sprinkler tx242-fm.pdf

7/27/2019 sprinkler tx242-fm.pdf

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To Wally and To Gloria

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Contents

Introduction

1. FIRE SPRINKLERS: THEIR HISTORY AND BACKGROUND

Citations

Endnotes

2. OVERVIEW OF A BASIC SPRINKLER SYSTEM DESIGN (GETTING STARTED)

Plans and Specifications

Starting the Work on Your Plan

Citations

Endnotes

3. BASIC DESIGN OVERVIEW (PART 2)

Citations

Endnotes

4. FURTHER SPECIFICS OF DESIGN BASICS

Dimensioning Pipe Lengths

Considerations for Office Areas

Take-Outs

Noted Dimensions

The System Header

At the End of the Job

Citations

Endnotes

5. ADDITIONAL ENGINEERING RESPONSIBILITIES

Locate Sprinklers in an Open Space

Some Other Red Flags

The Consulting Engineers Onus

Hazard Evaluation

On-the-Job Responsibilities

Critical Design Considerations

Communicate!

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Always Be on the Alert

Citations

Endnotes

6. FINISHING THE PLAN.

Endnotes

7. STOCKLISTING

Endnotes

8. AREAS SUBJECT TO FREEZING

Auxiliary Dry Systems

Anti-Freeze Systems

Factors to Consider

Sprinkler System Conversions

Engineering Design Options

Citations

Endnotes

9. PIPE HANGINGEndnote

10. SYSTEM CODE REQUIREMENTS

Customizing Your Work to the Job at Hand

Code Specifics

Making Use of NFPA Pamphlet #13

Study Questions

Citation

Endnotes

11. BASICS OF HYDRAULIC CALCULATION

The Project ExamplePrimary Calculation Considerations

Cross-Main Calculation Procedures

Completing the Hydraulic Calculation

Proving System Adequacy

Some Finer Points

System Variations

Citations

Endnotes

12. PREPARATION FOR THE NICET EXAMINATION

Study Questions

CitationsEndnotes

13. PIPING METHODS AND DETAILS

Endnotes

14. OPTIONS FOR HYDRAULIC DESIGN.

The Grid Calculation

The Loop Calculation

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To Bear in Mind

Citations

Endnotes

15. HIGH-PILED STORAGE

Commodity Classification

Commodity Piling Height

Code ApplicationAnother Application Example

Sprinkler Options

Study Questions

Citations

Endnotes

16. TECHNIQUES FOR RETROFIT WORK

Measure and Quantify the Existing Building in Three Dimensions

Prepare the Design and Layout by Survey

Make a Comprehensive Effort

Recent Examples of Retrofit Design Work

CitationsEndnotes

17. THE ROLE OF FIRE PUMPS AND THEIR USAGE .

The Horizontal Electric Fire Pump

Vertical Turbine Pumps

In-Line and End-Section Pumps

Diesel-Drive Pumps

Pump Selection

Energy for Start-Up and Operation

The Codes

Code Interpretations

Field Engineering Concerns

Size and Safety

Citations

18. BASICS OF FIRE PUMP LAYOUT

Proper Proximity of the Pump

What the Code Dictates

Fire Alarm Control Panels

Fire Pump Performance Curves

Sizing the Fire Pump

Detailing the Pump Plan

Installation Considerations

Fire Pump Testing Apparatus

Endnotes

19. RESIDENTIAL FIRE SPRINKLER DESIGN

Project Design Considerations

NFPA Pamphlet #13-R Requirements

Laying Out the System Piping

Residential Sprinkler Plan Preparation

The Intent and Significance of Pamphlet #13-R

Study Questions

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Citations

Additional Referenced Material

Endnotes

20. PROJECT ESTIMATING

Endnotes

21. ECONOMIES OF THE DESIGN FUNCTION

Citations

Endnotes

Appendix A:Fire Sprinkler Application Review

Appendix B:In-House Engineer Training

Appendix C:Protecting Computer Rooms

Appendix D:Figures and Photos

Appendix E:Friction Loss Tables for Thinwall

Cross-mains Black Schedule 10 Steel

Pipe C=

120 Friction LossPSI per lineal foot of pipeAnswer Key

Glossary

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Introduction

BE it on the job or in the classroom, this text is directed

towards the individual beginning vocational training inthe engineering discipline of automatic fire sprinkler system

design. National building and fire codes are revised and up-

dated almost annually. By comparison, there has been very

little published to aid sprinkler system designers, particularly

in the area of design basics. This book was written largely

because I could not find one that comprehensively dealt with

this subject matter.

