Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
RESIDENTIAL DRY SPRINKLER
FIRE PROTECTION SYSTEM
Cross Reference to Related Applications
This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Numbers
10/898,923,
10/898,924, 10/899,053, 10/899,124, 10/899,128, 10/899,129, and 10/899,131,
all of
which were filed on July 27, 2004, and the contents of which are hereby
incorporated by
reference in their entirety.
Background Of the Invention
An automatic sprinkler system is one of the most widely used devices for fire
protection. Such a systein has sprinklers that are activated once the ambient
temperature
in an environment, such as a room or a building, exceeds a predetermined
value. Once
activated, the sprinklers distribute fire-extinguishing fluid, preferably
water, in the room
or building. A sprinkler system, depending on its specified configuration is
considered
effective if it controls or suppresses a fire. Failures of such systems may
occur when the
system has been rendered inoperative during building alteration or disuse, or
the
occupancy hazard has been increased beyond initial system capability.
The sprinkler system can be provided with a water supply (e.g., a reservoir or
a
municipal water supply). Such supply may be separate from that used by a fire
department. Regardless of the type of supply, the sprinkler system is provided
with a
main that enters the building to supply a riser. Connected at the riser are
valves, meters,
and, preferably, an alarm to sound when water flow within the system exceeds a
predetermined minimum. At the top of a vertical riser, a horizontally disposed
array of
pipes extends throughout the fire compartment in the building. Other risers
may feed
distribution networks to systems in adjacent fire compartments.
Compartmentalization
can divide a large building horizontally, on a single floor, and vertically,
floor to floor.
Thus, several sprinkler systeins may serve one building.
In a piping distribution network, branch lines carry the sprinklers. A
sprinkler
may extend up from a brancli line, placing the sprinkler relatively close to
the ceiling, or a
sprinkler can be pendent below the branch line. For use with concealed piping,
a
1
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
flush-mounted pendant residential fire sprinkler may extend only slightly
below the
ceiling.
The sprinkler system can be provided in various configurations. In a wet-pipe
system, used for example, in buildings having heated spaces for piping branch
lines, all
the system pipes contain a fire-fighting fluid, such as, water for immediate
release
through any sprinkler that is activated. In a dry-pipe system, used for
example, in
unheated open areas, cold rooms, passageways, or other areas exposed to
freezing, such
as unheated buildings in freezing climates or for cold-storage rooms, the
pipes, risers, and
feed mains, disposed, branch lines and other distribution pipes of the fire
protection
system may contain a dry gas (air or nitrogen or mixtures thereof) under
pressure. A
valve is sued to separate the pipes that contain a dry gas and pipes that
contain a fire-
fighting fluid, such as, water. In some application, the pressure of gas holds
closed a dry
pipe valve at the riser. When heat from a fire activates a sprinkler, the gas
escapes and
the dry-pipe valve trips; water enters branch lines; and fire fighting begins
as the sprinkler
distributes the water. By its nature, a dry sprinkler system is slower to
respond to fire
conditions than a wet system because the dry gas must first be exhausted from
the system
before the fire-fighting fluid is expelled from the fire sprinkler. Such delay
creates a
"water delivery time" to the sprinkler. The water delivery time introduces an
additional
variable for consideration in a design for fire protection with a dry pipe
system.
Various standards exist for the design and installation of a fire protection
system.
In particular, the National Fire Protection Association ("NFPA") describes, in
its
Standard for the Installation of Spf inkler Systems 13 (2002) ("the NFPA
Standard 13")
various design consideration and installation parameters for a fire protection
system,
which standard is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. One of
many design
considerations provided by NFPA Standard 13 is the quantity of fire sprinklers
to be used
in a fire protection system. For a wet system, the NFPA Standard 13 describes
at
A.14.4.4 that a quantity of fire sprinklers can be determined either by a
design area
calculation or by a specified quantity of sprinklers.
NFPA Standard 13 also addresses certain design considerations for dry pipe
fire
protection systems by modifying the design of the wet pipe system. For
example, in a dry
pipe system, NFPA Standard 13 states, for commercial storage (NFPA Standard
13,
12.1.6.1) and dry pipe system generally (NFPA Standard 13, 14.4.4.4.2), that a
design
area for a dry pipe system is to be increased 30% over the design area for the
wet system
2
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
in such applications so that the minimum quantity of fire sprinklers for a dry
pipe system
is increased by generally 30% over the sanle quantity of fire sprinklers in a
wet system.
Where Large-Drop Sprinklers are utilized in commercial fire protection, NFPA
shows (at
Table 12.3.2.2.1(b) and 12.3.4.2.1) that an increased in the specified
quantity of sprinklers
is (e.g., 50% or more) is required when a dry pipe system is utilized instead
of a wet pipe
for these sprinklers. When a commercial fire sprinkler is used with a dry pipe
instead of a
wet pipe system in dwelling applications, the design area must be increased by
30% so
that the quantity of these sprinklers must be increased, and thus, the
hydraulic demand is
increased. It is apparent from NFPA Standard 13 that, holding all other design
parameters constant, the use of a dry pipe system instead of a wet pipe system
would
require a relatively large increase in the quantity of fire sprinklers, which
would increase
the hydraulic demand of the dry pipe system.
Although NFPA Standard 13 refers in broad terrns to wet pipe and dry pipe
systems, NFPA Standard 13 is generally silent as to design and installation
criteria for dry
pipe residential sprinkler systems. For example, NFPA Standard 13 fails to
specify any
criteria in a design of a dry pipe residential fire sprinkler system,
including a hydraulic
demand calculation, the quantity of residential fire sprinklers consonant with
the
hydraulic demand calculation or installation constraints and use of
residential fire
sprinklers in a dry pipe fire protection system. In fact, NFPA Standard 13
(2002)
specifically prohibits residential fire sprinklers from being used in any
system other than
wet unless the residential fire sprinklers are listed for such other
applications, as stated in
NFPA Standard 13 at 8.4.5.2:
[R]esidential sprinklers shall be used only in wet
systems unless specifically listed for use in dry pipe
systems or preaction systems. (Emphasis Added).
NFPA provides separate standards for design and installation of wet pipe fire
protection systems in residential occupancies. These wet pipe fire protection
systems
may be installed with fire-resistant plastic components, such as, for
exainple, chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride ("CPVC") pipe and fittings. Starting in 1975, NFPA provides
the
Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems in One-And Two-Family
Dwellings and
Manufactured Honntes 13D ("NFPA Standard 13D"). Due in part to the
increasingly
urbanized nature of cities, NFPA promulgated, in 1989, another standard in
recognition of
low-rise residential facilities, entitled Standard far the Installation af
Sprinkler Systems in
3
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
Residential Occupancies Up to And Including Four Stories in Height 13R ("NFPA
Standard 13R"). The latest respective editions of NFPA Standard 13D and 13R
are the
2002 Edition of NFPA Standard 13 and 13R, which are incorporated by reference
herein
in their entirety. Starting in 1988, Underwriters Laboratory ("UL") provides
for
additional requirements that residential fire sprinklers must meet for
residential fire
protection systems as set forth in its Underwriter's Laboratory
Residentialfire sprinklers
for Fire-Protection Service 1626 ("UL Standard 1626"). The most recent edition
of UL
Standard 1626 is the October 2003 edition, which is incorporated by reference
herein in
its entirety.
NFPA and UL provide similar water density requireinent for residential fire
protection systems. NFPA Standard 13 (2002) states (Chap 11.2.3.5.2) that a
density for
a protection area of a residential occupancy with a generally flat ceiling as
the greater of
(a) 0.1 gallons per minute per square feet of the four most hydraulically
demanding
sprinkler over a design area or (b) a listed residential minimum density. The
listed
residential minimum density can be found in either NFPA Standard 13D or 13R
(2020).
NFPA Standard 13D (2002) states (Chapter 8.1.1.2.2 and 8.1.2) that fire
sprinklers listed
for residential use shall have minimum discharge density of 0.05 gallons per
minute per
square feet to the design sprinklers, where the quantity of design sprinklers
includes all of
the sprinklers, up to a maximum of two, that requires the greatest hydraulic
demand,
within a compartment that has generally flat and smooth ceiling. NFPA Standard
13R
(2002) states (Chapter 6.7.1.1.2.2. and 6.7.1.2) that fire sprinklers listed
for residential use
shall have minimum discharge density of 0.05 gallons per minute per square
feet to the
design sprinklers, where the quantity of design sprinklers includes all of the
sprinklers, up
to a maximum of four, that requires the greatest hydraulic demand, within a
compartment
that has generally flat and smooth ceiling. UL Standard 1626 (Oct 2003), on
the other
hand, states (at Table 6.1) that the density for a coverage area with a
generally flat ceiling
as 0.05 gallons per minute per square feet minimum.
Although NFPA Standards 13R and 13D provide considerable flexibility in the
design and installation of wet pipe residential fire protection system, these
standards are
strict in prohibiting any existing residential fire sprinklers that are
approved for use in a
wet pipe residential system from being used in any application other than a
wet system.
In particular, both NFPA Standard 13R and 13D (2002) reiterate the stricture
stated
4
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
NFPA Standard 13 (2002), which prohibits the use of residential sprinklers for
systems
other than wet pipe by stating, at paragraphs 6.6.7.1.2 and 7.5.2,
respectively, that:
[R]esidential sprinklers shall not be used on systems
other than wet pipe systems unless specifically
listed for use on that particular type of system.
(Emphasis Added).
While these standards may have considered a residential piping system other
than
a wet pipe system, e.g., a dry pipe residential system, the standards do not
provide any
indication of how to determine a hydraulic demand as part of a design of such
systems.
Furthermore, because of the guidelines in the standards regarding the use of
dry pipe
instead of wet pipe, those desiring to use a dry pipe sprinkler system in non-
residential
applications would normally increase the hydraulic demand of the dry pipe
system over
that of the wet pipe system, either by an increase in the design area or the
quantity of
sprinklers based on the wet pipe system.
Currently, it is believed that no residential fire sprinkler is approved for a
dry pipe
systein in residential applications. Nor are fire-resistant plastic components
approved for
use in a dry pipe residential fire protection system. Thus, design
methodologies,
installation and material requirements for applications other than wet pipe
fire sprinkler
systems in residential applications are believed to be notably lacking.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention provides, in one aspect, a residential dwelling unit
fire
protection system for a residential dwelling unit. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The fire protection system includes a pressurized
liquid
supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies,
the control valve being biased in a closed position to prevent liquid flow
through the
control valve based on a pressure differential between the liquid and gas
supplies, a
network of pipes coupled to the pressurized gas supply, a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers, and an alarm coupled to the network of pipes to provide an
indication of liquid
flow through the network of pipes. The network of pipes includes at least one
pipe
extending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled
generally with a
gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is dry. The
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers are located adjacent each of the compartments.
