NFPA 13 Hazard Classifications - McVeigh & Mangum Engineering, now IMEG

NFPA 13 Hazard Classifications

Introduction

NFPA 13 Hazard Classifications Presented by: Frank Yarizadeh Date: August 17, 2021

Reasons for correct identification of Hazard

Impacts sprinkler design (i.e. sprinkler spacing, number of required sprinklers)

Impacts water supply requirements (i.e. design density, system hydraulics, pipe sizes)

Improper identification may lead to the fire sprinkler system being under designed which leads to the system not being able to protect life and property.

Overdesign of the system will impose an unnecessary financial burden on the owner/operator.

Classification of Occupancies

Light Hazard Occupancies Ordinary Hazard Occupancies

? Ordinary Hazard (Group1) ? Ordinary Hazard (Group 2) Extra Hazard Occupancies ? Extra Hazard (Group1) ? Extra Hazard (Group2)

Definitions

Combustible liquid(NFPA 30): liquids having flash point at or over 100 deg. F (e.g. diesel fuel, olive oil)

Flammable liquids (NFPA 30): liquids having flash point below 100 deg. F (e.g. alcohol, gasoline, turpentine)

Light Hazard Occupancies

Occupancies or portions of other occupancies where: 1. Quantity of contents: Low and/or 2. Combustibility of contents: Low and 3. Fires with relatively low rates of heat release are expected.

Note: 1. No processing, manufacturing or storage are involved.

Examples of Light Hazard Occupancies

? Animal shelters ? Churches ? Clubs ? Combustible construction eves

and overhangs with no combustibles beneath ? Educational facilities ? Hospitals ? Veterinary facilities ? Nursing homes ? offices

? Libraries with 8 feet tall book shelves where books are stored vertically, held close to each other and isles wider than 30 inch. Otherwise, see NFPA 232.

? Museum ? Residential ? Restaurant seating area ? Theaters and auditoriums,

excluding stages and prosceniums ? Unused attics

Ordinary Hazard Occupancies (Group1)

Occupancies or portions of other occupancies where: 1. Quantity of combustible contents is: Moderate 2. Combustibility of contents is low 3. Stockpiles of combustibles do not exceed 8 feet and 4. Fires with moderate rates of heat release are expected.

Note:

1. Class I, II, III, IV commodities are considered to have moderate rate of heat release. 2. Stockpiles are considered to include display merchandise (mercantile),and arrangement

of combustibles ancillary to operations within the occupancy as opposed to dedicated storage area 3. This group represents light manufacturing and service industries where the use of flammable and combustible or gases is either nonexistent or very limited. 4. Stockpile of combustible commodities can not exceed 8 feet.

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