Automatic fire sprinkler systems standard

. Automatic fire sprinkler systems standard

12 November 2013

The New Zealand standard for automatic fire sprinklers, NZS 4541:2007, has undergone a limited technical review and has now been published by Standards New Zealand as NZS 4541:2013 Automatic fire sprinkler systems.

NZS 4541 Automatic fire sprinkler systems covers the design, installation, and maintenance of sprinkler systems so that systems reliably achieve their fire control functions – that the fire should be controlled within a specified area and that control should be achieved before levels of toxic by-products of combustion become life threatening. NZS 4541 is referenced in the Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations 2006, the Building Regulations 1992, and in Clause C Protection from fire and Clause F7 Warning systems of the Compliance Documents to the New Zealand Building Code, and is used extensively across the fire protection industry.

The significant changes to the standard include the following:

1. Storage occupancies

Part 9 of the standard has been significantly revised to reflect the latest full-scale fire research and testing for storage occupancies. The development of technology to reflect the latest fire testing and research has led to superior fire suppression characteristics. This has resulted in more cost effective sprinkler systems, by minimising the need for in-rack sprinkler heads in most applications. Additional cost savings will be possible due to reduced water storage volume requirements.

2. Learnings from the Canterbury earthquakes

The adequacy of the provisions for seismic resilience of the existing sprinkler standard was studied following the September 2010 and February 2011 Canterbury earthquakes. The revised standard has reinforced the need to meet the seismic provisions of the New Zealand Building Code for water storage tanks. The benefit is that there will be greater surety that the sprinkler system can be relied on to function should a fire occur following an earthquake.

The revised standard also reminds users to take into account the need to ensure that the sprinkler system and ceilings are designed to account for earthquakes.

3. Routine testing, maintenance, and inspection requirements

The committee had a number of concerns with maintenance practices in the field – it was clear NZS 4541:2007 was often not being followed and some omissions were potentially critical. This has resulted in a number of changes to the provisions for testing, maintaining, and inspecting sprinkler systems. There is now a clear signal that there will be a greater scrutiny on compliance and more detailed guidance has been provided, with emphasis on having the correct supporting documentation.

In addition, some changes reflect the pragmatism of carrying out some of the previously specified requirements. Whilst the majority of changes are relatively minor in nature, they are significantly important in terms of correct sprinkler system operation in the event of fire.

4. Sprinkler protection in certain small buildings used only for community purposes

This edition of the standard introduces the ability to reduce the cost of sprinkler systems for certain small buildings such as churches, marae, sports clubs, and simple buildings owned or used for community purposes.

The cost reduction will come at the price of reduced reliability. On that basis, the reduced standard will only be suitable for buildings not requiring a sprinkler system for New Zealand Building Code compliance.

It is anticipated that this change will ensure a greater number of buildings used for community, cultural, religious, or heritage purposes that would not normally be sprinkler protected, are protected.

5. Minor items

Many small amendments have been made to the standard to reflect experiences and issues reported by users of the standard, including formal interpretations published by Standards New Zealand’s Fixed Fire Protection Group.

It is intended that the supporting documents to the New Zealand Building Code and the Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations will reference this edition of the standard, NZS 4541:2013, as a means of compliance. This is subject to:

• publication of an amendment to the supporting documents to the NZBC Clause C Protection from fire
•
• an amendment to the Fire Safety and Evacuation of Buildings Regulations.

ends

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