Review of Residential Sprinkler Systems: Research and Standards.
Review of Residential Sprinkler Systems: Research and
Standards.
(461 K)
Madrzykowski, D.; Fleming, R. P.
NISTIR 6941; 30 p. December 2002.
Available from:
: National Technical Information Service
(NTIS), Technology Administration, U.S. Department of
Commerce, Springfield, VA 22161.
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Keywords:
sprinkler systems; residential buildings; standards;
life safety; NFPA 13D; NFPA 13R; test methods
Abstract:
Automatic sprinkler systems have been successfully used
to protect industrial and commercial buildings and their
occupants for more than 100 years. Historically, the
place which has offered the least amount of fire
protection to occupants, was and still is their own
home. This paper presents overview of the development of
the residential sprinkler system standard, The Standard
on the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and
Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes, NFPA 13D.
Significant testing and development of residential
sprinkler systems has continued resulting in the
evolution of NFPA 13D and the development of the
Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in
Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories
in Height, NFPA 13R. This paper addresses the
life-safety objectives of residential sprinkler systems,
the differences between a residential system and those
for a residential occupancy that is required to be
designed in accordance with the Standard for the
Installation of sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13. New
developments in residential sprinkler system technology
continue to be made in an effort to increase the ease of
installation and reduce the cost of installation while
maintaining the effectiveness and reliability of the
system. In several comununities, residential sprinkler
systems have been required in dwellings for more than a
decade. Information from these communities are providing
compelling data for installing residential sprinklers.
These experiences, in addition to code requirements and
other incentives, are increasing the numbers of
sprinkler installations around the country.
Building and Fire Research Laboratory
National Institute of Standards and Technology
Gaithersburg, MD 20899