American Fire Sprinkler Association 12750 Merit Dr., Suite 350 Dallas TX 75251 Ph: (214) 349-5965 Fax: (214) 276-0908
---------------- May 20, 2010 ---------------- “We have pipe that crosses expansion joints in a building that does not require seismic protection. Does NFPA or IBC require any special fitting or installation of the sprinkler pipe at the expansion joint?” We have reviewed NFPA 13, 2010 Edition and the 2009 Edition of the IBC that you indicated as the applicable standard and code. Our informal interpretation is that NFPA 13 indicates requirements at expansion joints only for earthquake protection. There is a requirement for a flexible coupling at the expansion joint for seismic applications in Section 9.3.2.3(4). This section falls under Section 9.3 and 9.3.1.1 indicates that 9.3 shall apply where water-based fire protection systems are required to be protected against damage from earthquake. Thus, if there is no seismic design for the system, the flexible coupling is not required. If you do have an expansion joint that is subject to abnormal movement, though it may not be required, it may be advisable to use a flexible coupling or seismic separation assembly. Regarding the IBC, there are no requirements in the code for a flexible coupling when sprinkler pipe crosses an expansion joint. ----------------- 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 © 2010, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All Rights Reserved -------------------------- If you’d rather not receive future faxes from AFSA, fax your removal request to Amy Sweeney at Efax (214) 242-3155 or call toll free (888) 839-4830 or send e-mail request @ [email protected]. Please include your company name and the specific fax numbers(s) at which you do not wish to receive faxes from us. Our failure to comply with your request may be unlawful. _______________________________________________ Sprinklernotes mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklernotes
