Residential Fire Sprinklers

End Point Devices – NSF 61Presented by: Julius Ballanco, P.E.

Residential Sprinkler

• Residential fire sprinklers are mandated in all residential buildings by the International Building Code and the International Residential Code.

• Many states have adopted all or part of these requirements including California, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire, and Wisconsin

• Fire sprinklers are regulated by either NPFA 13D or IRC Section P2904.

Purpose of NFPA 13D and P2904

• The purpose of NFPA 13D and IRC Section P2904 is to:– Provide protection of a

home with a sprinkler system

– Assist in the escape from a fire (within 10 minutes)

– Save lives– Low cost

• Secondary benefit:– Protect property

Type of Residential Systems

• Stand Alone– Separate piping for

sprinklers– Can be piped in any

acceptable material– Backflow required if:

• Black pipe• Fire department

connection• On antifreeze

systems

• Multipurpose Piping System– Piped with the

potable cold water distribution system

– Potable water piping material required

– No backflow protection is necessary

Typical Piping Materials

• Common residential sprinkler piping materials:– CPVC– PEX– Copper– Steel

• Plastic pipe must be listed for residential sprinkler systems CPVC Blazemaster Pipe

California Ruling on No-lead

• California ruled that residential fire sprinklers do not have to comply with the no-lead requirements– They do not supply drinking

water or water used for cooking

• There are two types – pendent and sidewall

Stand Alone - Two Pipe

8

CPVC Multipurpose Piping System

CPVC Multipurpose System

Copper Multipurpose System

Copper Multipurpose System

Fittings are Listed to NSF 61

PEX Multipurpose System

CPVC and PEX Hybrid Multipurpose

CPVC and PEX Hybrid Multipurpose

CPVC and PEX Hybrid Multipurpose

Change to NSF 61

• I am asking you to change Paragraph 9.1.2 to add “Fire Sprinklers” as a device that does not have to comply with NSF 61.– fire sprinklers (heads)

• Your support would be greatly appreciated.