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

brinson@eurosprinkler.org

www.eurosprinkler.org

+44 20 8877 2600