Nfpa 13

10/27/2014
12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013
12.1 General
The requirements of Section 12.1 shall apply to all storage arrangements
and commodities other than miscellaneous storage (see Chapter
13 ) and as modified by specific sections in Chapter
14 through Chapter 20 .
The rules of Chapter 12 apply to all storage occupancies,
except those in Chapter 13 . When planning a sprinkler
system for a storage or warehouse occupancy, the user
needs to make sure that all of the rules of Chapter 12 are
followed in addition to the applicable requirements
of Chapter 14 through Chapter 21 .
FAQ
Why was Chapter 12 written to apply to all storage
arrangements?
Rather than repeat all of the general rules that apply to

all storage situations, the rules have been consolidated in
one location so that they are easily found and uniformly
enforced. If the rules were repeated in multiple chapters,
they might be more difficult to find, and they might be
modified by the technical committee in one chapter while
left alone or modified in a different way in another chapter
unintentionally.
FAQ
Why are systems designed in accordance with Chapter
13 exempt from the requirements of Chapter 12?
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Sprinkler systems that protect miscellaneous storage or

low-piled storage have more in common with ordinary
hazard or light hazard occupancies than they do with
storage occupancies. Fires in these occupancies do not
generate the same kind of forceful vertical fire plumes that
can be found in other storage occupancies. Therefore, the
discharge criteria for systems designed in accordance
with Chapter 13
ultimately revert to criteria in Chapter
11
for ordinary or extra hazard systems; the more
stringent criteria found in Chapter 12 do not apply in this
case.
12.1.1 Roof Vents and Draft Curtains.

See Section C.6.
Testing sponsored by the Fire Protection Research
Foundation (FPRF) has shown that draft curtains can alter
the operating pattern of sprinklers. For further details, see
the FPRFs International Fire Sprinkler/Smoke & Heat
Vent/Draft Curtain Fire Test Project Technical Reports. In
some cases, vents and draft curtains can have a detrimental
effect on the level of protection. If draft curtains other than
those detailed in 12.1.1.3 and 12.1.1.3.1 are used,
experienced judgment and consideration of the effect on
sprinkler performance should be used in determining the
final design criteria.
The concern with draft curtains is that a fire will start
under a curtain or, even worse, at an intersection of
curtains. In such instances, fire tests have shown that the
hot gases from a fire are pushed along the curtain and then
open sprinklers remote from the fire. These sprinklers take
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water from the sprinklers that are directly over the fire,
limiting their effectiveness and possibly preventing control
or suppression. If draft curtains are installed in buildings
with fire sprinklers, they should be located over aisles to
lessen the chance of a large fire starting directly under the
draft curtain. Building owners must be aware that draft
curtain placement is dependent on the aisle location so that
the aisle location is not changed at a later date without
consideration for sprinkler system performance.
Smoke and heat vents at the roof also have the
potential to detrimentally affect the sprinkler systems
performance. Fire tests performed by the FPRF showed that,
in some circumstances, the presence of smoke and heat
vents could alter the operating pattern of sprinklers and
cause too many sprinklers to open, robbing the sprinklers of
water needed to control or suppress the fire. Hundreds of
full-scale fire tests conducted over more than 40 years have
shown that the criteria in Chapter 14
through Chapter
21
in NFPA 13 are sufficient for controlling or suppressing
fires with sprinklers and without smoke or heat vents. For
many years, NFPA 13 and its predecessor documents (NFPA
231 and NFPA 231C) discouraged the installation of smoke
and heat vents in sprinklered buildings.
Regardless of what NFPA 13, NFPA 231, or NFPA 231C
say, the building codes and fire codes used across the
United States require smoke and heat vents to be installed
in some occupancies. In order to help the building owner
comply with the building code or fire code, the 2010 edition
of NFPA 13 was revised by adding 12.1.1.1 and 12.1.1.2 to
recognize that manually operated smoke or heat vents
would be preferable to automatic ones. If automatic vents
are required, they need to be designed so that their
operating elements are rated at a higher operating
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temperature than those of the sprinklers being used. If the