Each of the
5
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
quantity of residential fire sprinklers is coupled to the at least one pipe so
that, upon
actuation of at least one residential fire sprinkler, the control valve is
actuated to deliver
liquid from the liquid supply to at least one of the residential fire
sprinklers for
distribution over a protection area at a predetermined density in at least one
compartment.
In yet another aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a
residential
fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided. The
residential dwelling
unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire
Protection
Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The residential fire protection system
includes
a pressurized liquid supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled
to the liquid
and gas supplies and biased in a closed position to prevent liquid flow
through the control
valve based on a pressure differential between the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of
pipes coupled to the pressurized gas supply, and a minimum quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
four residential fire sprinklers within each compartment of the residential
dwelling unit.
The network of pipes includes at least one pipe extending over each of the
compartments.
The at least one pipe is filled generally with a gas from the pressurized gas
supply so that
the at least one pipe is dry. The method can be achieved by expelling the gas
from the at
least one pipe upon actuation of at least one residential fire sprinkler in
fluid
communication with the at least one pipe; flowing liquid through the network
to the at
least one residential fire sprinkler for distribution over a protection area
in a compartment
of the residential dwelling unit; and indicating the flow of liquid through
the network of
pipes.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided.
The
residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the
2002 National
Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The method can be
achieved by
determining a minimum quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a
hydraulic
demand calculation of all residential fire sprinklers up to four residential
fire sprinklers
within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit; specifying the quantity
and
location of residential fire sprinklers, as determined, in a residential fire
sprinkler piping
system filled with a gas to protect the plurality of compartments for
installation
accordance with NFPA 13D and 13R; and specifying an indicator of liquid flow
through
the residential fire sprinkler system. The system includes a liquid supply
source, a gas
6
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
supply source, a control valve coupled to the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of pipes
coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply, and the network
of pipes
includes at least one pipe extending over each of the compartments. The
control valve is
biased in a closed position to prevent liquid flow through the control valve
based on a
pressure differential between the liquid and gas supplies. The at least one
pipe is filled
generally with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one
pipe is dry.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a residential dwelling unit
fire
protection system for a residential dwelling unit. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The fire protection system includes a pressurized
liquid
supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply,
a pressure
sensor coupled to at least one pipe, an alarm coupled to the pressure sensor,
and a
quantity of residential fire sprinklers located adjacent each of the
compartments. The
control valve is normally in a closed position when unactuated to prevent
liquid flow
through the control valve. The network of pipes includes at least one pipe
extending over
each of the compartments, and at least one pipe is filled generally with a gas
from the
pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is dry. The pressure
sensor senses the
pressure of the gas in the at least one pipe and providing a signal to actuate
the control
valve towards an open position when gas pressure in the at least one pipe is
below a
predetermined threshold. The alarm provides a signal to indicate the reduction
of gas
pressure in the network of pipes. Each of the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers is
coupled to the at least one pipe so that, upon a reduction in gas pressure in
the at least one
pipe, the control valve is actuated by the pressure sensor to deliver liquid
from the liquid
supply to at least one of the residential fire sprinklers for distribution
over a protection
area at a predeteimined density in at least one compartment.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a
residential
fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided. The
residential dwelling
unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire
Protection
Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The residential fire protection system
includes
a pressurized liquid supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled
to the liquid
and gas supplies and normally closed to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply,
and a
7
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
minimum quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand
calculation
of all residential fire sprinklers up to four residential fire sprinklers
within each
compartment of the residential dwelling unit. The network of pipes includes at
least one
pipe extending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled
generally
with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is
dry. The
method can be achieved by sensing a reduction of gas pressure in the at least
one pipe;
flowing liquid from the liquid supply via the control valve through the
network pipes to
the at least one residential fire sprinkler for distribution over a protection
area in a
compartnient of the residential dwelling unit; and indicating the reduction in
the gas
pressure in the network of pipes to a magnitude below a threshold value.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided.
The
residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the
2002 National
Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The system includes a
liquid
supply source, a gas supply source, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies,
a network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas
supply. The
network of pipes includes at least one pipe extending over each of the
compartments. The
system includes a releasing control panel to actuate the control valve to an
open position
that permits liquid to flow through the control valve to the network of pipes
and the
residential fire sprinklers. The control valve is configured in a normally-
closed position
to prevent liquid flow through the control valve. The at least one pipe is
filled generally
with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is
dry. The
method can be achieved by determining a minimum quantity of residential fire
sprinklers
based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire sprinklers up
to four
residential fire sprinklers within a compartment of the residential dwelling
unit;
specifying the quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as
determined, in a
residential fire sprinkler piping system filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartinents for installation accordance with NFPA 13D and 13R; and
specifying a
device to indicate a reduction in the gas pressure in the network to the
releasing control
panel.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a residential dwelling unit
fire
protection systein for a residential dwelling unit. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
8
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The fire protection system includes a pressurized
liquid
supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve with at least one pipe, a
minimum quantity
of residential fire sprinklers, a pressure sensor coupled to the at least one
pipe to sense the
pressure of the gas in the at least one pipe or the network, a fire detection
device disposed
proximate the residential dwelling unit, and a releasing control panel coupled
to the
pressure sensor and the fire detection device. The control valve is normally
in a closed
position when unactuated to prevent liquid flow through the control valve. The
network
of pipes includes at least one pipe extending over each of the compartments.
The at least
one pipe is filled generally with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so
that the at least
one pipe is dry. The pressure sensor provides a signal to indicate when gas
pressure in
the at least one pipe is below a predetermined threshold. The fire detection
device detects
a fire in the dwelling unit. The alarm is coupled to the releasing control
panel so that an
alarm is provided when the control valve is actuated to an open position. The
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers is located adjacent each of the compartments. Each
of the
quantity of residential fire sprinklers is coupled to the at least one pipe so
that, upon at
least one of a reduction in the gas pressure in the at least one pipe or a
fire proximate the
residential dwelling unit, the control valve is actuated by the releasing
control panel to
deliver liquid from the liquid supply to at least one of the residential fire
sprinklers for
distribution over a protection area at a predetermined density in at least one
compartment.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a
residential
fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided. The
residential dwelling
unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire
Protection
Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The residential fire protection system
includes
a pressurized liquid supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled
to the liquid
and gas supplies and normally closed to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply,
and a
minimum quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand
calculation
of all residential fire sprinklers up to four residential fire sprinklers
within each
compartment of the residential dwelling unit. The network of pipes includes at
least one
pipe extending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled
generally
with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is
dry. The
method can be achieved by sensing a reduction of gas pressure in the at least
one pipe or a
9
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
fire proximate the residential dwelling unit; flowing liquid from the liquid
supply via the
control valve through the network pipes to the at least one residential fire
sprinkler for
distribution over a protection area in a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit; and
indicating the reduction in the gas pressure in the network of pipes to a
magnitude below
a threshold value or a fire proximate the dwelling unit.
In yet a fixrther aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided.
The
residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the
2002 National
Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The method can be
achieved by
determining a minimum quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a
hydraulic
demand calculation of all residential fire sprinklers up to four residential
fire sprinklers
within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit; specifying the quantity
and
location of residential fire sprinklers, as determined, in a residential fire
sprinkler piping
system filled with a gas to protect the plurality of compartments for
installation
accordance with NFPA 13D and 13R; and specifying a device to provide a signal
to a
releasing panel that indicates at least one of reduction in gas pressure in
the at least one
pipe or a fire proximate the dwelling unit. The system includes a liquid
supply source, a
gas supply source, a control valve, a network of pipes, and a releasing
control panel. The
control valve is coupled to the liquid supply and configured in a normally
closed position
to prevent liquid flow through the control valve. The network of pipes is
coupled to the
control valve and the pressurized gas supply and includes at least one pipe
that extends
over each of the compartinents. The at least one pipe is filled generally with
a gas from
the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is dry. The releasing
control panel
is responsive to sensed signals to actuate the control valve to an open
position that
permits liquid to flow through the control valve to the network of pipes and
the residential
fire sprinklers.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a residential dwelling unit
fire
protection system for a residential dwelling unit. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The fire protection system includes a pressurized
liquid
supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve with at least one pipe, a
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers, a pressure sensor coupled to the at least one
pipe to sense the
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
pressure of the gas in the at least one pipe, a fire detection device disposed
proximate the
residential dwelling unit, and a releasing control panel coupled to the
pressure sensor and
the fire detection device. The alarm device is configured to indicate a fire
or fault in the
system. At least one of the quantity of residential fire sprinklers being
coupled to the at
least one pipe. The control valve is normally in a closed position when
unactuated to
prevent liquid flow through the control valve. The network of pipes includes
at least one
pipe extending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled
generally
with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is
dry. The
pressure sensor provides a signal to indicate when gas pressure in the at
least one pipe or
the network of pipes is below a predetermined threshold. The fire detection
device
detects a fire in the dwelling unit and outputs a signal of the fire. The
releasing control
panel is coupled to the pressure sensor and the fire detection device so that
the releasing
control panel actuates the alarm device to indicate a fault in the system when
the pressure
sensor detects gas pressure in the at least one pipe or the network is below a
predetermined threshold without a receipt of the signal provided by the fire
detection
device. The releasing control panel also actuates the control valve to an open
position
when the fire detection device detects a fire.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a
residential
fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided. The
residential dwelling
unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire
Protection
Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The residential fire protection system
includes
a pressurized liquid supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled
to the liquid
and gas supplies and normally closed to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply,
and a
quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand
calculation of all
residential fire sprinklers up to four residential fire sprinklers within each
compartment of
the residential dwelling unit. The network of pipes includes at least one pipe
extending
over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled generally with
a gas from
the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is dry. The method
can be achieved
by sensing a reduction of gas pressure in the at least one pipe or network of
pipes;
indicating a fault in the fire system when the gas pressure in the network of
pipes is below
a threshold value in the absence of a fire proximate the residential dwelling
unit; sensing
a fire proximate the residential dwelling unit; flowing liquid from the liquid
supply via
11
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
the control valve through the network pipes to the at least one residential
fire sprinkler for
distribution over a protection area in a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit when
the fire is sensed; and indicating a flow of liquid from the control valve
through the
network of pipes.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided.
