an essential update on residential fire sprinklersircfiresprinkler.org/docs/residential sprinklers...

An Essential Update on Residential Fire Sprinklers

Copyright ©2009 IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition

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An Essential Update onResidential Fire Sprinklers

Jeffrey M. Shapiro, PE, FSFPEExecutive Director

IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition

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The IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition

• Not-for-profit association representing more than 115national, state and local code official, fire service and safety organizations, including associations representing 45states, all of whom support residential sprinklers

• Formed to help mainstream sprinklers into new residential construction



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Program Handout

www.IRCFireSprinkler.org/resources.htm

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On September 21, 2008The Future of Fire Safety in America Changed

• Code Change RB 66– Effective upon adoption of the 2009 IRC, ALL new

townhouses must be equipped with a fire sprinkler system• Code Change RB 64

– Effective Jan. 1, 2011, ALL new one- and two-family dwellings must be equipped with a fire sprinkler system



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Code Change RB66Townhouses

• Introduced by AvalonBay Communities• Offers incentive of reduced fire separation between

units from 2-hours to 1-hour• Avalon Bay indicated that savings from this single

incentive covers the cost of fire sprinklers

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Code Change RB66Townhouses

AvalonBay Communities has the right perspective

All AvalonBay associates, whether delivering services to our customers, or providing support from ourregional offices, are working toward the collective purpose of Enhancing the Lives of Our Residents.



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Code Change RB641- and 2-Family Dwellings

• Introduced by Chief Ron Colemanon behalf of the IRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition

• Was companioned with two other proposals– RB67 – Incentives– RP3 – Prescriptive system design

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Code Changes RB64 & RB66Process Facts

• RB64 passed by a margin of 1282 for / 470 against– A margin of 73% (substantially exceeded the required 66%)– 1752 total votes (largest vote count in ICC’s history)

• RB66 passed by a margin of 1260 for / 425 against– A margin of 75%– 1685 total votes



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• NAHB appealed the vote– Alledged “irregularities” in the process

• Attacked participation/voting by volunteer fire departments

• Attacked IRC Coalition travel assistance program

– Requested that the ICC Board of Directors “set aside” the vote

• ICC Appeals Board heard the appeal in Chicago on December 11, 2008– Unanimously rejected the appeal

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• ICC Board of Directors affirmed this recommendation on December 12, 2008

• ICC Board of Directors subsequently changed ICC’s code-development rules– Limited travel assistance funding by third parties– Developed a new ethics policy

• NAHB now asserts these changes as evidence that, while the Minneapolis vote may have technically complied with ICC’s rules at the time, the votes were illigitimate



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2009 International

Residential Code

• Section 313.1– Townhouse Sprinklers

• Section 313.2– Dwelling Sprinklers

• Section P2904– Sprinkler system

design and installation

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Code Change RP3Prescriptive Sprinkler System Design

• Introduced by IAFC Fire & Life Safety Section– Necessary because IRC doesn’t use reference

standards…intended to be a sole source document– Provides prescriptive design option– Permit alternative of using NFPA 13D



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Where We Are Today

• With the IRC changes affirmed and published, NAHB is attacking adoption on astate-by-state basis

• Tactics include– Preemptive legislation– Creating and/or stacking state-level oversight

committees for residential construction– Delaying or skipping adoption of the 2009 IRC

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Moving Forward With the IRC

• ICC will only have one code-development cycle for the 2012 codes

• In October, at the first of two hearings, it is anticipated that one or more proposals to delete the IRC sprinkler requirement will be considered

• This may pass the committee vote, but under new rules, the floor can overturn– Any ICC member can vote at this meeting



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The Public Needs to Know MoreAbout Residential Fire Sprinklers

• Put a firefighter in your home 24/7• First, YOU need to understand the facts about

residential fire sprinkler systems

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1. Momentum

2. Fear of the unknown

Two Biggest Obstacles to Residential Sprinklers



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1. Momentum– We tend to do things the same old way

• Most builders are used to building homes without fire sprinklers

• Sprinkler installers are traditionally trained with commercial installations in mind

– By introducing non-traditional approaches to piping, sprinkler spacing, and pumps and/or tanks installation costs can be reduced


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2. Fear of the unknown– Many folks who oppose residential

sprinklers have never seen a residential sprinkler system

THE SOLUTION IS BOTH OBSTACLES IS EDUCATION




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MythPutting Sprinklers in Homes is a

New and Untested Idea

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FACTHome Sprinklers Aren’t New

• It’s estimated that there are already more than 250,000 homes equipped with fire sprinklers in America– Approximately 100,000 in Prince Georges County,

MD and Scottsdale, AZ alone

• An average of 10,000+ new homes have been built with fire sprinklers each year– 1% of 1M built

• The technology is consistent with what’s been done in apartments for two decades



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Maryland is Among the Most Progressive States

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MythHome Sprinkler Systems are

Complicated and are Difficult to Install



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FactThey’re Not!