sprinklers have the higher temperature operating element,
then they would theoretically control the fire without
allowing the automatic vents to open. The vents would open
only if the sprinklers failed to do their job, in which case the
concern for the vents adversely affecting the sprinkler
performance would no longer be an issue. Unfortunately,
this theoretical solution to the problem assumes that
automatic link temperature is the only variable that affects
the opening time of the vent as compared to the opening
time of the sprinkler. In reality, the vent opening time is
affected by the location of the vent in relation to the fire and
the response time index (RTI) of the vent link. In order to
accurately ensure that the vents do not open and negatively
impact sprinkler performance, the link temperature, RTI,
and location of the vent need to be evaluated.
For early suppression fast-response (ESFR) sprinklers,
the sensitivity of the sprinkler is even more critical. The use
of standard response operating mechanisms is required by
12.1.1.2 to keep the vent from opening before the sprinkler
operates.
C.6 [12.1.1]
Tests were conducted as a part of this program with eave line windows
or louvers open to simulate smoke and heat venting. These tests opened
87.5 percent and 91 percent more sprinklers than did comparative tests
without windows or louvers open. Venting tests that have been
conducted in other programs were without the benefit of sprinkler
protection and, as such, are not considered in this report, which covers
only buildings protected by sprinklers. The design curves are based
upon the absence of roof vents or draft curtains in the building. During
mop-up operations, ventilating systems, where installed, should be
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capable of manual exhaust operations.
12.1.1.1*
Manually operated roof vents or automatic roof vents with operating
elements that have a higher temperature classification than the
automatic sprinklers shall be permitted.
A.12.1.1.1
Sprinkler protection criteria are based on the assumption that roof vents
and draft curtains are not being used. (See Section C.6.)
12.1.1.2
Early suppression fast-response (ESFR) sprinklers shall not be used in
buildings with automatic heat or smoke vents unless the vents use a
high-temperature rated, standard-response operating mechanism.
12.1.1.3*
Draft curtains shall not be used within ESFR sprinkler systems.
FAQ
Why are draft curtains not allowed within ESFR systems?
As noted in the commentary for 12.1.1, draft curtains have

been shown to alter the operating pattern of sprinklers. In
some cases, draft curtains divert hot gases from a fire along
the curtain, causing sprinklers remote from the fire to
operate prior to sprinklers closer to the fire. The operating
pattern of ESFR sprinklers is critical to their success, and the
development of the spray pattern can be easily altered by
obstructions. Draft curtains can have a detrimental effect on
this operational pattern, and therefore their use is
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prohibited.
A.12.1.1.3
Draft curtains have been shown to have a negative effect on sprinkler
effectiveness. If they are mandated, extreme care needs to be taken to
minimize any potential impacts.
12.1.1.3.1
Draft curtains separating ESFR sprinklers at system breaks or from
control mode sprinklers or between hazards shall be
permitted. (See 8.4.6.4 .)
Draft curtains are permitted to separate ESFR systems from
other hazards or systems using control mode sprinklers to
prevent inadvertent operations of ESFR sprinklers from a
fire under the control mode sprinklers or system. Control
mode sprinklers are less sensitive in operation and do not
have the same suppression characteristics as ESFR
sprinklers. This difference can lead to thermal activation of
the ESFR sprinklers adjacent to a fire area under control
mode sprinklers or systems, reducing the overall water
supply.
Draft curtains located at the system breaks between
ESFR systems are allowed, since they are expected to have
little effect on system performance. Any skewing of the
operating area will have the support of separate system
risers.
FAQ
Does 12.1.1.3.1 contradict 12.1.1.3?
The requirements in 12.1.1.3.1 do not contradict those

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in 12.1.1.3. Paragraph 12.1.1.3 prohibits the installation of

draft curtains within ESFR sprinkler systems. Paragraph
12.1.1.3.1 recognizes that there are cases where a
separation between ESFR sprinklers and other types of
sprinklers is desirable, such as 8.4.6.4 , which requires
areas protected by ESFR sprinklers to be separated from
areas protected by standard-response sprinklers with a draft
curtain. In this case, the draft curtain is not within the ESFR
system. It is at the boundary of the ESFR system,
preventing the hot gases from a fire under the standardresponse sprinklers from opening an ESFR sprinkler prior to
the standard-response sprinklers over the fire.
12.1.2 Ceiling Slope.