The
residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the
2002 National
Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The system includes a
liquid
supply source, a gas supply source, a control valve, a network of pipes, a
pressure sensor
coupled to the network of pipes to sense gas pressure in the network of pipes,
a fire
detection device disposed proximate the dwelling unit to detect a fire, an
alarm device,
and a releasing control panel to actuate the control valve to an open position
that permits
liquid to flow through the control valve to the network of pipes and the
residential fire
sprinklers. The releasing control panel is coupled to the alarm device,
pressure sensor,
and the fire detection device. The control valve is coupled to the liquid
supply and
configured in a normally closed position to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve.
The network of pipes is coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas
supply and
includes at least one pipe that extends over each of the compartments. The at
least one
pipe is filled generally with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that
the at least one
pipe is dry. The method can be achieved by: determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
four residential fire sprinklers within a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit;
specifying the quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as
determined, in a
residential fire sprinkler piping system filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartments for installation accordance with NFPA 13D and 13R; and specifying
the
releasing control panel to activate the alarm to indicate a fault in the
system when the
pressure sensor senses gas pressure below a threshold value in the absence of
a detection
of a fire by the fire detection device and activates the alarm and control
valve to an open
position prior to actuation of the at least one residential fire sprinkler
when the fire
detection device detects a fire.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a residential dwelling unit
fire
protection system for a residential dwelling unit. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
12
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The fire protection system includes a pressurized
liquid
supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled to the liquid and
gas supplies, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve with at least one pipe, a
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers, a pressure sensor coupled to the at least one
pipe to sense the
pressure of the gas in the at least one pipe, a fire detection device disposed
proximate the
residential dwelling unit, and a releasing control panel coupled to the
pressure sensor and
the fire detection device. The alarm device is configured to indicate a fire
or fault in the
system. At least one of the quantity of residential fire sprinklers being
coupled to the at
least one pipe. The control valve is normally in a closed position when
unactuated to
prevent liquid flow through the control valve. The network of pipes includes
at least one
pipe extending over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled
generally
with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is
dry. The
pressure sensor provides a signal to indicate when gas pressure in the at
least one pipe or
the network of pipes is below a predetermined threshold. The fire detection
device
detects a fire in the dwelling unit and outputs a signal of the fire. The
releasing control
panel is coupled to the pressure sensor and the fire detection device so that
the releasing
control panel actuates the alarm device to indicate a fault in the system when
the pressure
sensor detects gas pressure in the at least one pipe or the network is below a
predetermined threshold without a receipt of the signal provided by the fire
detection
device. The releasing control panel also actuates the control valve to an open
position
upon a receipt of output signals from the fire detection device and pressure
sensor.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of operating a
residential
fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided. The
residential dwelling
unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire
Protection
Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The residential fire protection system
includes
a pressurized liquid supply, a pressurized gas supply, a control valve coupled
to the liquid
and gas supplies and normally closed to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve, a
network of pipes coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas supply,
and a
quantity of residential fire sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand
calculation of all
residential fire sprinklers up to four residential fire sprinklers within each
compartment of
the residential dwelling unit. The network of pipes includes at least one pipe
extending
over each of the compartments. The at least one pipe is filled generally with
a gas from
the pressurized gas supply so that the at least one pipe is dry. The method
can be
13
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
achieved by sensing a reduction of gas pressure in the at least one pipe or
network of
pipes; indicating a fault in the fire system when the gas pressure in the
network of pipes is
below a threshold value in the absence of a fire proximate the residential
dwelling unit;
sensing a fire proximate the residential dwelling unit; flowing liquid from
the liquid
supply via the control valve through the network pipes to the at least one
residential fire
sprinkler for distribution over a protection area in a compartment of the
residential
dwelling unit when a fire and a reduction in gas pressure are sensed; and
indicating a flow
of liquid from the control valve through the network of pipes.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit is provided.
The
residential dwelling unit has a plurality of compartments as defined in the
2002 National
Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D, and 13R. The system includes a
liquid
supply source, a gas supply source, a control valve, a network of pipes, a
pressure sensor
coupled to the network of pipes to sense gas pressure in the network of pipes,
a fire
detection device disposed proximate the dwelling unit to detect a fire, an
alarm device,
and a releasing control panel to actuate the control valve to an open position
that permits
liquid to flow through the control valve to the network of pipes and the
residential fire
sprinklers. The releasing control panel is coupled to the alarm device,
pressure sensor,
and the fire detection device. The control valve is coupled to the liquid
supply and
configured in a normally closed position to prevent liquid flow through the
control valve.
The network of pipes is coupled to the control valve and the pressurized gas
supply and
includes at least one pipe that extends over each of the compartments. The at
least one
pipe is filled generally with a gas from the pressurized gas supply so that
the at least one
pipe is dry. The method can be achieved by: determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
four residential fire sprinklers within a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit;
specifying the quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as
determined, in a
residential fire sprinkler piping system filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartments for installation accordance with NFPA 13D and 13R; and specifying
the
releasing control panel to activate the alarm to indicate a fault in the
system when the
pressure sensor senses gas pressure below a threshold value in the absence of
a detection
of a fire by the fire detection device and activates the alarm and control
valve to an open
14
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
position upon a receipt of output signals from the fire detection device and
pressure
sensor.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that
utilizes fire-resistant
plastic components. The residential dwelling unit has a plurality of
compartments as
defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D,
and 13R.
The method can be achieved by specifying a quantity and location of
residential fire
sprinklers to determine the hydraulic demand of a piping network filled with a
gas and
arranged to protect the plurality of compartments of the residential dwelling
unit; and
specifying at least one component of the dry pipe residential fire sprinkler
piping network
as a fire-resistant plastic component.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that has a
plurality of
compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association
Standards 13D
is provided. The method can be achieved by determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
two sprinklers within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit; and
specifying the
quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as determined, in a
residential fire
sprinkler piping system filled with a gas to protect the plurality of
compartments for
installation accordance with NFPA 13D. The system includes: (a) a liquid
supply source
to provide sufficient liquid flow rate to a network of pipes so as to maintain
a preselected
density for a predetermined duration; (b) a gas supply source to provide
pressurized gas;
(c) a control valve coupled to the liquid supply and the gas supply; and (d) a
network of
fire-resistant plastic pipes and fire-resistant plastic fittings coupled to
the control valve
and to the quantity of residential fire sprinklers, the network of fire-
resistant plastic pipes
and fire-resistant plastic fittings being filled with a gas from the gas
supply source so that
the pipes are dry when the control valve is in a closed position that prevents
liquid from
flowing through the control valve to the residential fire sprinklers.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that has a
plurality of
compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association
Standards 13D
is provided. The method can be achieved by determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
four residential fire sprinklers within a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit; and
specifying the quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as
determined, in a
residential fire sprinkler piping system filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartments for installation accordance with NFPA 13R. The systein includes:
(a) a
liquid supply source to provide sufficient liquid flow rate to a network of
pipes so as to
maintain a preselected density for a predetermined duration; (b) a gas supply
source to
provide pressurized gas; (c) a control valve coupled to the liquid supply and
the gas
supply; and (d) a network of fire-resistant plastic pipes and fire-resistant
plastic fittings
coupled to the control valve and to the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers, the network
of fire-resistant plastic pipes and fire-resistant plastic fittings being
filled with a gas from
the gas supply source so that the pipes are dry when the control valve is in a
closed
position that prevents liquid from flowing through the control valve to the
residential fire
sprinklers.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a fire protection system
residential
dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standard 13D. The system includes a supply of pressurized liquid, a supply of
pressurized gas, a control valve coupled to the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of pipes
in fluid communication with the control valve and the gas supply, and a
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers located adjacent each of the coinpartments. The
control valve is
configured to occlude flow of liquid through the control valve. The network of
pipes
includes at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe extending over each of the
compartments.
The at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe is filled generally with a gas so
that the at least
one fire-resistant plastic pipe is dry. Each of the quantity of residential
fire sprinklers
being coupled to the at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe filled with a
gas so that, upon
actuation of at least one fire sprinkler of the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers, gas is
expelled and liquid is delivered from liquid supply to the compartments within
a first time
period. And the quantity of residential fire sprinkler is based on a
calculated hydraulic
demand for all residential fire sprinklers, up to two sprinklers, having the
highest
calculated demand within a compartment.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a fire protection system
residential
dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
16
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
Standard 13R. The system includes a supply of pressurized liquid, a supply of
pressurized gas, a control valve coupled to the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of pipes
in fluid communication with the control valve and the gas supply, and a
quantity of
residential fire sprinklers located adjacent each of the compartments. The
control valve is
configured to occlude flow of liquid through the control valve. The network of
pipes
includes at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe extending over each of the
compartments.
The at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe is filled generally with a gas so
that the at least
one fire-resistant plastic pipe is dry. Each of the quantity of residential
fire sprinklers
being coupled to the at least one fire-resistant plastic pipe filled with a
gas so that, upon
actuation of at least one fire sprinkler of the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers, gas is
expelled and liquid is delivered from liquid supply to the compartments within
a first time
period. And, the quantity of residential fire sprinkler is based on a
calculated hydraulic
demand for all residential fire sprinklers, up to four residential fire
sprinklers, having the
highest calculated demand within a compartment.
In yet a fiuther aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that
utilizes fire-resistant
plastic components. The residential dwelling unit has a plurality of
compartments as
defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association Standards 13, 13D,
and 13R.
