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612.0 Residential Fire Sprinkler Systems
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Where residential sprinkler systems
are required in one and two family dwellings or townhouses,
the systems shall be installed by an ASSE Series
7000 certified installer in accordance with this section or
NFPA 13D. This section shall be considered equivalent to
NFPA 13D. Partial residential sprinkler systems shall be
permitted to be installed in buildings not required to be
equipped with a residential sprinkler system.
This section shall apply to standalone
and multipurpose wet-pipe sprinkler systems that do
not include the use of antifreeze. A multipurpose fire sprinkler
system shall provide potable water to both fire sprinklers
and plumbing fixtures. A stand-alone sprinkler system
shall be separate and independent from the potable water distribution system.
Sprinklers shall be installed in accordance
with Section 612.3.1 through Section 612.3.7.
Sprinklers
shall be installed to protect all floor areas of a dwelling
unit in one and two family dwellings or townhouses.
Exceptions:
Exceptions:
- Attics, crawl spaces, and normally unoccupied concealed spaces that do not contain fuel-fired appliances do not require sprinklers. In attics, crawl spaces, and normally unoccupied concealed spaces that contain fuel-fired equipment, a sprinkler shall be provided to protect the equipment; however, sprinklers shall not be required in the remainder of the space.
- Clothes closets, linen closets, and pantries that do not exceed 24 square feet (2.2 m2) in area, with the smallest dimension not exceeding 3 feet (914 mm) and having wall and ceiling surfaces of gypsum board.
- Bathrooms and toilet rooms that do not exceed 55 square feet (5.1 m2) in area.
- Detached garages; carports; with no habitable space above; open attached porches; unheated entry areas, such as mud rooms, that are adjacent to an exterior door; and similar areas.
- Covered unheated projections of the building at entrances/exits provided it is not the only means of egress from the dwelling unit.
- Ceiling pockets that meet the following requirements:
- The total volume of an unprotected ceiling pocket does not exceed 100 cubic feet (2.83 m3).
- The entire floor under the unprotected ceiling pocket is protected by the sprinklers at the lower ceiling elevation.
- Each unprotected ceiling pocket is separated from an adjacent unprotected ceiling pocket by not less than a 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontal distance.
- The interior finish of the unprotected ceiling pocket is noncombustible material.
- Skylights not exceeding 32 square feet (2.97 m2).
Sprinklers shall be
listed residential sprinklers and shall be installed in
accordance with the sprinkler manufacturer's installation
instructions.
Sprinklers shall have a temperature rating
of not less than 135°F (57°C) and not more than
170°F (77°C). Sprinklers shall be separated from heat
sources in accordance with the sprinkler manufacturer's
installation instructions.
Exception: Sprinklers located close to a heat source in accordance with Section 612.3.3.1 shall be intermediate temperature sprinklers.
Exception: Sprinklers located close to a heat source in accordance with Section 612.3.3.1 shall be intermediate temperature sprinklers.
Sprinklers shall have an intermediate temperature
rating of not less than 175°F (79°C) and not more
than 225°F (107°C) where installed in the following
locations:
For SI units: 1 inch = 25.4 mm
Notes:
- Directly under skylights, where the sprinkler is exposed to direct sunlight.
- In attics and concealed spaces located directly beneath a roof.
- Within the distance to a heat source in accordance with Table 612.3.3.1.
| HEAT SOURCE | DISTANCE FROM HEAT SOURCE1 |
|
| MINIMUM DISTANCE2 (inches) |
MAXIMUM DISTANCE (inches) |
|
| Fireplace, Side of Open or Recessed Fireplace |
12 | 36 |
| Fireplace, Front of Recessed Fireplace | 36 | 60 |
| Coal and Wood burning Stove | 12 | 42 |
| Kitchen Range Top | 9 | 18 |
| Oven | 9 | 18 |
| Vent Connector or Chimney Connector | 9 | 18 |
| Heating Duct, Not Insulated | 9 | 18 |
| Hot Water Pipe, Not Insulated | 6 | 12 |
| Side of Ceiling or Wall Warm Air Register |
12 | 24 |
| Front of Wall Mounted Warm Air Register |
18 | 36 |
| Water Heater, Furnace, or Boiler | 3 | 6 |
| Luminaire up to 250 Watts | 3 | 6 |
| Luminaire 250 Watts up to 499 Watts | 6 | 12 |
Notes:
1 Distances shall be measured in a straight line from the nearest edge of
the heat source to the nearest edge of the sprinkler.
