Sprinkler
Chapter 2-09
Sprinkler and Fire-Suppresion Systems
Sections:
2-09-00F Footnote to Chapter 2-09
2-09-010 Definitions
2-09-020 New Nonresidential Fire Sprinkler Systems
2-09-030 New Motels, Hotels and Rooming Houses
2-09-040 Residential Units Containing Four or More Dwellings
2-09-050 Residential Sprinkler Option
2-09-060 Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide and Fixed Water Spray Systems
2-09-00F Footnote to Chapter 2-09
[History: Adopted 5-21-1990 Annual Town Meeting, Art. 33. Amendments noted where applicable.]
General References
Alarm systems — See Ch. 2-08.
Building and fire prevention – See Ch. 2-16.
Fire and Ambulance Departments – See Ch. 11-08.
Police Department – See Ch. 11-16.
2-09-010 Definitions
[Amended STM 09-09-1996 Art. 4]
A. For the purpose of this chapter, the following terms, phrases, words and their derivations shall have the meanings given herein. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not discretionary.
Annunciator — A unit containing two (2) or more identified targets or indicator lamps in which each target or lamp indicates the circuit condition or location to be annunciated.
Authority Having Jurisdiction — The Chief of the Northborough Fire Department.
Automatic Sprinkler — A device which automatically distributes water upon a fire in sufficient quantity either to extinguish it entirely or to prevent its spread.
Aotomatic Sprinkler System — An integrated system of underground and overhead piping designed in accordance with fire protection engineering standards. This installation includes one (1) or more automatic water supplies. The portion of the sprinkler system above ground is a network of specially sized or hydraulically calculated piping installed in a building, structure or area, generally overhead, and to which sprinklers are attached in a systematic pattern. Each sprinkler system riser includes a control valve and a device for actuating an alarm when the system is in operation. The system is usually activated by heat from a fire and discharges water over a fire area.
Fire Alarm Control Panel (FACP) — A UL-listed, FM-approved control unit which will receive signals from remote detection and signaling devices, sound an audible and visual evacuation alarm and signal the Fire Department through a direct connection. This unit also contains the necessary equipment for transmitting alarms to the Fire Department.
Hydrostatic Test — A test of sprinkler piping which subjects all piping and devices to a static pressure of at least two hundred (200) pounds per square inch for a period of not less than two (2) hours. In the event that the static pressure is in excess of one hundred-fifty (150) pounds per square inch, the test pressure shall be a pressure of at least fifty (50) pounds per square inch greater than the static pressure.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148, Section 26G (MGL C. 148, § 26G) — A local option law adopted by the Town of Northborough requiring sprinklers to be installed in all new nonresidential construction with over seven thousand five hundred (7,500) square feet of new floor area.
Massachusetts General Law Chapter 148, Section 26H (MGL C. 148, § 26H) — A local option law adopted by the Town of Northborough requiring sprinklers to be installed in new boarding and rooming houses.
NFPA — The National Fire Protection Association.
NFPA 12 — The current edition of Carbon Dioxide Extinguishing Systems.
NFPA 12A — The current edition of Halon 1301 Fire Extinguishing Systems.
NFPA 12B — The current edition of Halon 1211 Fire Extinguishing Systems.
NFPA 13 — The current edition of The Installation of Sprinkler Systems.
NFPA 13A — The current edition of Inspection, Testing and Maintenance of Sprinkler Systems.
NFPA 13D — The current edition of Sprinkler Systems in One- and Two-Family Dwellings and Mobile Homes.
NFPA 13R — The current edition of Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies Up to Four (4) Stories in Height.
NFPA 14 — The current edition of Standpipe Systems.
NFPA 24 — The current edition of Installation of Underground Water Mains.
NFPA 25 —- The current edition of Water Based Fire Protection Systems.
NFPA 231 — The current edition of General Storage.
NFPA 231C — The current edition of Rack Storage of Materials.
(Prior code § 160-1)
2-09-020 New Nonresidential Fire Sprinkler Systems
[Amended STM 09-09-1996, Art. 4]
A. Application for permit; grant or denial.
(1) Prior to the installation of any fire sprinkler, standpipe or other suppression system, the property owner or his designated representative shall apply for a fire-suppression system permit. At the time of permit application, the owner or representative must submit to the Fire Chief or his designee the following information:
(a) A complete set of system plans, inclusive of design criteria and calculations. All plans submitted must be certified and stamped by a Certified Fire Protection Engineer prior to submission. The system design and calculations should ensure that the system is properly sized for the building and the occupancy load expected for the structure.
(b) The source and capacity of water supply, including the size of water mains and the date of the most recent fire flow test. A current fire flow test may be required.
(c) The location of hydrants and siamese connections.
(d) Access for fire-fighting apparatus and rescue vehicles.
(e) The design and locations of standpipes and related fire-suppression equipment.
(f) Design, location and configuration of supervisory controls.
(g) Provisions for a fire pump, if necessary, including electrical supervision of pump status.
(h) The occupancy use group and occupancy class as assigned by the Building Inspector and as considered in the system design.
(i) A listing of standards which the system has been designed to meet.
(j) A signed document indicating that the Department of Public Works has been provided with, and certified as accurate, information relative to the municipal water supply system.
(k) A copy of the sprinkler installer's certificate as required by current Massachusetts regulations or NFPA standards.
