NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies

NFPA^® 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies, 2022 Edition

Chapter 1 Administration

1.1 Scope.
1.2 Purpose.
1.3 Retroactivity.
1.4 Equivalency.
1.5 Units.
1.6 New Technology.

Chapter 2 Referenced Publications

2.1 General.
2.2 NFPA Publications.
2.3 Other Publications.
2.4 References for Extracts in Mandatory Sections.

Chapter 3 Definitions

3.1 General.
3.2 NFPA Official Definitions.
3.3 General Definitions.

Chapter 4 General Requirements

4.1 Sprinklered Throughout.
4.2 Basic Requirements.
4.3 Tube.
4.4 Listed or Labeled.
4.5 System Arrangement.

Chapter 5 System Components

5.1 General.
5.2 Aboveground Piping and Equipment.
5.3 Underground Pipe.
5.4 System Types.

Chapter 6 Installation

6.1 System Protection Area Limitations.
6.2 Use of Sprinklers.
6.3 Quick-Response Sprinklers.
6.4 Residential Sprinklers.
6.5 Special Situations.
6.6 Location of Sprinklers.
6.7 Piping.
6.8 Valves.
6.9 Drains.
6.10 Test Connection.
6.11 Fire Department Connection.
6.12 Pressure Gauges.
6.13 Piping Support.
6.14 Open-Grid Ceilings.
6.15 Drop-Out Ceilings.
6.16 Alarms.

Chapter 7 Design Criteria

7.1 Inside Dwelling Unit.
7.2 Outside Dwelling Unit.
7.3 Garages.
7.4 Attics.
7.5 Combustible Concealed Spaces.

Chapter 8 Plans and Calculations

8.1 Working Plans.
8.2 Hydraulic Calculations.

Chapter 9 Water Supplies

9.1 Number of Supplies.
9.2 Capacity.
9.3 Domestic Demand.
9.4 Connection from Waterworks System.
9.5 Types.
9.6 Connections to Waterworks Systems.
9.7 Fire Pump.
9.8 Penstocks, Flumes, Rivers, Lakes, or Reservoirs.
9.9 Non–Fire Protection Connections.

Chapter 10 System Acceptance

10.1 Approval of Sprinkler Systems.
10.2 Acceptance Tests.

Chapter 11 Care and Maintenance

11.1 Stock of Spare Sprinklers.
11.2 Owner’s Responsibility.
11.3 Inspection, Testing, and Maintenance.
11.4 Instructions.

Annex A Explanatory Material
Annex B Informational References

THE NFPA HANDBOOKS DIFFER FROM CODES AND STANDARDS

Ever wonder what the difference is between an NFPA^® handbook and a code or standard? We’re glad you asked.

NFPA codes and standards both provide requirements for achieving outcomes. Handbooks take a deeper dive, providing the full text of a code or standard as well as expert commentary and features such as graphics, decision trees, testing procedures, case studies, sample forms and checklists, and other helpful aids to give a better understanding of the reasoning behind the requirements and how to apply them.

JUST REMEMBER:

• A code or standard is a framework—a set of rules to follow with a goal to achieve a certain result
• A handbook is a connector—linking requirements to application by helping you understand the reasoning behind a code or standard

The simplest way to think about it is that codes and standards list the technical requirements while handbooks explain those requirements to clarify how to apply them.

NFPA 13R helps you design and install life-saving sprinkler systems in multiple-family dwellings -- to safeguard people and property from fire.

For effective and economical sprinkler system installation in multifamily occupancies -- such as apartment buildings and hotels -- buildings, designers, owners, and AHJs rely on NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies. This comprehensive Standard takes into consideration the greater occupant loads and increased risks associated with stacked dwelling and sleeping units in these types of dwellings. NFPA 13R's requirements cover design and installation, including water supply and system acceptance. Each subsequent edition of the Standard reflects new research, advanced equipment, and changes in the built environment.

2019 Edition

Install sprinkler systems in low-rise occupancies using updated requirements in the 2019 edition of NFPA 13R.

Keep your knowledge up to code with NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies, including comprehensive requirements governing system installation, including water supply and system acceptance. Installers and contractors need the 2019 edition of NFPA 13R to complete jobs correctly, work with the latest technologies, and reduce risks while maximizing efficiency.

New requirements address:

• Where pipe and tube listed for light hazard can be used in an ordinary hazard application
• Beam rules for sprinklers installed under and adjacent to beams (along with new figures)
• Waste and linen systems
• Installation of fuel-fired equipment
• Obstructions in hallways

This 2019 edition includes the reorganized and expanded Chapter 9, Water Supplies, with domestic demand tables moved from the annex to the body of the Standard. The Standard also has new images clarifying sprinkler location and clearances needed around fireplaces. (Print, Approx. 47 pp., 2019)

• The 2016 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies adds clarification on the re-use of sprinklers, and uses new language concerning nonmetallic piping compatibility for consistency with NFPA 13. Reorganized and restructured sections address sprinkler protection outside of dwelling units to make requirements easier to apply.
• The 2013 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies introduces a new title along with major updates reflecting industry developments. Changes include a four-head calc that will help eliminate conflicts in determining sprinkler coverage for sloped and beam ceilings; revised coverage on dry type sprinkler heads; and new information on "shadow area" to help avoid ceiling fan blockage. This edition also clarifies the use of residential sprinklers outside of dwelling units. Another critical update addresses antifreeze use.
• The 2010 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height improves referencing and usability, with separate chapters for system installation, discharge, plans and calculations, water supplies, acceptance testing, and care and maintenance. Helpful new annex material helps you determine when NFPA 13R is applicable and when it is not.
• The 2007 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height adds sprinkler spacing and obstruction rules that address sloped ceilings, ceiling pockets, ceiling fans, and kitchen cabinets. In addition to clarified requirements for utilizing Quick Response Sprinklers, this edition adds requirements addressing architectural features within the dwelling unit. It also includes clarified closet requirements, including obstructions within the closet and protection of mechanical closets.
• The 2002 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height introduces technical changes including new sprinkler discharge rules and new design requirements for garages. A new user-friendly format incorporates exceptions into requirements, to save users time throughout the design and installation process.
• The 1999 edition of NFPA 13R, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and Including Four Stories in Height provides essential requirements for the installation of life-saving sprinklers in multiple family residential occupancies. It includes provisions for water supplies system components, system flow rates, and sprinkler location and position.

If you purchased a PDF, licensed PDFs can be accessed immediately. Instructions can be found in your order confirmation.

Effective with the annual 2020 code cycle, NFPA^® will no longer offer access to the PDF format as a choice for new editions of codes and standards, handbooks, or other reference titles. Existing PDFs will remain in-market and will still be accessible in our National Fire Codes^® Subscription Service (NFCSS™). For more information about the different format options available to access essential code and standard content you need, click here.

Previous editions of NFPA^® documents are available for sale. Please see applicable NFPA codes and standards product pages to confirm which editions are available for purchase. If you have any questions, contact NFPA Customer Support at 1-800-344-3555 or nfpa.org/customerservice.