American Fire Sprinkler Association
12750 Merit Dr., Suite 350 Dallas TX 75251
Ph: (214) 349-5965 Fax: (214) 276-0908
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TECHNICAL UPDATE
MARCH 29, 2007
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"Are residential sprinklers allowed above ceiling fan blades? The
local AHJ indicated to follow the 2007 edition of NFPA 13R. We have
not obtained a copy of this document yet and the installation is
complete."
We have reviewed NFPA 13R, 2002 edition, which you indicated as the
applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is that sprinklers
can be located above fan blades. However, the sprinklers must be
placed to meet the obstruction rules.
NFPA 13R section 6.7.1.5.3 states, "Sprinklers shall be positioned so
that the response time and discharge are not unduly affected by
obstructions such as ceiling slope, beams, or light fixtures. But,
there are no explicit criteria for how to space the sprinklers from
obstructions. Fortunately, the handbook text gives guidance
indicating that ceiling fan blades have no adverse effect rotating in
either direction. It states that the motor housing is the primary
element that can impede the spray pattern and that the vertical
obstruction rules from NFPA 13 can be used to minimize the motor's
impact as an obstruction. The applicable vertical obstruction rules
referenced by the handbook are given in NFPA 13, section 8.10.6.2.1.3
and its Figure. Applying these, you would take the largest dimension
of the fan motor housing (probably the diameter) and multiply by
four. Ensure that the horizontal separation between the sprinkler and
the fan motor housing is this distance minimum, but it does not need
to exceed 36 inches. If the ceiling fan motor housing is 6 inches in
diameter, then the sprinkler must be at least 24 inches away from the
housing. If it is 10 inches in diameter, then the sprinkler needs to
only be 36 inches away to satisfy the rule.
The 2007 edition does provide specific guidance for pendent
sprinklers. Section 6.8.1.5.3.2 states, "(A) Pendent sprinklers
shall be located at least 3 ft from obstructions such as ceiling fans
and light fixtures unless the requirements of 6.8.1.5.3.4 are met."
and "(B) The distance shall be measured from the center of the
sprinkler to the center of the obstruction." This new wording
provides clear guidance but is not yet in effect for your
application. Thus if you meet the 2002 edition application for
obstructions, you met the intent of the standard.
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Technical Update is prepared by the Technical Services Dept. of the
AFSA: Vice President of Engineering and Technical Services Roland
Huggins, a PE registered in fire protection engineering; Phill Brown,
a NICET IV certified automatic sprinkler technician and NFPA
Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and Tom Wellen, a degreed
fire protection engineering technologist. This is provided with the
understanding that the AFSA assumes no liability for this opinion or
actions taken on it and they are not to be considered the official
position of the NFPA or its technical committees.
Copyright (c) 2007, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All
Rights Reserved
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