3.13.5.10 — Sprinkler Systems

(1) Except as provided by Sentences (2) to (4), an automatic sprinkler system shall be designed, constructed, installed and tested in conformance with NFPA 13, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems”. (2) NFPA 13R, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems in Low-Rise Residential Occupancies”, is permitted to be used for the design, construction, installation and testing of an automatic sprinkler system installed in a building, (a) of residential occupancy that does not contain a retirement home and that is not more than 4 storeys in building height, (b) of Group B, Division 3 occupancy that contains sleeping accommodation for not more than 10 persons and not more than six occupants require assistance in evacuation in case of an emergency, (c) that contains a retirement home constructed in accordance with Article 3.2.2.48D., or (d) that contains a retirement home constructed in accordance with Article 3.2.2.48E., where the fire separation required by Sentence 3.3.4.11. (2) on the storey immediately below the roof assembly is continuous to the underside of the roof deck. (3) Except as required by Sentence (9), NFPA 13D, “Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Manufactured Homes”, is permitted to be used for the design, construction, installation and testing of an automatic sprinkler system installed in a building of residential occupancy that contains not more than two dwelling units. (4) If a building contains fewer than nine sprinklers, the water supply for these sprinklers is permitted to be supplied from the domestic water system for the building provided the required flow for the sprinklers can be met by the domestic system. (5) If a water supply serves both an automatic sprinkler system and a system serving other equipment, control valves shall be provided so that either system can be shut off independently. (6) Despite the requirements of the standards referenced in Sentences (1) and (2) for the installation of automatic sprinkler systems, sprinklers shall not be omitted in any room or closet in the storey immediately below a roof assembly if the fire-resistance rating of the roof assembly is waived as permitted by Article 3.2.2.17. (7) Despite the requirements of the standards referenced in Sentences (1) and (2) for the installation of automatic sprinkler systems, sprinklers shall be provided for all balconies and decks forming part of a building within the scope of Article 3.2.2.42A., 3.2.2.43A., 3.2.2.49A. or 3.2.2.50A., other than, (a) balconies or decks that are not more than 610 mm in depth measured perpendicular to the exterior wall of the building, or (b) decks on the uppermost roof of the building. (8) Sprinklers in elevator machine rooms shall have a temperature rating not less than that required for an intermediate temperature classification and shall be protected against physical damage. (9) The sprinkler system described in Sentence (3) shall be provided with a minimum 20 min water supply when installed in a retirement home.

(1) Combustible sprinkler piping shall be used only for sprinkler systems in residential occupancies and other light hazard occupancies. (2) Combustible sprinkler piping shall meet the requirements of ULC/ORD-C199P, “Combustible Piping for Sprinkler Systems”. (3) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), combustible sprinkler piping shall be separated from the area served by the sprinkler system, and from any other fire compartment, by ceilings, walls, or soffits consisting of, as a minimum, (a) lath and plaster, (b) gypsum board not less than 9.5 mm thick, (c) plywood not less than 13 mm thick, or (d) a suspended membrane ceiling with, (i) steel suspension grids, and (ii) lay-in panels or tiles having a mass not less than 1.7 kg/m2. (4) Except as permitted by Sentence (5), combustible sprinkler piping may be located above a ceiling, provided that the distance between the edge of any ceiling opening that is not protected in conformance with Sentence (3) and the nearest sprinkler is not more than 300 mm. (5) The protection required by Sentences (3) and (4) is permitted to be waived where combustible sprinkler piping has been tested in conformance with ULC/ORD-C199P, “Combustible Piping for Sprinkler Systems”, and has been shown to meet the requirements in that document without additional protection.

(1) An automatic sprinkler system shall be installed in a service space referred to in Sentence 3.2.1.1. (9) if flooring for access within the service space is other than catwalks. (2) The sprinkler system required by Sentence (1) shall be equipped with waterflow detecting devices, with each device serving not more than 1 storey. (3) The waterflow detecting devices required by Sentence (2) shall be connected to the fire alarm system to, (a) initiate an alert signal in a two stage system or an alarm signal in a single stage system, and (b) indicate separately on the fire alarm system annunciator the actuation of each device. (4) If a building is sprinklered, sprinkler protection need not be provided in the space below a raised floor in a computer room, (a) if the optical fibre cables and electrical wires and cables in this space conform to the test requirements in Article 3.1.5.21., (b) if the building is of noncombustible construction and other combustible components are limited to those permitted in Subsection 3.1.5., (c) if this space is used to circulate conditioned air and the air handling system is designed to prevent the circulation of smoke upon a signal from a smoke detector, (d) if all of this space is easily accessible by providing access sections or panels in the raised floor, and (e) if the computer room is more than 2 000 m2 and the annunciator has separate zone indicators of the actuation of smoke detectors located in this space so that the coverage for each zone is not more than 2 000 m2. (5) Where a room, chute or bin is required to be sprinklered as indicated in Sentence 3.3.4.3. (1), Article 3.6.2.5. and Sentence 3.6.3.3. (6), the sprinklers may be supplied with water from the fire standpipe system provided that, (a) except for a chute, not more than eight sprinklers are required to protect any room or bin based on a maximum coverage of 12 m2 per sprinkler, (b) the standpipe riser is, (i) not less than 6 in. in diameter, or (ii) hydraulically designed to meet combined water supply as specified in Clause (c), (c) the water supply for a standpipe system, pumping capability and water storage facility, if required, is increased to supply 95 L/min for each sprinkler over and above the requirements for the standpipe system up to maximum 760 L/min for sprinklers, (d) a waterflow detecting device shall be installed in the sprinkler main adjacent to the point of connection to the standpipe riser, and (e) the activation of each waterflow detecting device in Clause (d) shall be indicated separately on the fire alarm system annunciator.

(1) The fire department connection for a standpipe system shall be located so that the distance from the fire department connection to a hydrant is not more than 45 m and is unobstructed. (2) The fire department connection for an automatic sprinkler system shall be located so that the distance from the fire department connection to a hydrant is not more than 45 m and is unobstructed. (3) The fire department connections required in Sentences (1) and (2) shall be, (a) located on the outside of a building adjacent to a street or an access route, not less than 300 mm and not more than 900 mm above ground level, and (b) provided with two 65 mm hose connections with female swivel hose couplings.