NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems,2002

The industry benchmark for design and installation of automatic fire sprinkler systems, NFPA 13 addresses sprinkler system design approaches, system installation, and component options to prevent fire deaths and property loss.

Changes to the 2002 edition of NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, include:

• Revisions to commodity classification tables in the 2002 NFPA 13 present the most significant update to the tables in over 30 years.
• New tables added to improve accuracy and reduce the risk for mistakes that could prove catastrophic in a fire.
• Updated classification tables in Chapter 5 Annex based on today’s materials to help sprinkler system designers avoid common errors in classifying commodities.
• New requirement that a single air vent be installed for each wet sprinkler system to help reduce potential corrosion activity due to trapped air.
• New protection scheme for exposed bay plastics in racks has been added to Chapter 17, in response to the potential for serious fires.
• Language added to Chapter 8 based on studies done by the Fire Protection Research Foundation to allow sprinklers to be omitted above certain cloud ceiling configurations.
• Conversions to metric have switched from an exact conversion into an approximate conversion to make the Standard more usable and cost effective on a global scale.
• New provision requiring listed window sprinklers to be used where glazing assemblies are used as an alternative to fire-resistance-rated construction.
• Revisions in Chapter 9 addressing the use of concrete anchors.
• An alternative storage protection scheme has been added for certain storage arrangements, similar to the Scheme A allowance in NFPA 30, Flammable and Combustible Liquids Code.

About NFPA

Short Bio of Authors: NFPA is known as the trusted source of safety knowledge, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has been helping to solve some of the planet’s toughest safety problems for more than 125 years. To remain relevant for over a century as a knowledge and information organization, we’ve continually evolved our scope of expertise—from fire prevention, wildfire preparedness, and electrical safety to hazardous materials, community risk reduction, and public safety.

• Other Works:
• NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinker Systems 2016 
• NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems 2019 
• NFPA 13 Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems 2022