Although designed as a text, this books target audience is

not limited to students. Its purpose is to see that the informa-

tion discussed can be applied by those already employed as

consulting engineersandarchitects as well as those engineers

specializing in related areas offire protection engineering. It

is also directed towards the needs of insurance underwriters,fire protection researchers, building inspectors, and munici-

pal officials. If ongoing education is pivotal to the focus of

the attitude of the professional, then exposure to works such

as this will provide a solid benefit to his or her abilities as a

competent engineer.

This text will not only outline the role of the fire sprin-

kler designer, but will shed light on the broad expanse of

responsibilities this role encompasses. As many fire protec-

tion publications do a thorough job of keeping profession-

als abreast of changing code requirements, the goal of this

work is to furnish an overview of the basics necessary to ini-

tiate sprinkler system design and layout. Apart from some

fire sprinkler associations, the burden of engineering train-

ing today has fallen on independent sprinkler contractors,

most of whom are much too small and without the finan-

cial resources to pay someone to devote a significant por-

tion of his time to teach new engineers. Hopefully, this text

will serve to more efficiently put this training process in

motion.

It typically takes two or more years of on-the-job training

for a sprinkler designer to feel confident and comfortable in

his responsibilities. This book is organized with the intention

of speeding that process.The chapter sequences allow for new knowledge to be ac-

quired at a gradual pace. The beginning chapters of the book

take the reader through all of the steps involved with the de-

sign engineering process using an easy, basic example build-

ing. This has been authored to familiarize the reader with the

entire process, and to provide a broad foundation on which

to build a deeper understanding of the basics of the fire pro-

tection engineering.

This book is formatted for a semester-length curriculum.

The contents are structured for easy learning, and as a guide

in acquiring a foundation of knowledge that will accentuate

the subsequent understanding of various detailed fire codes

and pamphlets. It also serves as a preparation for the NICETexamination, and a vocational reference tool.

The 175+ study questions are included for two reasons.

Since they are open-book questions, they introduce the

reader to the unending activity of referencing codes to locate

the answers to questions of application. Second, as the ques-

tions are prepared in the same fashion as those encountered

in many NICET examinations, they will aid in preparation

for this test.

The creations of a mechanical engineer involve motion, or

specifically:by customizinga systemin such a wayto convert

energy into a useful mechanical form. If designing a sprin-

kler system were as simple as that statement makes it sound,

then of course the existence of this text would be completely

unnecessary. There is a lot to learn about the regimen offire

sprinkler system design. Not that any of that information is

very hard to learn, there simply is a lot of it to digest.

One of the reasons for the many different fire sprinkler

rules and regulations is that some things are more apt to

spread fire more quickly than others. When these are known

stored products,the occupancy (orclassification) of thebuild-

ing changes, necessitating a separate set of requirements.

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Another way to look at this relates to the objects used to

build the building itself. Larger or thicker objects will take

longer to burn or to breach by burning, and are therefore

more fire resistive, because mass is directly related to fire

resistance. However, building code requirements that call for

parapet walls, non-combustible building materials, or addi-

tional fire separation walls, are not a complete solution or

remedy from the danger and destruction offire. Rather, theseare viewed more as passive protection, while automatic fire

suppression systems are viewed as active protection; and

this protection must be compatible with the potential lurking

danger.

Just as the invention of the ox-drawn plow marked the

beginning of agricultural civilization, the development of

the fire sprinkler system in conjunction with the inven-

tion of the fusible sprinkler nozzle marked the beginning

of set-in-place fire suppression security. The automatic fire

sprinklersystemis theconduit that connects thewater supply

to the place offire origin.

As the nature of the demand for engineering of diverse

functional mechanisms becomes more specialized over time,

it appears that the future offire protection engineering will

also become more fractioned. This is all the more reason for

cross-training within the professional engineering subfields.While each individual in the field of engineering has a role to

play, it is paramount that allthe players be in sync with regard

to fire safety. Whatever partyourendeavors playin theoverall

picture, I hope youdo invest thetimeto read andassimilatethe

information contained herein. To avoid lengthy interruptions

within the text, all figures and photographs have been placed

at the end of the book. Your interest in fire protection and life

safety is appreciated.

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