The sprinkler system criteria specified in Chapter 12 andChapters
14 through 20 are intended to apply to buildings with ceiling slopes
not exceeding 2 in 12 (16.7 percent) unless modified by a specific section
in Chapter 12 and Chapters 14 through 20 .
All of the testing used to develop storage protection
requirements was done under flat roofs. A -scale model of
a full-scale test facility was used to investigate the effects of
varying ceiling slopes. These investigations indicated that
sprinkler operating patterns and sequences will not be
adversely impacted when slopes do not exceed 2 in 12 (16.7
percent). Where the slope exceeds 16.7 percent, the
sprinkler operating area and sequence can be skewed.
Unless the fire occurs directly under a row of sprinklers,
sprinklers nearest the fire might not operate. Heat from the
fire will collect at the peak and result in the operation of an
excessive number of sprinklers and loss of fire control.
FAQ
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What are the design criteria for storage buildings that have
ceiling or roof slopes greater than 2 in 12 (16.7 percent)?
The design criteria for storage buildings having ceiling or

roof slopes exceeding 2 in 12 (16.7 percent) are outside the
scope of Chapter 12 and Chapter 14
through Chapter
20 . For storage buildings that have sloped ceilings greater
than 16.7 percent, criteria could be developed in a number
of ways. Full-scale fire tests could be conducted using the
roof arrangement and commodity being stored in order to
develop protection criteria, or an engineer could perform a
dynamic heat transfer analysis to determine how many
sprinklers might open in a fire and how large the fire might
be when sprinklers over the fire opened. Using this
information, the engineer could determine discharge criteria,
including the number and location of open sprinklers and the
flow and pressure needed to discharge from those sprinklers
to control or suppress the fire. It is likely that such an
analysis would show a skewed operating pattern of
sprinklers up the slope of the roof and along the peak. For
roofs with short distances along the slope (less than 1.2
times the square root of the horizontal design area), the
skew would not be expected to be as great.
A good example of this concept is the construction type
commonly referred to as sawtooth roof, in which generally
only two or three sprinklers run up a section of roof with a
slope greater than 16.7 percent. These sprinklers can be
calculated as if all the sprinklers running up the slope will
operate for the width of the hydraulically remote area.
Experienced judgment will have to be used for small
portions of the ceiling/roof that exceed 16.7 percent slope.
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12.1.3* Building and Storage Height.

A.12.1.3
The fire protection system design should consider the maximum storage
height. For new sprinkler installations, maximum storage height is the
usable height at which commodities can be stored above the floor while
the minimum required unobstructed space below sprinklers is
maintained. Where evaluating existing situations, maximum storage
height is the maximum existing storage height if space between the
sprinklers and storage is equal to or greater than that required.
Building heights where baled cotton is stored should allow for
proper clearance between the pile height and sprinkler deflectors. Fire
tests of high-piled storage have shown that sprinklers are generally more
effective if located 1 ft to 4 ft (0.45 m to 1.4 m) above the storage
height.
When the small higher hazard area is larger than the required
minimum area dictated by the surrounding occupancy, even when
separated by partitions capable of stopping heat, the size of the operating
area is determined by the higher hazard storage.
12.1.3.1
The maximum building height shall be measured to the underside of the
roof deck or ceiling.
12.1.3.2
ESFR sprinklers shall be used only in buildings equal to, or less than, the
height of the building for which they have been listed.
ESFR sprinklers are tested and listed to protect buildings of
specific heights as outlined in the tables in Chapter 12
throughChapter 21 . It is not reasonable to extrapolate the
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use of ESFR sprinklers beyond these ceiling heights without

test data to prove that the sprinklers will operate as
designed. If a building owner has a building that is taller
than what can be protected with ESFR sprinklers and wants
to use ESFR sprinklers, the only option is to install a drop
ceiling at the height permitted for ESFR sprinklers, and
install the sprinklers under the drop ceiling. The tiles of the
drop ceiling would need to be maintained in place and would
need to be substantial enough (or physically held) to stay in
place during a fire event.
FAQ
When using ESFR sprinklers in a building having a sloped
roof (less than 2 in 12), can the building height be averaged?
For example, if a building has a ceiling height of 38 ft (11.6
m) at the eave and a ceiling height of 42 ft (12.8 m) at the
center, can the ceiling height be averaged for a protection
height of 40 ft (12.2 m)?
The protection criteria for ESFR sprinklers are based on