The method can be achieved by specifying a quantity and location of
residential fire
sprinklers in a residential fire sprinkler piping network having a main pipe a
branch pipe
connected to the residential fire sprinklers filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartments; and specifying the branch pipe as a fire-resistant plastic
branch pipe with
an opening having a cross-sectional area different than the cross-sectional
area of the
main pipe.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that has a
plurality of
compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association
Standards 13D
is provided. The method can be achieved by determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
two sprinklers within a compartment of the residential dwelling unit; and
specifying the
quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as determined, in a
residential fire
sprinkler piping system with a branch pipe filled with a gas to protect the
plurality of
compartments for installation accordance with NFPA 13D. The system includes:
(a) a
17
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
liquid supply source to provide sufficient liquid flow rate to a network of
pipes so as to
maintain a preselected density for a predetermined duration; (b) a gas supply
source to
provide pressurized gas; (c) a network of a main pipe and a branch pipe, the
branch pipe
including a fire-resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-resistant plastic
fitting coupled to the
control valve and to the quantity of residential fire sprinklers, the main
pipe having an
internal opening being filled with liquid with a cross-sectional area
different than the
cross-sectional area of the internal opening of the branch pipe, the fire-
resistant plastic
branch pipe and fire-resistant plastic fittings being filled with a gas from
the gas supply
source; and (d) a control valve disposed between the main pipe and the branch
pipe, the
control valve coupled to the liquid supply and the gas supply so that the main
pipe is wet
with liquid and the branch pipe is dry when the control valve is in a closed
position that
prevents liquid from flowing through the control valve to the residential fire
sprinklers.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a method of designing a dry
pipe
residential fire protection system in a residential dwelling unit that has a
plurality of
compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection Association
Standards 13D
is provided. The method can be achieved by determining a quantity of
residential fire
sprinklers based on a hydraulic demand calculation of all residential fire
sprinklers up to
four residential fire sprinklers within a compartment of the residential
dwelling unit; and
specifying the quantity and location of residential fire sprinklers, as
determined, in a
residential fire sprinkler piping system with a branch pipe filled with a gas
to protect the
plurality of compartments for installation accordance with NFPA 13D. The
system
includes: (a) a liquid supply source to provide sufficient liquid flow rate to
a network of
pipes so as to maintain a preselected density for a predetermined duration;
(b) a gas
supply source to provide pressurized gas; (c) a network of a main pipe and a
branch pipe,
the branch pipe including a fire-resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-
resistant plastic
fitting coupled to the control valve and to the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers, the
main pipe having an internal opening being filled with liquid with a cross-
sectional area
different than the cross-sectional area of the internal opening of the branch
pipe, the fire-
resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-resistant plastic fittings being filled
with a gas from
the gas supply source; and (d) a control valve disposed between the main pipe
and the
branch pipe, the control valve coupled to the liquid supply and the gas supply
so that the
main pipe is wet with liquid and the branch pipe is dry when the control valve
is in a
18
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
closed position that prevents liquid from flowing through the control valve to
the
residential fire sprinklers.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a fire protection system
residential
dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standard 13D. The system includes a supply of pressurized liquid, a supply of
pressurized gas, a control valve coupled to the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of a
main pipe and a branch pipe that extends over a compartment of the residential
dwelling
unit. The branch pipe includes a fire-resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-
resistant plastic
fitting coupled to the control valve and to the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers. The
main pipe has an internal opening being filled with liquid with a cross-
sectional area
different than the cross-sectional area of the internal opening of the branch
pipe. The fire-
resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-resistant plastic fittings being filled
with a gas from
the gas supply source. The control valve is disposed between the main pipe and
the
branch pipe. The control valve is coupled to the liquid supply and the gas
supply so that
the main pipe is wet witll liquid and the branch pipe is dry when the control
valve is in a
closed position that prevents liquid from flowing through the control valve to
branch pipe.
The quantity of residential fire sprinklers is located adjacent each of the
compartments.
Each of the quantity of residential fire sprinklers is coupled to the fire-
resistant plastic
branch pipe filled with a gas so that, upon actuation of at least one fire
sprinkler of the
quantity of residential fire sprinklers, gas is expelled and liquid is
delivered from liquid
supply to the compartments within a first time period. And the quantity of
residential fire
sprinkler is based on a calculated hydraulic demand for all residential fire
sprinklers, up
to two sprinklers, having the highest calculated demand within a compartment.
In yet a further aspect of the present invention, a fire protection system
residential
dwelling unit fire protection system is provided. The residential dwelling
unit has a
plurality of compartments as defined in the 2002 National Fire Protection
Association
Standard 13R. The system includes a supply of pressurized liquid, a supply of
pressurized gas, a control valve coupled to the liquid and gas supplies, a
network of a
main pipe and a branch pipe that extends over a compartment of the residential
dwelling
unit. The branch pipe includes a fire-resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-
resistant plastic
fitting coupled to the control valve and to the quantity of residential fire
sprinklers. The
main pipe has an internal opening being filled with liquid with a cross-
sectional area
19
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
different than the cross-sectional area of the internal opening of the branch
pipe. The fire-
resistant plastic branch pipe and fire-resistant plastic fittings being filled
with a gas from
the gas supply source. The control valve is disposed between the main pipe and
the
branch pipe. The control valve is coupled to the liquid supply and the gas
supply so that
the main pipe is wet with liquid and the branch pipe is dry when the control
valve is in a
closed position that prevents liquid from flowing through the control valve to
branch pipe.
The quantity of residential fire sprinklers is located adjacent each of the
compartments.
Each of the quantity of residential fire sprinklers is coupled to the fire-
resistant plastic
branch pipe filled with a gas so that, upon actuation of at least one fire
sprinkler of the
quantity of residential fire sprinklers, gas is expelled and liquid is
delivered from liquid
supply to the compartments within a first time period. And, the quantity of
residential
fire sprinkler is based on a calculated hydraulic demand for all residential
fire sprinklers,
up to four residential fire sprinklers, having the highest calculated demand
within a
compartment.
Brief Descriptions of the Drawings
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part
of
this specification, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the invention, and,
together with
the general description given above and the detailed description given below,
serve to
explain the features of the invention.
Figures lA1 and 1A2 are perspective views of a residential sprinkler system
with
vertically-oriented and horizontally-oriented sprinklers according to
preferred
embodiments.
Figures 1 B and 1 C illustrate respectively a pendent and sidewall sprinklers
of
Figures lAl and 1A2.
Figures 2A and 2B illustrate a preferred communication medium for the
preferred
wet or dry sprinkler design methodology.
Figures 3A, 3B and 3C illustrate schematically the layout of preferred
residential
fire protection systems.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Figures 1-3 illustrate the preferred embodiments. In particular, Figures 1A1
and
1A2 show a residential dwelling unit R. As used herein, the term "residential"
is a
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
"dwelling unit" as defined in NFPA Standard 13D, 13R (2002), which can include
commercial dwelling units (e.g., rental apartments, lodging and rooming
houses, board
and care facilities, hospitals, motels or hotels) to indicate one or more
rooms, arranged for
the use of individuals living together, as in a single housekeeping unit, that
normally have
cooking, living, sanitary, and sleeping facilities. The residential dwelling
unit normally
includes a plurality of compartments as defined in NFPA Standards 13, 13D, and
13R,
where generally each compartment is a space that is enclosed by walls and
ceiling. The
standards relating to residential fire protection, including 2002 Standards
13, 13D, and
13R, as promulgated by the National Fire Protection Association ("NFPA
Standard 13
(2002)", "NFPA Standard 13D (2002)", "NFPA Standard 13R (2002)") and
Under~wi iter's Laboratory Residentialfire sprinklers for Fire-Protection
Service 1626
(Oct. 2003) ("UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003)"), are incorporated herein by
reference in
their entireties.
In the residential dwelling unit R of Figure 1A1, an exemplary dry fire
protection
system can be provided for a plurality of protection areas, including sub-
divided
protection areas, i.e., compartments to be protected within the residential
unit R. For
example, in protection area A with length L and width W, a dry fire protection
system can
include a supply 10 of pressurized liquid such as a suitable liquid supply 10,
located
proximate the dwelling unit R. A network of pipes 100 is coupled to the liquid
supply 10
by preferably a single supply control valve 20 that can be used to shut off
liquid to both a
domestic water system for the occupants via pipe 14 and for the fire
protection system via
pipe 18 for the residential dwelling unit R. A back-flow check valve 13 can be
provided
upstream of the supply control valve 20 so as to prevent contamination of the
water
supply. The supply control valve 20 can be coupled to a suitable diy pipe
valve 30 (or
other control valves) disposed between the supply control valve 20 and the
piping
network. A test and drain line 16 can be provided downstream of the supply
control
valve 20.
The liquid supply 10 can include a municipal water supply, an elevated liquid
or
pressurized-liquid tank, or a water storage with a water pump, which can
provide a
demand for a fire protection system for a suitable period, such as, for
example, 10 to 30
minutes without any provisions that would prevent the use of domestic water
flow by the
occupants. Where a water system is designed to serve both the needs of the
occupants of
the dwelling unit and the fire protection system, the water system should: (1)
accouiit for
21
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
water demand of more than five gallons per minute to multiple dwelling units
when no
provision is made to prevent the flow of the domestic water supply upon
actuation of the
residential fire sprinkler system; (2) include smoke or fire detector; (3)
include listed or
approved piping for the sprinkler system; (4) approved or pennitted by local
governmental authority; (5) include warning that a residential fire sprinkler
system is
coupled to the domestic system; and (6) not add flow restriction device such
as water
filter to the system.
The network of pipes can include a riser 18 coupled to a main pipe 22. The
main
pipe 22 can be couple to a plurality of branch pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e
... 22n
extending over each of the sub-divided areas. The main pipe 22 and branch
pipes 22a,
22b, 22c ... 22n can be filled generally with a suitable gas (e.g., air or
nitrogen or
mixtures thereof) from a gas supply source 28 so that the pipes are "dry." A
pressure
gauge 24 can be installed in the piping network 100 to provide an indication
of the system
pressure. The brancll pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d, 22e ... 22n (where n= a
suitable number
of branch pipes) are coupled to a quantity of residential fire sprinklers 40A,
40B, 40C
located adjacent each of the sub-divided areas. The network of pipes can be
one or more
suitable types of piping such as, for example, copper, iron, or plastic
piping. Preferably,
various components (e.g., riser, main, branch lines and fittings) of the fire
protection
system are fire-resistant plastics, such as, for example, chlorinated
polyvinyl chloride
(CPVC). More preferably, at least the pipes and fittings of the fire
protection system 100
are BlazeMaster CPVC pipes and fittings. And as used herein the term "fire-
resistant
plastic" indicates any plastic materials rated for use in a fire protection
system by the
NFPA, UL, or other classifying agency such as, for example, FM Approval
Standard
Class Number 1635 (November 1989).
Referring alternatively to Figure 1A2, in certain residential dwelling unit R,
the
main pipe 22 can be configured to be filled with liquid (by eliminating or
leaving the
control valve 30 open) while the branch pipes 22a, 22b, 22c, 22d are
configured to be
generally free of liquid by virtue of respective control valves 30a. In such
configuration
of the fire protection system, the actuation of a residential sprinkler in one
compartment
would not lead to branch pipes in other compartments being filled with liquid.
