Sprinkler K factor
Sprinkler K factor
(OP)
Question Can you install Different k factor heads with the same RTI and degree in the same compartment? I have always went with the same K factor and degree and response tone had to be installed in the same compartment. I am seeing more and more mixed EC heads k11- K14 in the same room or hallway as 5.6 heads . The heads are seeing each other too. I just cant find inn the code book that you can or cant instill different k factor heads in the same area?





RE: Sprinkler K factor
RE: Sprinkler K factor
RE: Sprinkler K factor
RE: Sprinkler K factor
You can mix orifice sizes and we all often do and as an example I will point to a residential system having a NFPA #13 system where we use 4.3 residential sprinklers in the dwelling unit and 5.6 standard spray quick response in the hallways.
On page 1027 of the 2013 handbook:
What you can't do is the little trick of installing sprinklers with lower k-factors on a branch line of a tree system closer to the cross main which was done back in the early 1970's when calculations first came out but the rectangular area wasn't defined yet.
Used to be we would calculate all the sprinklers on the branch line so if you had a branch line with 15 sprinklers (8 on one side and 7 the other) would would calculate all these sprinklers and we got cute by putting smaller orifice sprinklers in closer to the crossmain riser nipple. Hey, we're talking a long, long time ago when my favorite pipe size to use was 3 1/2" sch. 10.
RE: Sprinkler K factor
Thank you for the feed back. I understand what your saying
What I mean is in the same room can you have sprinkler heads that are EC and standard spray heads? Even though they are both QR. Meaning EC 14,and 5.6 k factor?
I don't see how that can be precode or if your adding Sprinker coverage to a existing stright Corridor and the existing heads are standard spary 5.6k heads and you leve them installed and as the existing hallway corridor get extended and you use EC14 K head for the new extended Corridor and there is no change in the ceiling height so what you have is EC14 heads and standard 5.6 spray heads in the same compartment =line of sight This Corridor is stright no change in direction. Do you know if NFPA notes that you can not mix K factorhheads in the same compartment? Thank you again for you time
RE: Sprinkler K factor
Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com