the actual maximum ceiling height not an average ceiling
height. For the example in the previous paragraph, one
option would be to follow the ESFR criteria for a 45 ft (13.7
m) high ceiling throughout the building. A potential
alternative would be to use the 45 ft (13.7 m) ESFR criteria
from the 42 ft (12.8 m) peak to the location 15 ft (4.6 m)
beyond the 40 ft (12.2 m) ceiling height, and use the 40 ft
(12.2 m) ESFR criteria for the remainder of the ceiling
height to the edge of the building. The location 15 ft (4.6 m)
beyond is recognized by Section 12.3 to provide adequate
coverage of a higher design protocol to separate a lower
design without the use of physical separations.
12.1.3.3
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The sprinkler system design shall be based on the storage height and
clearance to ceiling that routinely or periodically exist in the building and
create the greatest water demand. Where storage is placed above doors,
the storage height shall be calculated from the base of storage above the
door.
The quantity of materials in a storage occupancy constantly
changes during the days, weeks, months, and years of use
of the building. The sprinkler system needs to be able to
handle the reasonable worst-case combination of storage
height and clearance that might occur in the building. The
higher storage height is not always the worst-case design.
For certain high-challenge fuels (such as Group A plastics),
a lower storage height with a greater distance to the ceiling
creates a more challenging fire for the sprinklers to fight
than a taller storage height with a smaller distance to the
ceiling. This is because the situation with the greater
clearance requires the water droplet from the sprinkler to
travel farther through the vertical fire plume to get to the
fire, making it more difficult for low-quality droplets to get
to the seat of a fire. Therefore, it is incumbent on the
designer of a sprinkler system to consider all of the
combinations of storage heights and clearances and make
sure that they design for the reasonable worst-case scenario
that will occur in the building.
It is common for owners and operators of warehouse
occupancies to want to use all of the space in the building,
including that space above the doors. Frequently this space
above the doors is used for idle pallet storage, but it can
also be used for product storage. Where the space above
the door is used for storage, NFPA 13 does not require the
user to protect the storage as if it went all the way to the
floor. Instead, NFPA 13 allows the user to start measuring
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from the locations where the storage starts above the door.
For example, in a warehouse that is 30 ft (9.1 m) high with
15 ft (4.6 m) high doors, a 5 ft (1.5 m) high stack of idle
wood pallets would be considered 5 ft (1.5 m) of storage,
even though the top of the pallets would be 20 ft (6.1 m)
above the floor.
12.1.3.4 Clearance to Ceiling.