Furthermore, the internal opening of the main pipe 22 can have a cross-
sectional area
different than the cross-sectional area of the opening of the branch pipes 22a-
22d. The
main pipe 22 can be of a suitable non-fire-resistant plastic such as a non-
plastic (e.g.,
22
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
copper) material while the branch pipes can be fire-resistant plastic; the
main and branch
pipes can be non-fire-resistant plastic (e.g., copper or ferrous); or the main
pipe can be a
fire-resistant plastic main pipe with non-plastic (e.g., copper or ferrous)
branch pipes.
Preferably, the cross-sectional area of the main pipe opening is greater than
the cross-
sectional area of the branch pipes. Also preferably, the main pipe 22, at
least the branch
pipes 22a-22d and any required fittings between the pipes are BlazeMaster
CPVC pipes
and fittings.
Depending on the system design, the residential fire sprinklers can be
vertically-
oriented type fire residential fire sprinklers that are approved for dry
residential
applications. The vertically oriented type residential fire sprinklers can
include, for
example, pendent sprinkler 40A, upright sprinkler 40B, flush, or concealed
pendent
residential fire sprinklers. The residential fire sprinklers can be
horizontally-oriented
residential fire sprinklers that are approved for dry residential
applications. The
horizontally-oriented type residential fire sprinklers can include for
exatnple, sidewall
sprinkler 40C, flush or concealed sidewall residential fire sprinklers.
Referring to Figure 1B, the pendent type residential fire sprinkler 40A of the
dry
pipe networks of Figures I A 1 and 1 A2 are shown in further detail. In
particular, the
sprinkler 40A includes a body 42A defining a passageway 42B between an inlet
opening
42C and an outlet opening 42D along a longitudinal axis A-A oriented generally
perpendicular to the protection area A. The body 42A is coupled to a dry pipe
system so
that the passageway 42B is filled with a dry gas or air. The passageway 42B
has a rated
K-factor, where the rated K-factor equals the flow of water in gallons per
minute through
the passageway divided by the square root of the pressure of water fed to the
body in
pounds per square inch gauge (GPM/(psig)~"). The rated K-factor can include,
but is not
limited to, any one of nominally 3.0, 3.9, 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 4.7, 4.9, 5.5,
or 5.6 K-factor.
The body 42A has at least one frame arm 42E coupled to the body 42A proximate
the
outlet opening 42D. A closure 42F can be positioned proximate the outlet
opening 42D
so as to occlude the passageway 42B. A heat responsive trigger 42G can be
provided to
retain the closure 42F so as to close the passageway. A deflector 42H can be
coupled
with the body through at least one frame arm 42E and nosepiece 421 so that the
deflector
42H is spaced from and generally aligned with the outlet opening and the
longitudinal
axis A-A. The upright residential sprinkler 40B can include many similar
components as
the residential pendent sprinkler 40A and therefore has not been described to
maintain
23
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
brevity in this description. When the heat responsive trigger 42G is actuated,
the closure
42F is positioned to allow the dry gas to be expelled from the dry pipes and
the
passageway 42B and for a flow of water to fill the previously-dry pipes and
issue from
the outlet opening 42D along axis A-A. The flow of water through the body 42A
can
include various flow rates, such as, for example, about 13, 16, 17, 19, 21, or
24 gallons
per minute. The flow of water or a fire-fighting liquid through the dry pipe
system is
distributed over the protection area by the deflector so that the sprinkler by
itself, or in
conjunction with other sprinklers, protects the area of the residential
dwelling unit.
Referring to Figure 1 C, the sidewall residential sprinkler 40C of the dry
pipe
systems of Figures lAl and 1A2 is shown in further detail. In particular, the
sprinkler
40C includes a body 44A defining a passageway 44B between an inlet opening 44C
and
an outlet opening 44D along a horizontal axis B-B oriented generally parallel
to the
protection area A. The passageway 44B has a rated K-factor, where the rated K-
factor
equals the flow of water in gallons per minute through the passageway divided
by the
square root of the pressure of water fed to the body in pounds per square inch
gauge
(GPM!(psig)""). The rated K-factor can include, but is not limited to, any one
of
nominally 4 or 5 K-factor. The body 44A has at least one frame arm 44E coupled
to the
body 44A proximate the outlet opening 44D. A closure 44F can be positioned
proximate
the outlet opening 44D so as to occlude the passageway 44B. A heat responsive
trigger
44G can be provided to retain the closure 44F so as to close the passageway. A
deflector
44H can be coupled with the body through at least one frame arm 44E and
nosepiece 441
so that the deflector 44H is spaced from and generally aligned with the outlet
opening and
the longitudinal axis A-A. When the heat responsive trigger 44G is actuated,
the closure
44F is positioned to allow the dry gas to be expelled from the dry pipes and
the
passageway 44B and for a flow of water to fill the previously-dry pipes and
issue from
the outlet opening 44D along axis B-B. The flow of water through the body 44A
can
include various flow rates, such as, for example, about 12, 13, 14, 16, 17,
18, 19, 20, 21,
23, 24, 25, 26, 27, or 28 gallons per minute. The flow of water or a fire-
fighting liquid
through the dry pipe system is distributed over the protection area by the
deflector so that
the sprinkler by itself, or in conjunction with other sprinklers, protects the
area of the
residential dwelling unit. Thus, the means for distributing the fire-fighting
liquid over a
protection area of a residential dwelling unit can be any particular
structures of the
24
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
residential sidewall sprinkler 40B, which in the preferred embodiments include
at least
the deflector 44H.
Although no residential fire sprinklers have been approved for residential use
with
a piping network filled with a gas (i.e., "dry") instead of a network filled
with liquid (i.e.,
"wet"), applicant has discovered that residential fire sprinklers, which were
approved for
use only in wet pipe residential fire protection system, would meet the
approval
requirements of NFPA Standard 13 (2002), 13D (2002) and 13R (2002) and UL
Standard
1626 (Oct. 2003). This discovery has allowed a residential fire sprinkler
system with a
dry pipe network to be designed by determining a quantity and location of
residential fire
sprinklers required to determine a hydraulic demand calculation of the
residential fire
sprinklers. Applicant has discovered that, for certain applications in
accordance with
NFPA 13, 13D, and 13R, the quantity and location of residential fire
sprinklers in a
piping network filled with a fire-fighting liquid can be used to determine a
hydraulic
demand of residential fire sprinklers coupled to a piping network filled with
a gas.
In particular, referring to Figures lAl and 1A2, the quantity and location of
residential fire sprinklers for a residential dwelling unit can be determined
based on a
hydraulic demand of the most hydraulically remote fire sprinkler within a
compartment of
the residential dwelling unit. Where the residential dwelling unit can be
classified as a
one or two-family dwelling unit, as defined in NFPA Standard 13D (2002), the
hydraulic
demand of a system for the dwelling unit can be determined by assessing a
hydraulic
demand of a residential fire sprinkler, up to two sprinklers, for a design
area of each
compartment while taking into account any obstructions on the walls or
ceiling.
Specifically, for each compartment, one or more residential fire sprinklers
(as approved
by an authority having jurisdiction over fire protection design to provide
sufficient liquid
density) can be selected. The selected residential fire sprinklers, i.e.,
design sprinkler, in
the selected compartment can be used to determine if the design sprinklers, up
to two
sprinklers, located at specified locations within any one of selected
compartments, have
the highest hydraulic demand of a wet pipe fire protection system for the
residential
dwelling unit. For each compartment, the hydraulic demand is calculated based
on the
location of the design sprinklers from the liquid supply source to the wet
pipe network
for, in some cases, all of the compartments. From the calculated hydraulic
demand of
some or all the compartments, the highest hydraulic demand for a particular
compartment
of the residential dwelling unit can be determined. This highest hydraulic
demand is then
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
compared with an actual liquid flow rate and pressure of the liquid supply.
Where the
highest hydraulic demand can be met by the actual liquid supply for the
residential
dwelling unit, the quantity of fire sprinklers is the sum of all the design
sprinklers within
the residential dwelling unit in the design of a dry pipe residential fire
protection system
of the dwelling unit. Thereafter, the design can be implemented, at a minimum,
in
accordance with installation guidelines set forth in NFPA Standard 13D (2002).
Where the residential dwelling unit can be classified as a residential
dwelling unit
up to and including four stories in height, as defined in NFPA Standard 13R
(2002), the
hydraulic demand of a system for the dwelling unit can be determined by
assessing a
hydraulic demand of a residential fire sprinkler, up to two sprinklers, for a
design area of
each compartment while taking into account any obstructions on the walls or
ceiling.
Specifically, for each compartment, one or more residential fire sprinklers
(as approved
by an authority having jurisdiction over fire protection design to provide
sufficient liquid
density) can be selected. The selected residential fire sprinklers, i.e.,
design sprinklers, in
the selected compartment can be used to determine if the design sprinklers, up
to four
residential fire sprinklers, located at specified locations within any one of
selected
compartments, have the highest hydraulic demand of the fire protection system
for the
residential dwelling unit. For each compartment, the hydraulic demand is
calculated
based on the location of the design sprinklers from the liquid supply source
to the wet
pipe network for, in some cases, all of the compartments. From the calculated
hydraulic
demand of some or all the compartments, the highest hydraulic demand for a
particular
compartment of the residential dwelling unit can be determined. This highest
hydraulic
demand is then compared with an actual liquid flow rate and pressure of the
liquid supply.
Where the highest hydraulic demand of the residential dwelling unit can be met
by the
actual liquid supply for the residential dwelling unit, the quantity of fire
sprinklers is the
sum of all the design sprinklers within the residential dwelling unit in the
design of a dry
pipe residential fire protection system of the dwelling unit. Thereafter, the
design can be
implemented in accordance, at a minimum, with installation guidelines set
forth in NFPA
Standard 13R (2002).
Applicant has verified that the hydraulic demand design criteria of a wet pipe
residential fire sprinkler system are applicable to a dry pipe system by tests
based on
guidelines set forth by NFPA Standards 13, 13D, 13R (2002) and UL Standard
1626 (Oct.
2003). Based on testing in accordance with these guidelines, it has been
discovered that
26
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
residential fire sprinklers can deliver the required density set forth by NFPA
Standards
13, 13D, 13R (2002 Eds.) and UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003) within the maximum
water
delivery time of 15 seconds to the Most-Hydraullically-Remote residential fire
sprinkler,
as set forth in NFPA Standard 13 (2002), Table 11.2.3.9.1, at the required
density of 0.05
gpm/sq. ft. in a dry pipe system while meeting the testing requirements of UL
Standard
1626 (Oct. 2003).