+ +WaterSupply

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What a Residential Sprinkler System Isn’t

Smoke alarmis the alarm



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MythSprinklers Will Flood Your House

if You Burn Toast

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Facts

1. Sprinklers operate based on heat– Not smoke

2. Sprinklers operate individually3. Sprinklers use small amounts of

water to put out a fire– Typically less than 20 gallons/min– Much less than fire department

hoses



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MythThere’s Plenty of Time to Respond

if a Fire Occurs

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FactTime Is the Issue…There’s Less

Than Most People Think

• From the time that a fire starts in a home, how long do you have to get out?

• It’s a matter of minutes…or less



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What’s “Flashover”• Fire is not what Hollywood portrays in TV or movies



39Non-sprinklered Room After 210 Seconds

Sprinklered RoomActivation within 60 Seconds

By Preventing FlashoverResidential Sprinklers Save Lives

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• A secondary benefit to residential sprinklers is property protection

• This home was not protected with sprinklers

By Preventing FlashoverResidential Sprinklers Save Property Too



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MythResidential Sprinkler Technology

Hasn’t Advanced in 30 Years

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FACTThere Have Been Many

Technological Advancements• The original minimum

flow rate for residential sprinklers in 1980 was:– 18 gpm for one sprinkler– 13 gpm each for two if

any room/compartment contains two or more sprinklers

• The original maximum spacing was 12x12



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Advances in Technology

• Today, through advances in technology, sprinklers can use 50% less water (as little as 16 gpm TOTAL demand)

• Minimum operating pressure of only 7 psi– Minimum pressure required by

IRC for new homes is 20 psi (based on pressure-balancing showers)

• Spacing can be up to 20x20

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Advances in Technology

• The reduced water demand and increased spacing has significantly reduced the cost of residential sprinkler systems

• They’ve stayed in the range of $1.00/sqft since the 1980s



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Typical Piping Materials

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

• Plastic pipe must be listed CPVC Blazemaster Shown

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• Traditionally, fire sprinkler systems are designed and installed as separate systems by a fire sprinkler contractor

• New design approaches and materials permit today’s residential sprinkler systems to be simple, less expensive and more easily integrated into a home than traditional “two pipe” designs

Domestic

Domestic

“Two-pipe”

“One-pipe”

Piping Layout Approaches



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• Stand Alone(two pipe)– Separate piping for

sprinklers and domestic plumbing

– Can be piped in any acceptable material

– Backflow required if:• Black pipe• Fire department

connection• Antifreeze system• Local regulation

Domestic

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Two Pipe (Stand Alone) System



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• Multipurpose Piping (one pipe)– Piped with the potable

cold water distribution system

– Potable water piping material required

– No backflow protection is necessary by model code

– May reduce material and labor costs

Domestic

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• Sprinklers are permitted to be incorporated as part of a plumbing system, just like a toilet or sink

• For growth to occur in the multipurpose market– Sprinkler contractors need

to get in to residential plumbing

– Plumbing contractors need to get into residential sprinklers

Mainstreaming Dwelling Sprinklers



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• Systems can be made relatively simple todesign and install– IRC P2904 now includes a

pipe schedule design option


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• Multipurpose systems allow for– Plumbing or sprinkler

contractors to do both sprinklers and potable water

– Plumbing or combinationinspectors to do inspection of sprinklers

– Not much different than electricians installing andelectrical inspectors inspecting smoke alarms




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• Multipurpose piping materials– CPVC – PEX– Copper

• In multipurpose systems, stagnant water is prevented by flow through domestic fixtures– What about dead end

outriggers or sprigs? • Hose bibs• “Future use” plumbing


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Multipurpose Piping Systems



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(CPVC-PEX)

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(CPVC-PEX)



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• Compatibility of Thermoplastic Piping– Flowguard Gold and Blazemaster can be joined

together; both are CPVC

– Both are permitted for potable water


(CPVC-PEX)

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Multipurpose Piping Systems(Blazemaster CPVC – FlowGuard CPVC)

IPS

CTS



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Conversion to Water Piping

• Blazemaster is converted to Flowguard Gold

• Flowguard Gold facilitates connection to plumbing fixtures

• Blazemaster can be used for the entire plumbing system if the contractor prefers

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Multipurpose Oddities

• Typically, the hot and cold water are installed parallel.

• For multipurpose piping, they are not.

• The cold follows the route of the sprinklers.



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PEX Systems

• Two approaches to PEX– Rehau (direct feed)

– Uponor [Wirsbo](network)

• Network tubing is ½inch in diameter.

• Multiple tubing connections must supply each sprinkler.

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PEX Multipurpose

• In a manifolded PEX system, the manifold can serve sprinklers and the cold water supply to plumbing fixtures.

• The manifold often has a “home run” for each fixture or area.