2 Sprinklers shall not be located at distances less than the minimum table
distance unless the sprinkler listing allows a lesser distance.
The piping system shall be protected in accordance with the requirements of Chapter 3. Where sprinklers are required in areas that are
subject to freezing, dry-sidewall or dry-pendent sprinklers
extending from a non-freezing area into a freezing
area shall be installed. Where fire sprinkler piping
cannot be adequately protected against freezing, the
system shall be designed and installed in accordance
with NFPA 13D.
The area of coverage of
a single sprinkler shall be based on the sprinkler listing
and the sprinkler manufacturer's installation instructions.
The area of coverage of a single sprinkler shall
not exceed 400 square feet (37.16 m2).
The
water discharge from a sprinkler shall not be blocked by
obstructions unless additional sprinklers are installed to
protect the obstructed area. Additional sprinklers shall
not be required where sprinkler separation from obstructions
is in accordance with the requirements of Table
612.3.6, or the minimum distances specified in the sprinkler
manufacturer's installation instructions.
For SI units: 1 inch = 25.4 mm, 1 foot = 304.8 mm.
| PENDENT SPRINKLERS |  |
| DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A) (inches) |
MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B) (feet) |
| 1 | 11/2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 7 | 41/2 |
| 9 | 6 |
| 11 | 61/2 |
| 14 | 7 |
| SIDEWALL SPRINKLER SIDE OBSTRUCTION |
 |
| DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A) (inches) |
MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B) (feet) |
| 1 | 11/2 |
| 3 | 3 |
| 5 | 4 |
| 7 | 41/2 |
| 9 | 6 |
| 11 | 61/2 |
| 14 | 7 |
| SIDEWALL SPRINKLER SIDE OBSTRUCTION |
 |
| DISTANCE FROM DEFLECTOR TO PLANE AT BOTTOM OF OBSTRUCTION (A) (inches) |
MINIMUM DISTANCE TO OBSTRUCTION (B) (feet) |
| 1 | 8 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4 | 12 |
| 6 | 13 |
| 7 | 14 |
| 9 | 15 |
| 11 | 16 |
| 14 | 17 |
Pendent sprinklers located within 3
feet (914 mm) of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire, or similar object
shall be considered to be obstructed and additional
sprinklers shall be provided.
Sidewall sprinklers located within 5
feet (1524 mm) of the center of a ceiling fan, surface-mounted ceiling luminaire, or similar object
shall be considered to be obstructed and additional
sprinklers shall be provided.
Sprinklers
shall not be painted, caulked, or modified. A
sprinkler that has been painted, caulked, modified, or
damaged shall be replaced with a new sprinkler.
A backflow preventer
shall not be required to separate a sprinkler system
from the water distribution system, provided that:
- The system complies with NFPA 13D or Section R313, and
- Piping material are suitable for potable water in accordance with the California Plumbing Code, and
- The system does not contain antifreeze or have a fire department connection.
Sprinkler piping systems
shall be installed in accordance with Section 612.4.1
through Section 612.4.5.
Sprinkler piping shall be installed in
accordance with the requirements for water distribution
piping. Sprinkler piping shall comply with the material
requirements for cold water distribution piping. For
multipurpose piping systems, the sprinkler piping shall
connect to and be a part of the cold water distribution
piping system.
Nonmetallic
pipe and tubing, such as CPVC, PEX-AL-PEX, PE-RT,
and PEX, shall be certified for residential sprinkler
installations and shall have a pressure rating of not less
than 130 psi (896 kPa) at 120°F (49°C).