In particular, each of the plurality of residential fire sprinklers includes a
pendant
type fire sprinkler having a rated K-factor of at least nominally 4, as shown
and described
in Tyco Fire Product Datasheet TFP400 Series II Residential Pendent Sprinklers
4.9 K-
factor (April 2004) and identified by Sprinkler Identification Number TY2234,
which
datasheet is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; a sidewall
residential fire
sprinkler having a rated K-factor of at least nominally 4, as shown and
described in Tyco
Fire Product Datasheet TFP410 Series II LFII Residential Horizontal Sidewall
Sprinklers
4.2 K-factor (April 2004) and identified by Sprinkler Identification Number
TY1334,
which datasheet is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety; and a
flush-pendent
residential fire sprinkler having a rated K-factor of at least nominally 4, as
shown and
described in Tyco Fire Product Datasheet TFP410 Series II LFII Residential
Flush
Pendent Sprinklers 4.2 K-factor (April 2004), and identified by Sprinkler
Identification
Number TY2284, which datasheet is incorporated herein by reference in its
entirety.
Applicant has verified his discovery of residential fire sprinklers for use in
residential dry pipe system applications with tests that were previously used
for wet
systems. For example, the identified pendent sprinklers TY1334, TY2234, and
TY2284
have complied with requirements for a wet system as set forth by NFPA
Standards 13,
13D, 13R (2002 Eds.) and UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003) for various ceiling
configurations including flat, sloped and beamed ceilings. A brief description
of the test
procedures that were used to verify their discovery is provided below.
For test configurations to determine the horizontal water distribution of
existing
vertically oriented residential sprinkler (e.g., upright or pendent) and
horizontally oriented
residential fire sprinklers (e.g., sidewall), UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003)
requires placing
a selected sprinkler over a protective area sub-divided into four quadrants
with the
sprinkler placed in the center of the quadrants. Water collection pans are
placed over one
quadrant of the protective area so that each square foot of the quadrant is
covered by
collector pan of one-square foot area. For vertically oriented type
sprinklers, the top of
27
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
the collector pan is 8 feet below a generally flat ceiling of the test area.
For horizontally
oriented type sprinkler, the top of each collection pan is about six feet ten
inches below
the ceiling. The area is generally the product of a coverage width and length.
The length
L of the quadrant is generally the one-half the coverage length and the width
W is
generally one-half the coverage width. Water is supplied to the selected
sprinleler at the
flow rate specified in the installation instruction provided with the
sprinkler being tested
via a one-inch internal diameter pipe with a T-fitting having an outlet at
substantially the
same internal diameter as the inlet of the selected sprinkler. The duration of
the test is
twenty-minutes and at the completion of the test, the water collected by the
pan is
measured to determine if the amount deposited complies with the minimum
density
requirement. Additional details of this test are shown and described in UL
Standard 1626
(Oct. 2003), which is incorporated herein by reference.
For test configurations to determine vertical water distribution of other
existing
vertically oriented residential sprinkler (e.g., upright or pendent) and
horizontally oriented
residential fire sprinklers (e.g., sidewall) UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003)
provides for two
arrangements. In the first arrangement for vertically oriented sprinkler, the
sprinkler is
placed at one-half the coverage length or width. In the second arrangement for
horizontally-oriented sprinkler, the sprinkler is placed below the generally
flat ceiling but
no lower than twenty-eight inches below the ceiling on one wall surface and at
no greater
than one-half the distance of an uninterrupted surface of a wall. Water is
delivered to the
sprinkler at the flow rate specified in the installation instruction provided
with the
sprinkler being tested via a one-inch internal diameter pipe. Water collection
pans of
one-square foot area are placed on the floor against the walls of the test
area so that the
top of the pan is six feet, ten inches below a nominally eight feet generally
flat ceiling.
The duration of the test is ten-minutes at which point the walls within the
coverage area
should be wetted to within 28 inches of the sprinkler at the specified design
flow rate.
Where the coverage area is square, each wall must be wetted with at least five
percent of
the sprinkler flow. Where the coverage area is rectangular, each wall must be
wetted with
a proportional water amount collected that is generally equal to 20 percent of
times the
length of the wall divided by the perimeter of coverage area.
Actual fire tests can also be perfonned in accordance with UL Standard 1626
(Oct. 2003) for each type of residential fire sprinklers. In particular, three
tests
arrangement can be utilized within a room with nominally eight feet generally
horizontal
28
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
or flat ceiling and simulated furniture so that the tested residential
sprinkler can limit
temperatures at four different locations to specified temperatures. In all
three test
arrangements, a rectangular-shaped coverage area is provided with first and
second
parallel walls whose length are longer than third and fourth walls that extend
orthogonally
to each of the first and second walls. The third and fourth walls are each
provided with
an entrance; one entrance with 35 inches of width and the other entrance with
41 inches
of width.
Two sprinklers to be tested are spaced apart over a first distance to provide
liquid
distribution over the protected area. A third sprinkler to be tested is
disposed proximate
the larger width opening. Simulated furnitures are oriented in an orthogonal
configuration to generally surround a wood crib and one corner of the
protected area
distal to the smaller opening. A first thermocouple is located 0.25 inches
above the
ceiling and 10 inches diagonally from the one corner. A second thermocouple is
located
in the geometric center of the room and three inches below the ceiling.
Additional details
of the test room, fire source burning characteristics, sprinkler installation
and exact
parameters for carrying out the fire tests are provided in UL Standard 1626
(Oct. 2003).
In the first fire testing arrangement for vertically-oriented sprinklers
(e.g.,
pendent, upright, flush, recessed pendent and concealed), a third thermocouple
can be
located three inches below the ceiling and eight inches from a first sprinkler
located
nearest the simulated furniture. The first sprinkler is located at a distance
L from a
second sprinkler so that the first sprinkler is located at one-half L from the
third wall with
the smaller opening. A third sprinkler is located three feet from the second
wall and four
inches from the larger opening.
In the second fire testing arrangement for horizontally-oriented sprinklers,
first
and second sprinklers are mounted in the wall distal to the simulated
furniture and spaced
apart over a distance W so that the first sprinkler is nearest the smaller
opening and
located at a distance of one-half W to the third wall having the smaller
opening. The
second sprinkler is about nominally eight feet from a third sprinkler mounted
on the wall.
A third thermocouple is located directly across from the first sprinkler at a
distance of
one-half the width of the room, at three inches below the ceiling and 5 feet
and one-
quarter inches above the floor.
In the third fire testing arrangement for horizontally-oriented sprinklers,
the first
and second sprinklers are mounted in the wall proximal to the simulated
furniture and
29
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
spaced apart over a distance W along the wall. A third thermocouple is located
in the
same location as in the second testing arrangement.
In all three fire-testing arrangements, when the fire sources are ignited in
accordance with UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003), the residential fire sprinklers
provide a
predetermined water flow rate within fifteen seconds of actuation of at least
one sprinkler
over the coverage area to limit the maximum temperature measured by the second
and
third thermocouples cannot exceed 600 degrees Fahrenheit ("degrees F"). To
comply
with UL Standard 1626 (Oct. 2003), the maximum temperature measured by the
third
thermocouple cannot exceed 200 degrees F and cannot exceed more than 130
degrees F
for any continuous duration of more than two minutes. To comply with UL
Standard
1626 (Oct. 2003), the maximum temperature measured by the first thermocouple
cannot
exceed 500 degrees F.
As can be seen above, it has been discovered that the design criteria in the
dry
residential system for the protection area A of Figures 1A1 and 1A2 is the
same design
criteria for residential fire sprinklers in a wet residential system for the
protection area A
of the residential unit R of Figures 1A1 and 1A2. Such discovery is believed
to be
heretofore unknown and unexpected in the fire protection art. This discovery
has allowed
an implementation of a method not previously available in the art. This method
provides
for at least the design, classification, approval, and implementation of dry
sprinkler and
dry sprinkler system, e.g., with fire-resistant plastic components, in
residential dwelling
unit, which residential sprinkler and dry sprinkler system are believed to
provide the same
or similar protection of a wet fire protection system without the difficulties
that may be
encountered with a wet system, e.g., leakage or unexpected expulsion of water
from the
sprinklers.
Moreover, by virtue of applicant's discovery, individuals associated with
residential fire protection are now able to specify a design protection area
and determine
at least the following design parameters for the specified design protection
area: (1)
which specific sprinklers are suitable for use with the same quantity of
sprinklers for wet
or dry residential fire sprinklers; (2) the types of ceiling consonant with
the specified
sprinkler; (3) the specified coverage areas for each type of ceiling over a
protection area;
(4) the flow rate and residual pressure for each specified coverage area in
each type of
ceiling over a protection area; for each of wet or dry pipe systems; and (5)
the type of
fire-resistant plastic components. And these individuals are now able to
obtain the
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
parameters identified above in a suitable communication medium that would
facilitate the
design process for these individuals. For example, as shown in Figures 2A and
2B, the
communication media can be a computer with a graphical user interface.
Referring to Figures 2A and 2B, a user can load a program into a communication
medium (e.g., a computer 200) that embodies appropriate computational engines
such as,
for example, a database of operational characteristics of residential fire
sprinklers. The
computer 200 would receive appropriate operational parameters of an area to be
protected
for a residential application and would provide appropriate selections (via
dialogs 202,
204, 206, 208 or a menu) of residential fire sprinklers suitable for at least
a dry pipe
system of such residential application. By way of example, the user can select
from a
menu or provide arbitrary values of an actual protection area and various
parameters of
such area (e.g., obstructions or ceiling offset) in a dialog type entry;
select the type of
sprinkler (e.g., upright, pendent, sidewall, or flush pendent, flush
sidewall); select the
appropriate nominal rated K-factor; and select either or both wet and dry pipe
systems.
Once the appropriate parameters have been entered into the computer, the
computational
engines programmed into the computer are then used to provide the user with a
choice of
residential fire sprinklers appropriate for such design, such as, for example,
the
identification of appropriate sprinklers, the quantity of sprinklers necessary
for both wet
or dry pipe system.
