Ceiling-only dry sprinkler systems and methods for addressing a storage occupancy fire

A dry ceiling-only storage occupancy fire protection system comprising:na grid of upright control mode sprinklers defining a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from about eight feet to ten feet (8 ft-10 ft.) so as to define a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.), each sprinkler including:na sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of at least 25;a closure assembly including a plug;a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., anda deflector coupled to the body and spaced from the outlet, the deflector having a perimeter portion and a central portion with the perimeter portion including a plurality of spaced apart segments and the central portion being spaced further from the outlet than the perimeter portion, the system further comprisinga network of pipes including at least one main pipe and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines interconnecting the grid of upright control mode sprinklers, the network of pipes being filled with a pressurized gas and locating the grid of sprinklers relative to a fluid source in which about twenty-two to about twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in the grid of sprinklers define a hydraulic design area of the system, the network of pipes delivering upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler, a minimum operating pressure ranging from about fifteen pounds per square inch to about twenty pounds per square inch (15-20 psi.) of fluid from the fluid source to each of the hydraulically remote sprinklers within twenty-five to thirty seconds (25-30 sec.) to protect a commodity of any one of Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty-five feet to forty-five feet (35 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about forty feet (30 ft.-40 ft.) and maintaining a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage.

The system of any one of claims 1 and 16, wherein the nominal K-factor is one of 25 and 28.

A method of dry ceiling-only fire protection for a storage occupancy the method comprising:nidentifying a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.) of a ceiling of the storage occupancy in which to store a commodity of any one of Class I, II and III beneath the ceiling, the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about forty feet (30 ft-40 ft.) and maintaining a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage; andverifying that a network of pipes in a dry ceiling-only fire protection system that includes at least one main pipe coupled to a fluid source and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines delivers a minimum operating pressure ranging from about fifteen pounds per square inch to about forty-five pounds per square inch (15 psi. to 45 psi.) of fluid from a fluid source to at least one hydraulically remote sprinkler defining a hydraulic design area of the system within 25 seconds upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler, the hydraulic design area being defined by about twenty-two to twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in a grid of sprinklers coupled to the branch lines, the grid of sprinklers having a maximum sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from eight feet to ten feet (8 ft-10 ft.) with each sprinkler having a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.) and including a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of at least 25, a closure assembly including a plug, a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., and a deflector coupled to the body so as to be spaced adjacent the outlet for distribution of fluid, the deflector defining an upright configuration of the sprinkler, the deflector having a perimeter portion and a central portion spaced axially further from the outlet than the perimeter portion, the perimeter portion having a plurality of spaced apart segments.

A method of protecting a commodity of any one of: Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about thirty-five feet (30 ft-35 ft.) and maintaining a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the method comprises:nproviding a plurality of upright sprinklers, each of the sprinklers including a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of at least 25, a closure assembly including a plug, a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., and a deflector for distribution of fluid being coupled to the body spaced adjacent the outlet, the deflector defining a concave member relative to the outlet body, the deflector having a perimeter portion and a central portion spaced axially further from the outlet than the perimeter portion, the perimeter portion being defined by a plurality of spaced apart segments of the deflector; andinterconnecting the plurality of sprinklers with a network of pipes to define a grid of sprinklers having a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from about eight feet to ten feet (8 ft-10 ft.) with a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.) for a commodity of at least Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about forty feet (30 ft-40 ft.) and maintaining a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the interconnecting includes interconnecting the plurality of sprinklers with at least one main pipe and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines filled with a pressurized gas so as locate the grid of sprinklers relative to a fluid source such that about twenty-two to about twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in the grid of sprinklers define a hydraulic design area of the system where upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler, a minimum operating pressure ranging from about fifteen pounds per square inch to about twenty pounds per square inch (15-20 psi.) of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to each of the hydraulically remote sprinklers within twenty-five to thirty seconds (25-30 sec.).