Section 12.1.3.4 and its subsections clarify the concept of
clearance to ceiling, which should not be confused with
clearance. The term clearance is the distance from the top
of storage to the sprinkler deflector. The term clearance to
ceilingis the distance from the top of storage to the ceiling
or roof structure. Depending on the type of ceiling
construction, the difference between the clearance and the
clearance to ceiling could be a much as 22 in. (559 mm).
The subparagraphs to 12.1.3.4 describe how to measure the
clearance to the ceiling for different roof/ceiling
configurations.
12.1.3.4.1*
The clearance to ceiling shall be measured in accordance with 12.1.3.4.1.1
through 12.1.3.4.1.3.
A.12.1.3.4.1
Batt insulation creates an effective thermal barrier and can be considered
the ceiling/roof deck when determining the clearance to ceiling. The
insulation needs to be installed in each pocket (not just above the
sprinkler) and attached to the ceiling/roof in such a manner that it will
not fall out during a fire prior to sprinkler activation.
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12.1.3.4.1.1
For corrugated metal deck roofs up to 3 in. (76 mm) in depth, the
clearance to ceiling shall be measured from the top of storage to the
bottom of the deck.
See Exhibit 12.1
for an example of how to calculate the
clearance to ceiling for a corrugated metal deck that is 3 in.
(76 mm) or less in depth, and see Exhibit 12.2
for an
example of how to calculate the clearance to ceiling for a
corrugated metal deck that is greater than 3 in. (76 mm) in
depth.
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12.1.3.4.1.2
For corrugated metal deck roofs deeper than 3 in. (76 mm), the clearance
to ceiling shall be measured to the highest point on the deck.
12.1.3.4.1.3
For ceilings that have insulation attached directly to underside of the
ceiling or roof structure, the clearance to ceiling shall be measured from
the top of storage to the bottom of the insulation and shall be in
accordance with 12.1.3.4.1.3(A) or 12.1.3.4.1.3(B).
(A) For insulation that is attached directly to the ceiling or roof structure
and is installed flat and parallel to the ceiling or roof structure, the
clearance to ceiling shall be measured from the top of storage to the
underside of the insulation.
(B) For insulation that is installed in a manner that causes it to deflect or
sag down from the ceiling or roof structure, the clearance to ceiling shall
be measured from the top of storage to a point half of the distance of the
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deflection from the insulation high point to the insulation low point. If
the deflection or sag in the insulation exceeds 6 in. (152 mm), the
clearance to ceiling shall be measured from the top of storage to the high
point of the insulation.
As long as the insulation in a building is attached to the roof
or ceiling in such a manner that it will stay in place during
the early stages of a fire, the bottom of the insulation
effectively becomes the top of the space for the purposes of
measuring the distance from the top of storage to the
ceiling. See Exhibit 12.3
for an example of measuring the
clearance to ceiling for the condition where insulation is
tight (and parallel) to the ceiling. See Exhibit 12.4
for an
example of sagging insulation with 6 in. (152 mm) or less of
sag, and see Exhibit 12.5
for insulation with more than 6
in. (152 mm) of sag.
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12.1.3.4.2
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For spray sprinkler criteria where the clearance to ceiling exceeds those
identified in this section, the requirements of 12.1.3.4.3 through
12.1.3.4.8 shall apply.
The concern over excessive clearance exists with all types of
sprinklers; however, 12.1.3.4.2 only applies to situations
where spray sprinklers are used.
FAQ
Why does this section only apply to spray (control mode
density/area) sprinklers?
The history of sprinkler criteria to protect storage

commodities with spray sprinklers using density/area design
methods goes back more than 40 years. When performing
fire tests, especially those on Class I through Class IV
commodities, the variable of clearance was not firmly
addressed, possibly because it was the least understood of
all of the critical variables. Later, during the development of
the ESFR and control mode specific application (CMSA)
sprinklers, the clearance to ceiling was recognized as a
critical variable and was factored into the tables that NFPA
13 provides for users to determine sprinkler protection
criteria. Since the clearance to ceiling variable has been
addressed for all other types of sprinklers, some uniform
method of dealing with spray sprinklers needed to be
developed. Over the 2007, 2010, and 2013 editions of NFPA
13, these rules have evolved to what is in the standard
today as a relatively easy way to get everyone to address
the problem the same way.
High clearance to ceiling distances will affect the
sprinklers performance in two ways. First, as the clearance
increases, the size of the fire will increase before the ceiling
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sprinklers operate. Second, as the clearance increases, the