Nonmetallic
pipe and tubing systems shall be protected
from exposure to the occupied space by a layer of
not less than 3/8 of an inch (9.5 mm) thick gypsum wallboard, 1/2 of an inch (12.7 mm) thick plywood,
or other material having a 15 minute fire rating.
Exceptions:
Exceptions:
- Pipe protection shall not be required in areas that are not required to be protected with sprinklers in accordance with Section 612.3.1.
- Pipe protection shall not be required where exposed piping is permitted by the pipe third party listing.
The solvent
cementing of fittings shall be completed and
threaded adapters for sprinklers shall be verified as
being clear of excess cement prior to the installation
of sprinklers on systems assembled with solvent
cement.
Shutoff valves
shall not be installed in a location where the valve
would isolate piping serving one or more sprinklers.
Shutoff valves shall only be permitted for the entire
water distribution system.
The sprinkler piping
beyond the service valve located at the beginning of the
water distribution system shall serve only one dwelling
unit.
A 1/2 inch (15 mm) drain for the sprinkler system shall be provided on the system side of the
water distribution shutoff valve.
Sprinkler piping systems
shall be sized in accordance with Section 612.5.1 through
Section 612.5.3.2.2.
The sizing
of the sprinkler piping system shall be based on the
flow rate and pressure of each sprinkler in accordance
with Section 612.5.1.1 and the number of sprinklers in
accordance with Section 612.5.1.3.
The minimum flow rate and pressure
for each residential sprinkler shall be in accordance
with the manufacturer's published data for
the specific sprinkler model based on the following:
- The area of coverage
- The ceiling configuration
- The temperature rating
- Additional conditions specified by the sprinkler manufacturer
The flow rate used
for sizing the sprinkler piping system shall be
based on the following:
- The flow rate for a room having only one sprinkler shall be the flow rate required for the sprinkler in accordance with Section 612.5.1.1.
- The flow rate for a room having two or more sprinklers shall be determined by identifying the sprinkler in the room with the highest required flow rate in accordance with Section 612.5.1.1, and multiplying that flow rate by 2.
- Where the sprinkler manufacturer specifies different criteria for ceiling configurations that are not smooth, flat, and horizontal the required flow rate for that room shall be in accordance with the sprinkler manufacturer's instructions.
- The flow rate used for sizing the sprinkler system shall be the flow required by the room with the largest flow rate in accordance with Section 612.5.1.2(1), Section 612.5.1.2(2), and Section 612.5.1.2(3).
- For the purpose of this section, it shall be permissible to reduce the flow rate for a room by subdividing the space into two or more rooms, where each room is evaluated separately with respect to the required design flow rate. Each room shall be bounded by walls and a ceiling. Openings in walls shall have a lintel not less than 8 inches (203 mm) in depth and each lintel shall form a solid barrier between the ceiling and the top of the opening.
Attached garages and carports with habitable space above shall be protected by fire sprinklers in accordance with this Section and Section R313. Protection shall be provided in accordance with one of the following:
- Residential Sprinklers installed in accordance with their listing.
- Extended Coverage sprinklers discharging water not less than their listed flow rate for Light Hazard in accordance with NFPA 13.
- Quick-Response spray sprinklers at light hazard spacing in accordance with NFPA 13 designed to discharge at 0.05 gpm/ft2 density (minimum).
The water supply for a multipurpose or stand alone sprinkler system
shall be provided by the public water main, private
water main, private well system, or storage tank. The
water supply required shall be determined in accordance
with Section 612.5.1.2 at a pressure not less than
that used in accordance with Section 612.5.3. Where a water supply serves both domestic and fire sprinkler
systems, 5 gpm (19 L/min) shall be added to the sprinkler
system demand at the point where the systems are
connected, to determine the size of common piping and
the size of the total water supply requirements where
no provision is made to prevent flow into the domestic
water system upon operation of a sprinkler.
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