The user can obtain graphical tabulations of design parameters for both wet
and
dry pipe residential systems in a different communication medium. In a paper
medium,
the design parameters can be tabulated as appropriate for the type of design
protection
area based on any suitable lead criterion. The lead criterion is chosen to be
the type of
ceiling. Based on this lead criterion, the design parameters are then provided
to the user
in the form of maximum coverage area; maximum spacing between sprinklers;
spacing
between deflector of sprinkler to ceiling; and flow rate with residual
pressure required for
these design parameters. As another example, the lead criterion can be the
type of
sprinkler (e.g., upright, pendent, sidewall) so that the appropriate
tabulation of design
parameters consonant with the lead criterion can be provided. Hence, the lead
criterion
can be selected from any of the design parameters and the appropriate design
parameters
consonant with the lead criterion can be tabulated and provided in a suitable
communication medium. Although one electronic communication medium has been
described, other communication mediums are also suitable, such as, for
example, an
31
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
- ------ -a -
internet terminal, a voice prompt wireless communication medium (e.g.,
cellular
telephone) or voice prompt toll-free wire communication (e.g., land line
telephone).
Alternatively, the communication medium could be paper.
Regardless of the particularity of the communication medium, the medium would
preferably include an identification of fire protection information, such as,
for example,
(1) at least one type of fire sprinkler for each of the plurality of protected
areas; (2) a
plurality of areas to be protected in the dwelling unit, each of the plurality
of design
protection areas having a dimension of X by Y, wherein X is any value from 10
feet to 20
feet and Y is any value from 10 feet to 24 feet; and (3) a plurality of
minimum flow rates
and residual pressures for a respective plurality of areas. The communication
medium
would also include a description of wet and dry pipe residential fire
sprinkler networks
that directs a user to design a residential fire protection system with the
same quantity of
the at least one residential fire sprinkler in one of wet or dry pipe system
in a dwelling
unit based on the identification of fire protection information such as, for
example, a
calculation to determine the quantity of residential fire sprinklers.
The identification of fire protection information can also include information
of
protection areas in relation to at least one of the following: (a) type of
ceiling over the
design protection area such as, for example, generally flat, sloped, or beamed
ceiling; (b)
spacing between any two of the at least one type of residential fire
sprinklers; (c) rated K-
factor of the at least one type of fire sprinkler such as a nominal rated K-
factor of 4 or 5;
(d) minimum flow rate per sprinkler such as, for example, a plurality of flow
rates for a
pendent type residential sprinkler with a rated K-factor of 4.9 when coupled
to at least
one dry pipe of the network of pipes in one of the plurality of design
protection areas
having a variety of ceiling configurations; and (e) the material for various
components of
the fire protection system such as, for example, CPVC pipes and fittings.
The description provided above can be used to design a residential fire
protection
system. Referring to Figure 3A, a first preferred embodiment of such
residential fire
protection system is illustrated in schematic form. In particular, the liquid
supply source
10 is in fluid communication with the supply control valve 20 via the riser
18. A drain
line 16, with a test port fitting 16a, can be coupled in fluid communication
with the main
pipe 22 with a normally-closed drain valve 19 to drain 19. The supply control
valve 20 is
in fluid communication via main pipe 22 with an inlet 30a of the control valve
30 (e.g., a
dry pipe valve). Downstream of the control valve 30, a main pipe 23 and a gas
pipe 26 is
32
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
in fluid communication with an outlet 30b of the control valve 30. The gas
pipe 26 is in
fluid communication with a pressurized gas source 28. A check valve 28a can be
provided proximate the gas source 28 to prevent influx of liquid. A relief
valve 28b can
also be provided downstream of the gas source 28 to prevent over-
pressurization of the
gas pipe 26. A drain 32 with a normally-closed drain valve 34 can also be
coupled for
fluid communication with the gas pipe 26. Optionally, a control valve 36 can
be provided
downstream of the gas pipe 26. An alarm device 38 can also be provided to
signal the
actuation of the control valve or one of the residential fire sprinklers. The
alarm device
38 can be a device responsive to the presence of liquid in the main pipe 23,
such as, for
example, an electronic device that senses the presence of liquid and provide
human-
perceivable signals (light or noise) or a mechanical device that provides an
alarm actuated
by the pressure of water flowing through the main pipe 23.
In operation of the first preferred embodiment, the supply control valve 20 is
placed in a closed position to prevent a flow of liquid to the main pipe 22.
The control
valve 30 is configured in a closed position with the gas in the gas pipe 26 is
preferably
pressurized to about 1/6 of the pressure of the liquid in the liquid supply
source 10. The
gas flows from the gas supply 28 through line 26, main pipe 23, branch lines
22a, and the
body of each unactuated residential fire sprinklers. Once a predetermined gas
pressure
(e.g., 28-34 psig) is reached as indicated by gauge 24, the supply control
valve 20 is
opened, thereby allowing liquid to flow into the inlet 30a of the control
valve 30 but not
to main line 23. At this point, the system 100 is in a standby mode because
the system
100 is now filled with pressurized gas while liquid is prevented from entering
the main
line 23. When a residential fire sprinkler is actuated, the gas in the main
pipe 23 and
branch lines 22a and 22b is expelled through the actuated residential fire
sprinkler. This
reduction in gas pressure causes the control valve 30 to open, allowing liquid
to flow
through the main line 23, branch lines 22a, 22b and to at least the actuated
residential fire
sprinkler, which distributes the liquid in a predetermined density over an
area to protected
from a fire in a compartment of a residential dwelling unit within a
predetermined time
period elapsing from the actuation of the residential fire sprinkler. Due to
the flow of
liquid through the control valve 30, the alarm device 38 is actuated to
provide a signal
indicative of the actuation of the fire protection system 100.
Referring to Figure 3B, a second preferred embodiment of a residential fire
protection system is illustrated in schematic form. In particular, the liquid
supply source
33
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
is in fluid communication with the supply control valve 20 via the riser 18. A
drain
line 16, with a test port fitting 16a, can be coupled in fluid communication
with the main
pipe 22 with a normally-closed drain valve 19 to drain 19a. The supply control
valve 20
is in fluid communication via main pipe 22 with an inlet 30a of the control
valve 30 (e.g.,
5 an electromagnetically actuated valve). Downstream of the control valve 30,
a main pipe
23 and a gas pipe 26 is in fluid communication with an outlet 30b of the
control valve 30.
Preferably, each of the inlet 30a and outlet 30b has an opening with a nominal
internal
diameter less than two inches. The gas pipe 26 is in fluid communication with
a
pressurized gas source 28. A check valve 28a can be provided proximate the gas
source
10 28 to prevent influx of liquid. A relief valve 28b can also be provided
downstream of the
gas source 28 to prevent over-pressurization of the gas pipe 26. A sensor 27
can be used
to detect a change in gas pressure in the branch lines of the piping network.
The sensor
27 can be set to one of various threshold pressures, at which threshold value
will cause
the sensor 27 to provide an output signal 1. Where the sensor 27 is configured
as a
switching relay with a sensor, the sensor 27 can be used to energize the
electromagnetic
valve 30 towards an open position. Alternatively, the sensor 27 can be
configured to
provide a signal 1 to a releasing control panel RCP, which determines when to
actuate the
control valve 30 via signal line 3. A drain 32 with a normally-closed drain
valve 34 can
also be coupled for fluid communication with the gas pipe 26. Optionally, a
control valve
36 can be provided downstream of the gas pipe 26. An alarm device 38 can also
be
provided to signal the actuation of the control valve or one of the
residential fire
sprinklers. The alarm device 38 can be a device responsive to the presence of
liquid in
the main pipe 23, such as, for example, an electronic device that senses the
presence of
liquid and provide human-perceivable signals (light or noise) or a mechanical
device that
provides an alarm actuated by the pressure of water flowing through the main
pipe 23.
Where the sensor 27 is configured as a relay, the alarm 3 8 can be coupled to
the sensor 27
so that the sensor 27 actuates both the control valve 30 and the alarm device
38. Where a
releasing control panel RCP is utilized, the RCP can provide a separate signal
via signal
line 2 to the alarm device 38.
In operation of the second preferred embodiment, the supply control valve 20
is
placed in a closed position to prevent a flow of liquid to the main pipe 22.
Due to its
configuration as a normally closed valve, i.e., a valve that occludes flow in
the absence of
any actuation signal, the control valve 30 occludes water from flowing through
the valve
34
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
30 to the pipe 23. Gas, on the other hand, is permitted to flow from the gas
supply 28
through line 26, main pipe 23, branch lines 22a, and the body of each
unactuated
residential fire sprinklers. Once a predetermined gas pressure (e.g., 28-34
psig) is
reached as indicated by gauge 24, the supply control valve 20 can be opened,
thereby
allowing liquid to flow into the inlet 30a of the control valve 30 but not to
main line 23.
At this point, the system 100 is in a standby mode because the system 100 is
now filled
with pressurized gas while liquid is prevented from entering the main line 23.
When a
residential fire sprinkler is actuated, the gas in the main pipe 23 and branch
lines 22a and
22b is expelled through the actuated residential fire sprinkler. This
reduction in gas
pressure is detected by sensor 27 which, depending on the configuration of the
sensor 27,
can either actuate the control valve 30 directly towards an open position or
send a signal
to the RCP, which can be configured or programmed to determine a suitable time
frame at
which to actuate control valve 30 towards an open position. Once the control
valve 30 is
opened, gas is expelled and liquid flows through the main line 23, branch
lines 22a, 22b
and to at least the actuated residential fire sprinkler, which distributes the
liquid in a
predetermined density over an area to protected from a fire in a compartment
of a
residential dwelling unit within a predetermined time period elapsing from the
actuation
of the residential fire sprinkler. The alarm device 3 8 can also be actuated
directly by the
sensor 27 or indirectly via the releasing control panel RCP to provide a
signal indicative
of the reduction in gas pressure and hence the actuation of the fire
protection system 100.