A method of supplying storage fire protection of a commodity of any one of Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about thirty-five feet (30 ft-35 ft.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the method comprises:nmanufacturing a plurality of upright sprinklers, each of the sprinklers including a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of 25, a closure assembly including a plug, a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., and a deflector coupled to the body so as to be spaced adjacent the outlet for distribution of fluid to define an upright configuration of the sprinkler; andproviding the plurality of sprinklers for installation in a dry-pipe sprinkler system with a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from about eight feet to ten feet (8 ft-10 ft.) so as to define a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.) for a commodity of at least Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about forty feet (30 ft-40 ft.) for a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the installation in the dry-pipe sprinkler system including at least one main pipe and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines filled with a pressurized gas so as locate the plurality of sprinklers relative to a fluid source such that about twenty-two to about twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in the grid of sprinklers define a hydraulic design area of the system where upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler a minimum operating of about fifteen to about twenty pounds per square inch (15-20 psi.) of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to each of the hydraulically remote sprinklers within twenty-five to thirty seconds (25-30 sec.).

A dry ceiling-only storage occupancy fire protection system comprising:na grid of pendant control mode sprinklers defining a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing of ranging from about eight feet to ten feet (8 ft-10 ft.) so as to define a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.), each sprinkler including:na sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of at least 25;a closure assembly including a plug;a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., anda deflector coupled to the body and spaced from the outlet, the deflector having a perimeter portion and a central portion with the perimeter portion including a plurality of spaced apart segments and the central portion being spaced further from the outlet than the perimeter portion, the system further comprisinga network of pipes including at least one main pipe and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines interconnecting the grid of pendant control mode sprinklers, the network of pipes being filled with a pressurized gas and locating the grid of sprinklers relative to a fluid source in which about twenty-two to about twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in the grid of sprinklers define a hydraulic design area of the system, the network of pipes delivering upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler, a minimum operating pressure ranging from about fifteen pounds per square inch (15 psi.) to about twenty pounds per square inch (20 psi.) of fluid from the fluid source to each of the hydraulically remote sprinklers within twenty-five to thirty seconds (25-30 sec.) to protect a commodity of any one of Class I, Class II, and Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty-five feet to forty-five feet (35 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a maximum storage height ranging from about thirty feet to about forty feet (30 ft.-40 ft.) and maintaining a minimum deflector-to-storage clearance of at least thirty-six inches (36 in.), the storage having a configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage.

A method of protecting a commodity of Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a storage configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the method comprising:nproviding a plurality of control mode sprinklers, each of the sprinklers including a sprinkler body having an inlet and an outlet with a passageway disposed therebetween defining a nominal K-factor of 25 or greater, each sprinkler further including a closure assembly, a thermally rated trigger assembly to support the closure assembly adjacent the outlet of the sprinkler body, the trigger assembly having a temperature rating of about 286° F., and a deflector spaced adjacent the outlet to define a upright configuration of the sprinkler;interconnecting the plurality of sprinklers with a network of pipes to define a grid of sprinklers having a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from eight feet to twelve feet (8 ft.-12 ft.) so as to define a coverage area per sprinkler ranging from about eighty square feet (80 sq. ft.) to about one hundred square feet (100 sq. ft.) for a commodity of Class III stored beneath a ceiling having a maximum ceiling height ranging from thirty feet to forty-five feet (30 ft.-45 ft.), the commodity having a storage configuration of any one of rack, palletized, bin box, and shelf storage, the rack storage being any one of single-row, double-row and multi-row rack storage, the interconnecting includes interconnecting the plurality of sprinklers with at least one main pipe and a plurality of spaced apart branch lines filled with a gas of pressurized air or nitrogen so as locate the grid of sprinklers relative to a fluid source such that about twenty-two to twenty-six (22-26) hydraulically remote sprinklers in the grid of control mode sprinklers define a hydraulic design area of the system where upon activation of a first hydraulically remote sprinkler a minimum operating pressure ranging from about fifteen to about forty-five pounds per square inch (15 psi. to 45 psi.) of fluid from the fluid source is delivered to each of the hydraulically remote sprinklers within twenty-five to thirty seconds (25-30 sec.).