fire plume that the sprinkler discharge must penetrate to
reach the burning materials also increases. These two
factors together significantly reduce the effectiveness of
sprinklers. Implicit in storage protection requirements is
that protection for a given storage height in a building of a
given height must also be adequate to protect any lesser
storage height in that building. This requirement becomes
necessary because warehouses are never completely full,
and storage heights can fluctuate widely in both the short
and long term.
12.1.3.4.3
Where the clearance to ceiling exceeds 20 ft (6.1 m) for Chapters
14 and 15 , protection shall be based upon the storage height that
would result in a clearance to ceiling of 20 ft (6.1 m).
For the protection of commodities in palletized, solid-piled,
bin-box, shelf, or back-to-back shelf storage arrangements
with spray sprinklers (as covered in Chapter
14
and Chapter 15 ), the user is not always given
maximum ceiling heights. Therefore, the user has to assume
that the maximum distance of the ceiling above the top of
storage will be 20 ft (6.1 m). This means that, in a building
with a 45 ft (13.7 m) ceiling height, the owner can say that
they are only going to have 20 ft (6.1 m) of storage, but the
sprinkler system will need to be designed to handle 25 ft
(7.6 m) of storage to meet the maximum 20 ft (6.1 m)
ceiling clearance rule. The intent is to increase the sprinkler
system discharge to help the water droplets better
penetrate the fire plume when the greater clearances exist.
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12.1.3.4.4
Where the clearance to ceiling exceeds 20 ft (6.1 m) for Section 16.2 ,
protection shall be based upon the storage height that would result in a
clearance to ceiling of 20 ft (6.1 m) or providing one level of
supplemental, quick-response in-rack sprinklers located directly below
the top tier of storage and at every flue space intersection.
For rack storage of Class I through IV materials stored 25 ft
(7.6 m) in height or less (protected with spray sprinklers in
accordance with Section 16.2 ), the same basic concepts
as described in the commentary to 12.1.3.4.3 exist. Rather
than require the user to increase the protection to what
would be needed for higher storage, the user is given the
choice of increasing the sprinkler protection to what would
be required for higher storage or adding additional in-rack
sprinklers. The in-rack sprinklers would need to be in the
longitudinal flue (if there is one) at all of the transverse flue
intersections. If there is no longitudinal flue, the best place
to put the sprinklers is in the middle of the rack at the
intersection with transverse flues, but the authority having
jurisdiction should be consulted to make sure some unusual
condition does not exist that would warrant in-rack sprinkler
placement in another location. For racks close to walls, the
space between the rack and the wall acts as a longitudinal
flue and should be treated as such.
The option of installing additional in-rack sprinklers
rather than increasing the protection to what would be
required for higher storage is important because the
protection for higher storage relies on both ceiling sprinklers
and in-rack sprinklers. If a building owner is putting 15 ft
(4.6 m) high racks in a building with a 60 ft (18.3 m) high
ceiling, designing the sprinkler system for 40 ft (12.2 m)
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high storage might entail actually building the rack structure

up to 40 ft (12.2 m) so that additional in-rack sprinklers can
be installed. If the owner only wants 15 ft (4.6 m) high
racks, they should not be required to build taller racks just
for the sprinkler system. So, the option of adding in-rack
sprinklers to the 15 ft (4.6 m) high racks meets the goal of
increasing the fire protection of the racks while helping
building owners use their buildings as they would like.
12.1.3.4.5
Where the clearance to ceiling exceeds 10 ft (3.1 m) for Section
16.3
or Section 17.2 , protection shall be based upon the storage
height that would result in a clearance to ceiling of 10 ft (3.1 m) or
providing one level of supplemental, quick-response in-rack sprinklers
located directly below the top tier of storage and at every flue space
intersection.
For rack storage of Class I through IV materials stored over
25 ft (7.6 m) in height (protected with spray sprinklers in
accordance with Section 16.3 ) and for rack storage of
plastics stored up to 25 ft (7.6 m) in height (protected with
spray sprinklers in accordance with Section 17.2 ), the
same basic concepts as described in the commentary to
12.1.3.4.4 exist. The user is given the same two choices of
protecting the storage as if it were taller (less clearance) or
using additional in-rack sprinklers. However, rather than
protect the storage as if it were 20 ft (6.1 m) of clearance to
ceiling, the user must increase the storage so that the
maximum clearance is 10 ft (3.1 m). For example, if the
owner of a building with a 30 ft (9.1 m) ceiling that houses
rack storage of Group A plastics only wants to have 15 ft
(4.6 m) high racks, there are two choices. The first would be
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to design the sprinkler system to handle 20 ft (6.1 m) high

storage. The second would be to use the sprinkler criteria
for 15 ft (4.6 m) high storage and add an extra level of inrack sprinklers near the top (directly below the top tier).
12.1.3.4.6
Where the clearance exceeds 10 ft (3.1 m) for Section 17.3 , protection
shall be based upon providing one level of supplemental, quick-response
in-rack sprinklers located directly below the top tier of storage and at
every flue space intersection.
For rack storage of Group A plastics stored over 25 ft (7.6
m) in height (protected with spray sprinklers in accordance
withSection 17.3 ), the user is no longer given two options
because the rules for plastics storage do not lend
themselves to pretending that the storage will be higher.
Instead, the user only has the option of adding additional inrack sprinklers if the ceiling clearance is going to be greater
than 10 ft (3.1 m).
12.1.3.4.7
When applying the supplemental in-rack sprinkler option, the ceiling
density shall be based upon the given storage height with an assumed
acceptable clearance to ceiling.
12.1.3.4.8
If in-rack sprinklers are required for the actual storage height with an
acceptable clearance to ceiling, in-rack sprinklers shall be installed as
indicated by that criteria.
12.1.4* High Volume Low Speed (HVLS)

