevisdwliitatoswer laced nthsprinkzeinstoage appicaionsan criteria for the K-25 sprinkler was added. Additionall the requirements for protecting sprinklers against seismic evens alsounderwent significant revision.
The 2002eition of NFPA 13ndewent style fomatingand technical revisionsThe ste fomating was pleted tointouniqu haptrEditriallFPA 3liiated all thxptions andreworded thmasrequiremnts re applicablmoved themandatoryrfrences toChapter 2andrlocatedallthedfinitions toChapt3.InreorganizingFPA3 sral new chapters were created toconsolidate requirements inclding the followingChapter 10 contained all of theapplicablearaingiididiiadi requrements forunderground pinginluingmatrialsnstallationndaccptan testingChapt contane siexposue prottionand watecrtaiChapt2ontaine tedesigapproachesfr th protection f storage nlding idlpallisllaustaathafizd lidilxhfstieackagha5fktfllain contained al f thedesignand installtionrequirements from allof the various documents that have been extractedintoNFPA 13.
adresedcldng sklighssted cingsand ceiling pcketThsigrequrmntsfEFRsprinkler The 2002edition ade specific technical changes to addres seeral ky isuesThree mjorareas ofiegurceling ereexpanded toallothserthooe thstoraeheihtandthenthebuiding eightfranyallwable arrangementDesi requirements fortheprotetionofstorge nsolid shevewereaddedRequiremens fortheinstallation of residentialsprinklers were added that parallel the requirements for other npes of sprinklers.
For the 2o07 edition definitions were reorganized to place allthe storage definitions in one area and several newefinitions adeingpratewatsupply swere adedThdfinions andeqirments f OdinayHazad Grou and2Occupancis were clarifiedheretorage is resentherequirements forrapeze hangers wereclarifed andmaeappropriteeqrmensfontlnandeigfsicracigffirpinklstmhreqiremntsforag consistentforallponentsandthe seismicbaingcriteria wereupdated tonsure hatNFPA13contins all thstoragettinfasCsIVtethaastr lii ilinrf sra were further reorganized and divided into separate chaters adressinggeneralequirements forstorage; miscellaneousprotectnflatndiiatatr lilidlinelf rgti Clas I through ClasImodities that are storedonracks: protection of plastic andrubbermodities that arestored onracks: protection of rubber tire storage; protection of roll paper; and special designs of storage protection.
binationoflargedropprinklerand the specificaplicationcontrolmode sprinklerrequirementsand therevisionf the For the2010dionmanyf themjrchangeselated tthrequirments frstrage proetion.Firstwasterminologyto identify them as Control ModeSpecific Application sprinklers (CMSA).Next newcriteria for use of smoke ents were added to Chapter 12.The density/area curves in the storage chapters were reduced to maximum 300 f² (278m) operating area: this was a significant reduction of some curves that had xtended up to Go00 f² (557 m²)Changes to rack storagen the200itinincdd anewmethod tocallate therack shelfareainall th provisionsfobacktoback shelfstorage were added to the storage chapters.
of cartonecords strag withcatwalk accesactshing fmoditesconsstingofapefilesmagaziesbookandod pdseddoosaddspueapps high bay record storage.
fichlstrllna InChaptr9severachangesccurredegaringwaybracingfsrinklertemsnludingthintrouctionfwonezone of influence were modified to correlate with SEI/ASCE-7 and a new Annex E was aded that described this calculation.
clarification of the formulas used in calculating large antifreeze systems. Other areas of change included requirements for listed expansion chambers; clarification of ceiling pocket rules and
chapters.Oneignificantchange thatwasmaetothadinistraive chapterfFPA13was olarifythawatermiststms The 2013edition of NFPA 13included changes tomany technical requirementsaswellas thereorganization of multiplewere notcovered within NFPA 13and that FPA750 should be used whenlooking forguidanceonthe design and installation of those systems A series of new requirements addressed the need for a patibilty revew where nonmetallic piping andftings areinstalldinsts aousing petrolubased products suhas cutting oils and corrosioninhibitorsevral modifications weremade to the stanard pertaining tofrze protectionTheuseofantifreezeinnewNFPA13srinklrsstems was prohibited ules the outin use was listed and the listing inicate theinabilt for the solution to ignite.
