London, 21 May 2014
Alan Brinson
A European Residential Sprinkler System Design, Installation and
Maintenance Standard
Agenda
Agenda
The Need for a European Standard
Agenda
The Need for a European Standard
Input Sources and Activity to Date
Agenda
The Need for a European Standard
Input Sources and Activity to Date
Structure of the Draft Standard
Agenda
The Need for a European Standard
Input Sources and Activity to Date
Structure of the Draft Standard
Some Open Issues and Next Steps
The Need for a European Standard
We need a standard to support this
Sprinkler
And this!
Why do we need a standard? We are campaigning for sprinklers to be required in
high-risk residential buildings, such as care homes
Fire safety regulators want a national standard as a reference – they will not accept NFPA 13R or 13D
Many officials believe that sprinklers are too expensive for housing and are unaware of residential systems
A national residential system standard would advance the national debate and national campaigns
It would complement prEN 12259-14, the residential sprinkler component standard
Some countries have a standard!
2000: UK – DD 251
2004: France – CNPP Code of Practice (not a standard)
2005: UK – BS 9251 (replaced DD 251)
2005: Netherlands – Memorandum 59
2009: Nordic – INSTA 900-1
2013: Germany – VdS 2896 Code of Practice
2014: Netherlands – NEN 2077 (replaced Memo 59)
But… Most countries do not have a national standard
Some of these national standards have good ideas that others could use
Some have clauses that significantly increase costs
Working together, we can produce a European standard that brings together our best ideas
CEN standards automatically become national standards
Input Sources and Activity to Date
Input Sources
• BS 9251
• INSTA 900-1
• CEA residential annex (never published)
• NFPA 13R and 13D
• And suggestions from committee members!
Activity to Date
• Working off INSTA 900-1 since in CEN format
• Held five meetings with 10-18 participants and 5-10 countries represented
• Addressed differences between INSTA 900-1, BS 9251 and CEA draft
• Included committee learning from field, research on anti-freeze, proposed changes to INSTA 900-1, BS 9251, NFPA 13R and 13D
Not in the standard!
Structure of the Draft Standard
Structure of the Draft Standard Foreword with background to residential sprinklers Introduction with P&IDs to show the concept Scope (as agreed with CEN for EN 12845)
ScopeBuilding type 1 (the least hazardous)
One or 2 family dwelling / houseSingle apartment in an unsprinklered buildingManufactured home
Building type 2Apartments / block of flatsHouse with multiple households using shared facilities Care home / nursing home (excluding hospitals) / kindergarten Student accommodation Building type 2 is limited to buildings with up to 4 storeys above ground
Building type 3Building type 2 higher than 4 storeys and hotels up to 4 storeys
Structure of the Draft Standard Foreword with background to residential sprinklers Introduction with P&IDs to show the concept Scope (as agreed with CEN for EN 12845) Normative references Terms & definitions Contract planning & documentation Extent of sprinkler protection
Extent of sprinkler protection
Areas not requiring sprinklers:
• bathrooms < 5 m2 (no combustibles, washing machines)• normally unoccupied attics• shadow areas• normally unoccupied rooms• open balconies/corridors/stairs/porches;• crawl spaces• enclosed vertical shafts
Structure of the Draft Standard Foreword with background to residential sprinklers Introduction with P&IDs to show the concept Scope (as agreed with CEN for EN 12845) Normative references Terms & definitions Contract planning & documentation Extent of sprinkler protection Hydraulic design and pipe layout Water supplies Type of Water Supply
Structure of the Draft Standard, contd.
Pumps Installation type and size Spacing and location of sprinklers Sprinkler design characteristics and uses Valves Alarms and alarm devices Pipe work Signs, notices and information Commissioning and acceptance tests Inspection, testing and maintenance
Structure of the Draft Standard, contd.
Annex A (informative) Zoning Annex B (normative) Sprinkler systems monitoring Annex C (normative) Transmission of alarms Annex D (informative) Precautions and procedures
when a system is not fully operational Annex E (informative) Inspection of pipes and
sprinklers Annex F (informative) New technology
Some open issues and next steps
Some open issues – General
European standard, technical specification or technical report (EN, TS or TR)? Only a standard will be accepted in the market
and by officials as a reference Several countries have experience with
national standards, the technology is mature so we are ready to prepare a European standard
Some open issues – Scope
Area limit for Type 2 (care homes to 4 storeys)? No area limit in BS 9251, INSTA 900-1, NFPA 13R
Height limit for Type 3 (apartments > 4 storeys)? BS 9251 – 20m; NFPA 13R – 4 storeys but INSTA
900-1 no limit Limit in BS 9251 overruled by British regulator:
“Fire does not know it is on the 15th storey”
Some open issues – Design Type of
residential sprinkler system
Minimum design discharge density
(mm/min)
Number of design
sprinklers
Minimum duration of
water supply (minutes)
1 2,04 1-2 10
2 2,04 1-4 30
3 2,04 4 30
Should density be greater for Type 2 and Type 3?
Number of design sprinklers for Type 2 and Type 3?
Some more open issues
Are the pump requirements too onerous? Mainly from EN 12845 – chapter needs work
Do we allow dry systems and anti-freeze? They are in the draft but dry systems are vulnerable
to corrosion and anti-freeze is combustible Yet there are ways round both problems
Next steps
Send the draft for enquiry (comments) late 2014
We may work on it a little more first Work through comments in 2015 and send for
vote late 2015 Publication autumn 2016 (I hope!)
Thank you for your attention
Alan Brinson
www.eurosprinkler.org
+44 20 8877 2600