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Fans.
A.12.1.4
A series of 10 full-scale fire tests and limited-scale testing were
conducted to determine the impact of HVLS fan operation on the
performance of sprinkler systems. The project, sponsored by the
Property Insurance Research Group (PIRG) and other industry groups,
was coordinated by the Fire Protection Research Foundation (FPRF).
The complete test report, High Volume/Low Speed Fan and Sprinkler
Operation Ph. 2 Final Report (2011), is available from the FPRF. Both
control mode density area and early suppression fast response sprinklers
were tested. Successful results were obtained when the HVLS fan was
shut down upon the activation of the first sprinkler followed by a 90second delay. Other methods of fan shutdown were also tested including
shutdown by activation of air samplingtype detection and ionizationtype smoke detectors. Earlier fan shutdown resulted in less commodity
damage.
12.1.4.1
The installation of HVLS fans in buildings equipped with sprinklers,
including ESFR sprinklers, shall comply with the following:
The maximum fan diameter shall be 24 ft (7.3 m).
The HVLS fan shall be centered approximately between four
adjacent sprinklers.
The vertical clearance from the HVLS fan to sprinkler deflector
shall be a minimum of 3 ft (0.9 m).
All HVLS fans shall be interlocked to shut down immediately upon
receiving a waterflow signal from the alarm system in accordance
with the requirements of NFPA 72.
22/23
10/27/2014
The use of high volume low speed (HVLS) fans has been
increasing in recent years, and there has been concern that
such fans might have a detrimental effect on the operating
pattern of fire sprinklers during a fire. A large number of
full-scale fire tests were conducted between 2007 and 2010
by insurance companies, fan manufacturers, and the FPRF.
A summary of all of these tests can be found at the FPRF
website in the report, High Volume/Low Speed Fan and
Sprinkler Operation; Phase II Research Program. The
report summarizes all of the previous work and provides the
details of additional testing sponsored by the FPRF to
answer additional questions.
In the end, the conclusion is that as long as the four
items in 12.1.4.1 are followed, the HVLS fans should not
adversely impact sprinkler performance. Of particular note is
the reports final recommendation to have the fan shut
down within 90 seconds of the flow from the first sprinkler.
During a few of the tests, the shutdown of the fan was seen
as the critical variable to the success of the sprinkler
system. Cutting the power to the fan and letting it slow
down on its own was all that was necessary. It was not
considered important to completely stop the fan with a
brake upon sprinkler activation.
23/23

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10/27/2014

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

Rather than repeat all of the general rules that apply to

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

Sprinkler systems that protect miscellaneous storage or

12.1.1 Roof Vents and Draft Curtains.

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

temperature than those of the sprinklers being used. If the

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

capable of manual exhaust operations.

As noted in the commentary for 12.1.1, draft curtains have

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

The requirements in 12.1.1.3.1 do not contradict those

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

in 12.1.1.3. Paragraph 12.1.1.3 prohibits the installation of

12.1.2 Ceiling Slope.

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

The design criteria for storage buildings having ceiling or

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1.3* Building and Storage Height.

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

use of ESFR sprinklers beyond these ceiling heights without

The protection criteria for ESFR sprinklers are based on

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1.3.4 Clearance to Ceiling.

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

The history of sprinkler criteria to protect storage

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

sprinklers operate. Second, as the clearance increases, the

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

high storage might entail actually building the rack structure

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

to design the sprinkler system to handle 20 ft (6.1 m) high

12.1.4* High Volume Low Speed (HVLS)

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

12.1 General | NFPA 13: Automatic Sprinkler Systems Handbook, 2013

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