Sprinklers for Technical Thinkers

Take a look at some of the recent blogs created by NFSA staff over the past few months. Some of the topics include standpipes, sprinkler and fire alarm monitoring, NFPA 25 updates, NFSA’s sprinkler training trailers, and more.

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Sprinkler System Demand Flows Greater than 500gpm?

To understand when a sprinkler system fire department connection (FDC) needs to be supplemented vs supplied, we must first discuss the widely used term, system demand. This term is not defined in any of the fire sprinkler standards, but National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems does require a system to have a hydraulically calculated water demand flow rate, and this term is defined by NFPA 13. The waterflow rate for a system must be calculated using acceptable engineering practices and is commonly referenced as the system demand. …

The Travels of the Trailers

The first half of 2022 has been the busiest six months for the National Fire Sprinkler Association’s Live Fire Sprinkler Demonstration Training Trailer(s). Before we get to the travels of the trailer, let us discuss why the trailers where created and what they can provide. Valve trailers are not a new concept for NFSA as we have many other trailers with different systems installed in them that are located all around the country. The Live Fire Sprinkler Demonstration Training Trailers, as there are two were one of the first projects I worked on after joining NFSA. The concept of the valve trailer is live fire service training, but the trailer has expanded capabilities. …

2022 NFPA Technical Meeting and NFPA 25

This is the first in person meeting for the Annual NFPA Conference and Expo since 2019 and it did not disappoint. The attendance was great with over one hundred ten live education sessions over three days and more than two hundred exhibitors. This conference and expo also are a fantastic opportunity to network with some of the industry leaders from all over the world as well as see some of the latest products. This is also where the technical meeting is held for the current codes and standards in cycle. The technical meeting is where the CAMs are debated and a final vote is made on the amending motions. Only NFPA members in attendance can vote on the amending …

Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 2

Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 2 In Part 1 of the Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring article, we discussed some of the basic requirements in the model codes, NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 for monitoring. To find Part 1, please click on the link below to learn more about some of the basic monitoring requirements in the codes and standards. https://community.nfsa.org/blogs/john-swanson/2022/05/24/sprinkler-supervision-and-monitoring-nfpa-13-and-n Criteria for how to send sprinkler waterflow and fire alarm signals from the protected premises to the supervising station have caused confusion and raised many questions from installers …

Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72

Sprinkler Supervision and Monitoring: NFPA 13 and NFPA 72 Part 1 In most cases, the model fire codes used in the United States require new buildings to monitor sprinkler waterflow in accordance with NFPA 72. The International Fire Code (IFC), Section 903.4, requires valves controlling water supply for automatic sprinkler systems to be supervised by a listed fire alarm control unit. NFPA 1 and 101 contain similar requirements. But what does it mean to be electrically supervised in accordance with NFPA 72? What does electrically supervised mean? Electrically supervised means, a listed fire alarm control unit is provided at the protected premises to supervise …

NFSA’S GUIDE TO NFPA’S 2022 ANNUAL TECHNICAL MEETING

NFSA Participation in the NFPA Codes and Standards Process The fire sprinkler industry relies heavily on NFPA codes and standards to ensure fire protection systems are installed correctly, and that the performance of these systems will save lives and property. The National Fire Sprinkler Association (NFSA) and the activities of the Engineering and Standards Committee (E&S) and Code Development Team (CDT) performs a very active role in the codes and standards revision process with over 80 member and staff representatives on dozens of NFPA technical committees An important step in the codes and standards revision process is the Technical Meeting (also …

The Magic Number is Three

The Magic Number is Three Signage Requirements for Fire Department Connections (FDC’s) Frist, we must address who the signage is for, and it’s intended use. The reason for placing signage on a fire department connection (FDC) is to provide the end user or fire department some basic information about the fire protection system installed within a building or structure. This allows them to properly understand what type of system is in the building, pressure requirements needed to properly supplement, or supply that system demand, and which areas are being served during an emergency. Many jurisdictions see this as an opportunity …

Portable Orchestra Enclosures and Sprinkler Protection

Portable Orchestra Enclosures and Sprinkler Protection Fires in theaters, or more specifically, stages inside theaters, have been a fire problem for hundreds of years. The combination of combustible materials, sources of ignition and lots of people has been a fire safety issue spanning modern time. While the installation of automatic sprinkler systems has saved countless lives and reduced the severity of fires that are happening, unfortunately, the number of fires occurring in assembly occupancies is still too high. To complicate things, architects are constantly introducing new construction features requiring the sprinkler industry to reevaluate protection …