Referring to Figure 3C, a third preferred embodiment of a residential fire
protection system is illustrated in schematic form. In particular, the liquid
supply source
10 is in fluid communication with the supply control valve 20 via the riser
18. A drain
line 16, with a test port fitting 16a, can be coupled in fluid communication
with the main
pipe 22 with a normally-closed drain valve 19 to drain 19a. The supply control
valve 20
is in fluid communication via main pipe 22 with an inlet 30a of the control
valve 30 (e.g.,
an electromagnetically or solenoid actuated valve). Downstream of the control
valve 30,
a main pipe 23 and a gas pipe 26 is in fluid communication with an outlet 30b
of the
control valve 30. Preferably, each of the inlet 30a and outlet 30b has an
opening with a
nominal internal diameter less than two inches. The gas pipe 26 is in fluid
communication with a pressurized gas source 28. A check valve 28a can be
provided
proximate the gas source 28 to prevent influx of liquid into the gas source
28. A relief
valve 28b can also be provided downstream of the gas source 28 to prevent
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
over-pressurization of the gas pipe 26. A sensor 27 can be used to detect a
change in gas
pressure in the branch lines of the piping network. The sensor 27 can be set
to one of
various threshold pressures, at which threshold value will cause the sensor 27
to provide
an output signal 2. The sensor 27 can be configured to provide a signal 2 to a
releasing
control panel RCP, which determines when to actuate the control valve 30 via
signal line
3. A fire detection device 29 that detects the occurrence of smoke, heat or
flame 102 (to
indicate the occurrence of a fire) is coupled to the releasing control panel
via signal line 4.
An alarm 38 is coupled to the RCP via signal line 3. The RCP can be coupled to
a remote
monitoring station via signal lines 5 or through a suitable communication
interface such
as, for example, telephone, wireless digital communication or via an internet
connection.
The RCP can be used to actuate an alarm device 38 or the control valve 20
based on a
combination of either the signal 2 from the pressure switch sensor 27 or a
fire detection
device 29 via signal 4. Alternatively, the RCP can actuate the alarm device 38
and the
control valve 20 based on both signals from the sensor 27 and device 29 or one
of the
signals from the sensor 27 or device 29. A drain 32 with a normally-closed
drain valve
34 can also be coupled for fluid communication with the gas pipe 26.
Optionally, a
control valve 36 can be provided downstream of the gas pipe 26.
In operation of the third preferred embodiment, the supply control valve 20 is
placed in a closed position to prevent a flow of liquid to the main pipe 22.
Due to its
configuration as a normally closed valve, i.e., a valve that occludes flow in
the absence of
any actuation signal, the control valve 30 occludes water from flowing through
the valve
to the pipe 23. Gas, on the other hand, is permitted to flow from the gas
supply 28
through line 26, main pipe 23, branch lines 22a, and the body of each
unactuated
residential fire sprinklers. Once a predetermined gas pressure (e.g., 28-34
psig) is
25 reached as indicated by gauge 24, the supply control valve 20 is opened,
thereby allowing
liquid to flow into the inlet 30a of the control valve 30 but not to main line
23. At this
point, the system 100 is in a standby mode because the system 100 is now
filled with
pressurized gas while liquid is prevented from entering the main line 23. When
a
residential fire sprinkler is actuated, the gas in the main pipe 23 and branch
lines 22a, 22b
30 is expelled through the actuated residential fire sprinkler. This reduction
in gas pressure
is detected by sensor 27 which sends a signal to the RCP. In a preferred
embodiment, the
RCP can be configured or programmed to determine a suitable time fiame at
which to
actuate control valve 30 towards an open position such as, for example, in a
time frame
36
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
prior to the actuation of any residential fire sprinkler so as to fill the
main and branch
lines with liquid (i.e., to "preactuate" the fire protection system).
Alternatively, the RCP
can delay the actuation of control valve 30 until the receipt of signals from
the fire
detection device 29. Yet in a further alternative, the RCP can delay the
actuation of
control valve until both the sensor 27 and device 29 are activated with
supervisory control
from a monitoring station via signal lines 5. Once the control valve 30 is
opened, gas is
expelled and liquid flows through the main line 23, branch lines 22a, 22b and
to at least
the actuated residential fire sprinkler, which distributes the liquid in a
predetermined
density over an area to protected from a fire in a compartment of a
residential dwelling
unit within a predetermined time period elapsing from the actuation of the
residential fire
sprinkler. The alarm device 38 can also be actuated directly by the sensor 27
or indirectly
via the releasing control panel RCP to provide a signal indicative of the
actuation of the
fire protection system 100.
Referring again to Figure 3C, an alternate example of the third preferred
embodiment of a residential fire protection system will now be described. In
particular,
the liquid supply source 10 is in fluid communication with the supply control
valve 20 via
the riser 18. A drain line 16, with a test port fitting 16a, can be coupled in
fluid
communication with the main pipe 22 with a normally-closed drain valve 19 to
drain 19a.
The supply control valve 20 is in fluid communication via main pipe 22 with an
inlet 30a
of the control valve 30 (e.g., an electromagnetically or solenoid actuated
valve).
Downstream of the control valve 30, a main pipe 23 and a gas pipe 26 is in
fluid
communication with an outlet 30b of the control valve 30. Preferably, each of
the inlet
30a and outlet 30b has an opening with a nominal internal diameter less than
two inches.
The gas pipe 26 is in fluid communication with a pressurized gas source 28. A
check
valve 28a can be provided proximate the gas source 28 to prevent influx of
liquid into the
gas source 28. A relief valve 28b can also be provided downstream of the gas
source 28
to prevent over-pressurization of the gas pipe 26. A sensor 27 can be used to
detect a
change in gas pressure in the branch lines of the piping network. The sensor
27 can be set
to one of various threshold pressures, at which threshold value will cause the
sensor 27 to
provide an output signal 2. The sensor 27 can be configured to provide a
signal 2 to a
releasing control panel RCP, which determines when to actuate the control
valve 30 via
signal line 3. A fire detection device 29 that detects the occurrence of
smoke, heat or
flame 102 (to indicate the occurrence of a fire) is coupled to the releasing
control panel
37
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
via signal line 4. The fire detection device 29 is preferably located such
that the device
29 is capable of detecting the fire 102 prior to the actuation of any of the
residential fire
sprinkler by the fire 102. An alarm 38 is coupled to the RCP via signal line
3. The RCP
can be coupled to a remote monitoring station via signal lines 5 or through a
suitable
communication interface such as, for example, telephone, wireless digital
communication
or via an internet connection. The RCP can be used to actuate an alarm device
38 or the
control valve 20 based on a combination of either the signal 2 from the
pressure switch
sensor 27 or a fire detection device 29 via signal 4. Alternatively, the RCP
can actuate
the alarm device 38 and the control valve 20 based on both signals from the
sensor 27 and
device 29 or one of the signals from the sensor 27 or device 29. A drain 32
with a
normally-closed drain valve 34 can also be coupled for fluid communication
with the gas
pipe 26. Optionally, a control valve 36 can be provided downstream of the gas
pipe 26.
In operation of the alternate third preferred embodiment, the supply control
valve
is placed in a closed position to prevent a flow of liquid to the main pipe
22. Due to its
15 configuration as a normally closed valve, i.e., a valve that occludes flow
in the absence of
any actuation signal, the control valve 30 occludes water from flowing through
the valve
to the pipe 23. Gas, on the other hand, is permitted to flow from the gas
supply 28
through line 26, main pipe 23, branch lines 22a, and the body of each
unactuated
residential fire sprinklers. Once a predetermined gas pressure (e.g., 28-34
psig) is
20 reached as indicated by gauge 24, the supply control valve 20 is opened,
thereby allowing
liquid to flow into the inlet 30a of the control valve 30 but not to main line
23. At this
point, the system 100 is in a standby mode because the system 100 is now
filled with
pressurized gas while liquid is prevented from entering the main line 23.
When gas pressure in the network of pipes is reduced below a threshold value
due
25 to fault in the system such as, for example, leaks in the valve, piping or
defective fire
sprinklers, the system is configured, i.e., "interlocked" to prevent the flow
of liquid
through the network of pipes, which could cause damage to the compartments of
the
residential dwelling unit. In particular, the reduction in the gas pressure is
detected by
sensor 27 and provided to the RCP in the absence of any detection by the fire
detection
30 device 29 of a fire. In such case, the control valve 30 is interlocked by a
single device
(e.g., fire detector 29), i.e., a "single interlock" to prevent the flow of
liquid through the
network of pipes. Alternatively, the control valve 30 is interlocked by two
devices (e.g.,
fire detector 29 and sensor 27), i.e., a "double-interlock" to prevent the
flow of liquid
38
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
through the network of pipes. In a preferred embodiment, the RCP can be
configured or
programmed to sound a fault-indication signal with alarm 3 8 or to provide a
signal to the
remote monitoring station via signal lines 5 when one or both of the sensor 27
and device
29 are activated.
On the other hand, where the gas pressure in the network of pipes is not below
a
threshold value to indicate the actuation of a residential fire sprinkler but
there is
detection of a fire 102 by the fire detection device 29, the RCP can actuate
the control
valve 30 to provide liquid to the residential fire sprinklers prior to the
actuation of any of
the sprinklers, i.e., a "pre-action" of the sprinklers. Preferably, the RCP
can pre-actuate
the system 100 while also providing an indication of a fire 102 through alarm
device 38
or to a remote monitoring station.
Alternatively, where both signals from the pressure sensor 27 and the fire
detector
29 are provided to the RCP, the RCP can immediately actuate (i.e., "pre-
actuate") the
control valve 30 prior to actuation of any of the residential fire sprinklers.
Yet in a further
alternative, the RCP can delay the actuation of control valve until either or
both the sensor
27 and device 29 are activated with supervisory control from a monitoring
station via
signal lines 5.
Once the control valve 30 is opened, gas can be expelled (via either through
relief
valve 28b or through an actuated residential fire sprinkler) and liquid flows
through the
main line 23, branch lines 22a, 22b so as to prefill the body residential fire
sprinklers with
fire-fighting liquid prior to their actuation. Once actuated, the residential
fire sprinkler
distributes the liquid in a predetermined density over an area to protected
from a fire in a
compartment of a residential dwelling unit within a predetermined time period
elapsing
from the actuation of the residential fire sprinkler.
As installed, suitable residential fire sprinklers described and shown herein
can be
coupled to a dry piping network, which are supplied with a fire-fighting
liquid, e.g., a
water supply, after the sprinkler is activated. Preferred embodiments include
residential
fire sprinklers that are suitable for use such as, for example, with a dry
pipe system (e.g.
that is the entire system is exposed to freezing temperatures in an unheated
portion of a
building) or a wet pipe system (e.g. the sprinkler extends into an unheated
portion of a
building).
While the present invention has been disclosed with reference to certain
embodiments, numerous modifications, alterations, and changes to the described
39
CA 02575281 2007-01-25
WO 2006/014906 PCT/US2005/026405
embodiments are possible without departing from the sphere and scope of the
present
invention, as defined in the appended claims. Accordingly, it is intended that
the present
invention not be limited to the described embodiments, but that it has the
full scope
defined by the language of the following claims, and equivalents thereof.
