Code of Maine Rules › 16 - DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY › 219 - OFFICE OF STATE FIRE MARSHAL › Chapter 4 - WATER-BASED FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEMS › DESIGN AND INSTALLATION OF LIFE-SAFETY SPRINKLER SYSTEMS › Section 219-4-5 - SYSTEM DESIGN

Current through 2024-29, July 17, 2024
5-1 Design Criteria
5-1.1 Design Discharge. The system shall provide a
					 discharge of not less than 13 gal/min per sprinkler to three operating
					 sprinklers in the design area.
5-1.2 Number of Design Sprinklers. The number of design
					 sprinklers shall be 3. If a compartment contains more than 3 sprinklers, only 3
					 must be calculated and those sprinklers must be adjacent to one another.
5-1.2.1 The design area shall be that compartment or
					 section of the building which is most hydraulically remote from the water
					 supply.
5-1.2.2 The definition of compartment for use in
					 determining the number and location of design sprinklers, is a space which is
					 completely enclosed by walls and a ceiling. The compartment enclosure may have
					 openings to an adjoining space if the openings have a minimum lintel depth of
					 8" below the ceiling.
5-1.3 Water Demand. The water demand for the system shall
					 be determined through hydraulic calculation of the 3 most hydraulically
					 demanding adjacent sprinklers, in accordance with section 5-1,2.
5-1.4 Sprinkler Coverage, Residential sprinklers shall be
					 spaced so that the maximum area protected by a single sprinkler does not exceed
					 144 sq. ft.
5-l.4.1 Maximum distance between sprinklers shall not
					 exceed 12 ft. on or between pipe lines and the maximum distance to a wall or
					 partition shall not exceed 6 ft. The minimum distance between sprinklers within
					 a compartment shall be 8 ft.
5-1.4.2 The minimum operating pressure of any sprinkler
					 shall be in accordance with the listing information of the sprinkler and
					 provide the minimum flow rates specified in 5-1.1. Application rates, design
					 areas, areas of coverage, and minimum design pressures other than those
					 specified may be used with special sprinklers which have been listed for such
					 specific installation conditions.
5-1.5 Position of Sprinkler. Sprinklers shall be positioned
					 so that deflectors are within 4 in. of a ceiling.
Exception: Special residential sprinklers shall be
					 installed in accordance with listing limitations.
5-1.5.1 Sprinklers shall be positioned so that the
					 discharge is not obstructed by beams, light fixtures or other obstructions.
					 When tests are performed which show that sprinklers are positioned so that the
					 discharge is not obstructed, sprinklers may be installed in accordance with the
					 test results.
5-2 System Types
5-2.1 Wet-Pipe Systems. A sprinkler system which is filled
					 with water at all times and protected against freezing.
5-2.2 Dry Systems. Not allowed on Life Safety
					 systems.
5-3 Pipe Sizing
5-3.1 Piping shall be sized hydraulically in accordance
					 with the methods described in NFPA #13.
5-3.2 The minimum pipe size shall be 3/4" on all systems
					 using copper, CPVC and polybutylene and shall be 1" for steel.
5-4 Piping Configurations
5-4.1 Piping configurations may be looped, gridded,
					 straight run or combinations thereof.
5-5 Location of Sprinklers
5-5.1 Sprinklers shall be installed in all areas.
Exception No. 1: Sprinklers may be omitted from all closets
					 where the least dimension does not exceed 3 ft. and the area does not exceed 24
					 sq. ft. and the walls and ceilings are surfaced with non-combustible
					 materials.
Exception No. 2: Sprinklers may be omitted from open
					 attached porches.
Exception No. 3: Sprinklers may be omitted from carports,
					 garages and similar structures.
Exception No, 4: Sprinklers may be omitted from attics and
					 accessible crawl spaces which are not used or intended for living purposes or
					 storage.
Exception No, 5: Sprinklers may be omitted from entrance
					 foyers which are not the only means of egress.
Exception No. 6: Sprinklers may be omitted from walk-in
					 refrigerators, freezers, coolers and similar unheated areas.
5-6 Drawings and Calculations
5-6.1 Scaled and dimensioned drawings showing building and
					 system layout, pipe sizing, ceiling heights and similar construction features
					 shall be signed and submitted along with hydraulic calculations and
					 manufacturers data on sprinklers and plastic piping products to the State Fire
					 Marshal for review and approval prior to installation. Pump performance data
					 and manufacturers' data shall be included in submittal.
5-6.2 Drawings and calculations shall be signed by a person
					 holding at least a Level III certification with the National layout of
					 sprinkler systems, or equivalent competency as evidenced by a nationally
					 recognized organization. Certification or registration numbers of the science
					 shall be included with each submittal. Submittals shall bear the
					 wording:
Reviewed and Submitted By Date of Review N.I.C.E.T.
					 Certification Number Other Certification Type and Applicable
					 Registration.
5-6.3 Proof of certification or registration shall be
					 submitted to, and kept on file at, the State Fire Marshal's Office, Expiration
					 dates shall be clearly indicated on submitted documents. Drawings and
					 calculations signed by a person whose submitted qualification has expired will
					 be rejected without review.