(2) After submission, the Fire Chief or his designee shall have twenty-one (21) days to review the plans and other information. At the end of this period, either the permit shall be issued and the system approved or the permit will be rejected. If rejected, the Fire Chief or his designee shall provide a written documentation of the reason for rejection, including reference to applicable standards.
B. All nonresidential sprinkler systems and standpipes shall conform to NFPA 13, 14, 231, 231C and be tested in accordance with NFPA 13A and NFPA 25.
C. All sprinkler systems and standpipes shall incorporate a siamese Fire Department connection. This siamese connection shall provide a minimum of two (2) two-and-one-half-inch ports and be compatible with the equipment of the Northborough Fire Department. Therefore, these ports shall have National Standard thread.
D. All siamese connections shall be within one hundred (100) feet of a suitable hydrant. This hydrant shall be no more than fifteen (15) feet from a paved vehicle accessway and shall be supplied by a minimum of an eight-inch water main. If permitted by system calculation, the water main entering the building may be reduced to a six-inch main. Should the street main be less than the required eight-inch water main, system acceptance will be determined by system calculation that proves adequate water supply will be provided to the system and for hose streams as required under NFPA standards utilizing the preexisting main.
E. Domestic water supplies up to a two-inch service may, at the discretion of the Fire Chief or his designee, be taken off the fire protection main prior to any control valves. If over a two-inch service is required, a separate water line shall be utilized.
F. All sprinkler systems shall have both city and system pressure gauges as well as sufficient retard devices to prevent the sounding of needless false alarms due to water surges. Such devices shall be pneumatic or electrical with a minimum of a thirty-second delay built into the system. It shall be the responsibility of the sprinkler company or installer's engineer to specify the most appropriate type of retard equipment.
G. All valves, drains and test valves and sprinkler rooms must be clearly and permanently labeled to indicate function or location.
H. All water sprinkler systems shall incorporate either a mechanical water motor gong or an eight-inch electric bell which activates to indicate water flow from the respective riser.
I. All nonresidential fire-suppression systems shall be connected to the building fire alarm control panel. The fire alarm control panel shall sound the building evacuation alarm and transmit an alarm to the municipal fire alarm system.
J. All system control valves shall be electrically supervised with tamper switches. When activated, these tamper switches shall sound a local trouble alarm and transmit a system trouble locally and, if desired, to a backup monitoring service.
K. At the completion of installation, a hydrostatic test will be performed. This test shall be witnessed by a representative of the Chief of the Northborough Fire Department. Prior to witnessing and/or acceptance testing, the Certified Fire Protection Engineer shall satisfy and document the following:
(1) Construction site visits during progress of the installation for the system(s) for which he has design responsibility and shall provide necessary written field reports as to installation status and design conformance.
(2) A final written report that the specific fire protection systems(s) for which he has design responsibility has been reviewed for proper functional operation and applicable code installation conformance and that the system(s) are ready to be witnessed for proper operational testing by the representative of the Fire Chief.
In addition, at the completion of this test and before final inspection, a contractor's materials and test certificate shall be provided to the Fire Chief or his designee by the system contractor.
[Amended STM 09-09-1996 Art. 4]
(Prior code § 160-2)
2-09-030 New Motels, Hotels and Rooming Houses
A. All new motels and hotels with more than four (4) units shall install a residential sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13R. If such a structure exceeds four (4) stories in height, a suitable automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 shall be installed.
B. All rooming houses that meet the requirements of MGL C. 148, § 26H, shall be protected by an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13R.
(Prior code § 160-3)
2-09-040 Residential Units Containing Four or More Dwellings
A. All new residential structures containing four (4) or more units shall be protected with an approved system of automatic sprinklers in accordance with NFPA 13D.
B. All new combination residential/nonresidential units with multiple residences shall be equipped with a full sprinkler system in accordance with NFPA 13 or NFPA 13R as determined by size and use. (Prior code § 160-4)
2-09-050 Residential Sprinkler Option
A. The builder shall present to all home buyers a packet of information relative to the benefits and cost of a residential sprinkler system. The packet of information shall be provided to the builder free of charge as a public education function of the Northborough Fire Department. In addition, the builder shall present the buyer with a price quotation for a complete NFPA 13D residential sprinkler system (for one- and two-family dwellings) and a complete NFPA 13R system for three-family or larger residential structures.
B. If the buyer elects to pursue the system, the selected contractor shall contact the Fire Chief or his designee and supply all appropriate information.
C. All residential Fire Department connections shall consist of a single one-and-one-half-inch connection threaded with iron pipe thread so as to be compatible with Northborough Fire Department equipment. A bell which activates on detection of water flow shall be mounted over this connection.
D. If the buyer declines the system installation, then a signed refusal provided in the Fire Department packet of information shall be attached to the building permit or forwarded to the Fire Prevention Officer.
[Amended STM 09-09-1996 Art. 4]
(Prior code § 160-5)
2-09-060 Dry Chemical, Carbon Dioxide and Fixed Water Spray Systems
A. All dry chemical, carbon dioxide and fixed water spray extinguishing systems shall be designed and installed in accordance to NFPA 12, 12A, 12B and other NFPA standards applicable to the type of system being installed.
B. Activation of any dry chemical, carbon dioxide or fixed water spray extinguishing system shall transmit an alarm to the fire alarm control panel. The fire alarm control panel shall sound the building evacuation alarm and transmit an alarm to the municipal fire alarm system.
(Prior code § 160-6)