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Manifold Network System

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MythSprinkler Systems Will Freeze in

Cold Climates



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FACTFreezing a ConcernBut Not An Obstacle

• A sprinkler system poses no greater risk of freezing than domestic plumbing if the system is properly designed and installed.

• Freeze-ups result from design or installation errors that can occur with any plumbing system, but it is incorrect to suggest that sprinkler systems are predisposed to freezing in cold climates.

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Is Freezing a Big Concern

• Jurisdictions with severely freezing climates in mountainous and northern states from New York to Alaska have adopted residential sprinkler ordinances

• Widespread freezing problems with sprinklers would generate an enormous political backlash in jurisdictions where sprinklers have been mandated.

• This simply hasn’t happened.



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• Reducing flow demand can dramatically reduce cost and complexityLess water flow =Standard meter =No infrastructure recovery fee =Works on a well =Smaller tank if needed =Smaller pipes =Smaller fittings =No need for looped piping =Prescriptive designs =No engineers

• What about a “single sprinkler”design basis?

Design GoalMinimize Water Demand

Orange County Fire Authority

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NFPA 13D Water Supply

• Must have enough to meet demand for 10 minutes, except that 7 minutes is allowed for one story dwellings not exceeding 2,000 sqft in area

• Acceptable are:– Connections to a reliable waterworks system

– An elevated tank

– A pressure tank

– A stored water source with an automatically operated pump



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Water Demand

• Public Supply– Water service must

provide capacity of sprinkler system

– Pressure losses occur in piping and through meter

– Meter can be 5/8”or ¾” (use big pipe…small meter)

• Well System– Well must have the

capacity of the sprinkler flow rate, or

– System must provide a means of flowing at required capacity

• Pressure Tank

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Meter Pressure Loss Curves

Hersey Meter



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P2904 Hydraulics

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Or Use Spreadsheet

Pressure Safety Factor (psi) : ------------------ 3Pipe Fittings Factor (%) : ------------------------ 40.00%Sprinkler K Factor : -------------------------------- 4.2

Water Service : --------------------------------------- PEPE SDR : ----------------------------------------------- 11Input Diameter (in) : --------------------------------- 1C = -------------------------------------------------------- 150

Water Distribution : ---------------------------------- Blazemaster

Input Diameter 1C = -------------------------------------------------------- 150

Sprinkler Flow Rates to Investigate (gpm) : 121318

Well System? ---------------------------------------- NoWater Service Length (ft) : ----------------------- 40 405/8'' Meter Loss (psi) : ----------------------------- 9 93/4'' Meter Loss (psi) : ----------------------------- 4 4

For The Sizing Table

Input Data

Residential Sprinkler Sizing Table



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MythHome Sprinkler Systems Require

Expensive Inspections and Maintenance

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MythNew Homes Are Safer Than

Old Homes



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Aren’t Older Homesthe “Real” Problem?

• Builders suggest that new homes area safer because of smoke alarms and better construction methods

• New lightweightconstruction isactually moredangerous thandimensionallumber

• UL University

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MythSmoke Alarms Are All I Need



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FACTSmoke Alarms Aren’t Enough

• Smoke alarms are only alerting devices. On their own, they do nothing to stop the spread of fire, protect property or protect firefighters

• As smoke alarms age, their reliability declines

• Manufacturers now stamp an expiration date on each unit indicating a 10-year replacement cycle

• One out of three fire fatalities occurs in a home with a working smoke alarm

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FACTSmoke Alarms Aren’t Enough



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MythHome Sprinklers Are Too

Expensive And Will Adversely Affect Affordable Housing

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The Issue of CostTrue Impact

• Consider– $300,000 home – $3,000 sprinkler system– 6.5% mortgage– 5% credit on a $2,000/year insurance bill– Combined Federal/State income tax rate of 33%– The net cost of fire sprinklers, after mortgage related tax

deductions, would be $4.37 per month.

• This represents a 0.23% increase in the monthly payment – Roughly equates to the cost of a premium beverage at your

local coffee shop

• Just how cheap do sprinklers have to become before they’re considered cost-effective?



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Sprinklers Must Not Have an Adverse Impact on Affordable Housing

• The added cost of sprinklers in a 3-bedroom Habitat home is about $500 for equipment and materials– Less than $4/month on a 30-year note, not incl. insurance credit

• The systems meet NFPA 13D, the national standard

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• I’ve personally overseen the installation of 75+sprinkler systems in Austin Habitat Homes…and that’s when I became a believer in the future of residential sprinklers…no big deal

Sprinklers Must Not Have an Adverse Impact on Affordable Housing



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ResourcesThe Home Fire Sprinkler Coalition

www.homefiresprinkler.org

• DVD presentation and info kits

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ResourcesResidential Fire Safety Institute

www.firesafehome.org

• Model ordinances

• Statistics

• History

• General support information for working on a local ordinance



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ResourcesIRC Fire Sprinkler Coalition

• Supporting national and local adoption of residential sprinkler requirements

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Questions ?

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