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TCVN 7336:2003

VIETNAM STANDARDS TCVN 7336:2003

Fire Protection – Automatic Sprinkler Systems – Design and Installation Requirements

1 Scope of application

This Standard specifies requirements for design and installation of automatic fire-fighting
sprinkler systems with water and foam (hereinafter called as sprinkler system) in new or
refurbished construction buildings.

This Standard is also applied for sprinkler-control drencher systems, fire-detectors,


automatic controls or manual controls.

This Standard is not applied for fire-fighting systems for:

- Buildings with special functions and engineering equipment outside such


buildings.
- Underground chambers of mine-ores industry
- Warehouses with commodities piled up on shelves higher than 5.5m.
- Fuel tanks

2. Extracted standards

TCVN 4756-89 Norms of electric equipment grounding and airing.

TCVN 5738:2001 Automatic fire-alarming system – Technical requirements

TCVN 6305-1:1997 (ISO 6182-1:1993) Fire fighting and protection – Automatic


sprinkler system – Section 1: Requirements and testing methods for sprinklers

TCVN 6305-2:1997 (ISO 6182-2:1993) Fire fighting and protection – Automatic


sprinkler systems – Section 2: Requirements and testing methods for wet-typed alarm
valves, stoppage chamber and water-type alarm mechanisms.

TCVN 6305-3:1997 (ISO 6182-3:1993) Fire fighting and protection – Automatic


sprinkler system – Section 3: Requirements and testing methods for dry pipe valves.

TCVN 7336 : 2003 – This Standard

TCVN 6305-4:1997 (ISO 6182-4:1993) Fire fighting and protection – Automatic


sprinkler system – Section 3: Requirements and testing methods for quick open valve
mechanism.

TCVN 6305-5:1997 (ISO 6182-5:1993) Fire fighting and protection – Automatic


sprinkler system – Section 3: Requirements and testing methods for overflow valves.

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3 Terminology and definitions

This Standard applies the terminology and definitions in TCVN 6305:1997

4 General regulations

4.1 The fire-fighting systems designed according to this Standard shall have manual
control.

4.2 The sprinkler system shall be so designed that they can perform both fire-fighting
function and automatic fire-alarming function.

4.3 The sprinkler systems shall be designed on the technical basis of the production line
which requires protection and economic-technical norms.

5 Classification of sprinkler system and design data

5.1 System classification

The sprinkler system is classified on the basis of fire-incur risk rate at the building
facility and called accordingly (see 5.2) as follows:

- System for low fire-rate building


- System for average fire-rate building
- System for high fire-rate building

5.2 Building classification according to fire rates

The building classification according to fire rates is stipulated in Appendix A. Appendix


A is not a complete list. When designing a building protection sprinkler system which is
not included in Appendix A, such building shall be converted to another listed item
which during fire situations similar status is shown. However, this should be confirmed
by an authority prior to designing sprinkler system.

5.2 Types of systems

Types of sprinkler systems stipulated in this Standard are standard sprinkler systems and
drencher systems.

5.3.1 Standard sprinkler system

The standard sprinkler systems comprise the following:

- Wet pipework
- Alternately wet and dry pipework
- Either wet pipework or alternately wet & dry pipework, combined with the
ending part of dry pipework system.
- Wet pipework combined with ending part of alternate wet & dry pipework
system.
- Dry pipework.
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- Pre-activating system.

5.3.1.1 Wet pipework system

Wet pipework system is a standard sprinkler system which is frequently filled with water,
having pressure at both upper and lower sides of the wet pipework alarm valve.

The wet pipework system shall be installed in buildings where there are no risks of water
getting frozen in the pipes. If this condition is not ensured everywhere in the building,
then at the locations where freeze may occur it is possible to combine the wet pipework
with the ending part of the alternate wet & dry pipework, on the condition that the
number of sprinklers therein shall not exceed the limits stated in 5.3.1.5, otherwise the
whole system installation shall be proceeded as the alternate dry & wet pipework.

The sprinkler in wet pipework can be installed either upwards or downwards.

The wet pipework shall be designed in such a manner that the number of sprinklers
controlled by a valve (including the taps at the extended ending part) shall not exceed
following numbers:

a) for low fire-rate buildings: 500


b) for average and high fire rate buildings (including any sprinklers of low fire rate
system) 1000

When calculating the number of sprinklers in a mixed system including area with low fire
rates, average fire rates and/or high fire rates, the actual number of sprinklers in low fire
rate area shall be doubled. This quantity shall be added to the number of ejectors in
average fire-rate area and/or high fire-rate area and total number of sprinklers shall not
exceed 1000.

For instance, in a system with 600 sprinklers for an average fire-rate area and 200
sprinklers for a low fire-rate area, i.e 800 sprinklers in total, then the number of sprinklers
taken as above required shall be 1000, i.e. 600 + (200 x 2).

Note: Number of sprinklers in confined areas, inside machinery or in similar areas can
be ignored when calculating total number of sprinklers for wet pipework system.

5.3.1.1 Alternate dry & wet pipework

An alternate wet & dry pipework is a standard sprinkler system, including a mixed
alarming valve or a combination including wet pipework alarm valve and dry pipework
alarm valve, of which:

- In winter months, in cold areas where water in pipework can be frozen, the
pipework above the mixed alarm valve or dry pipework alarm valve shall be
fed with compressed air, while the remaining part of the system below the
valve is fed with water under pressure; and

- In other time periods of the year, the system shall work as a wet pipework
system as describe in 5.3.1.1
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The sprinklers shall be installed upwards on the straight line of the pipes in the alternate
dry & wet pipework. This regulation allows exceptions when installing dry pipework
sprinklers downwards with oriented jets or when installing downward standards
sprinklers accompanied with approved anti-freezing component.

The pipework shall be installed with suitable gradient to drain water (see 8.13).

The alternate dry & wet pipework shall be so designed that the maximum number of
sprinklers controlled by a valve, including the sprinklers at the extension ending part (see
5.3.1.4) conform to rules in Table 1.

Table 1 – Number of sprinklers for alternate dry & wet pipework

Condition System with low System with


fire-rate * average and/or
high fire-rate**
With speeder or suction fan 250 500
Without speeder or suction fan 125 250

* For example, in a system with 300 sprinklers for an average fire-rate area and 100 for
a low fire-rate area, the number of sprinklers, according to this standard, instead of
being 400, must be 500, i.e. 300 + (100 x 2).

** When calculating the number of sprinklers in a mixed system, the actual number of
sprinklers in a low fire-rate area shall be doubled.. This quantity shall be added to the
number of sprinklers in average and/or high fire-rate areas and the total number of
sprinklers shall not exceed the number in Column 3.

5.3.1.3 Dry pipework system

A dry pipework system is a standard sprinkler system in which the pipework is frequently
filled with compressed air above the dry pipework alarm valve and filled with water
under pressure below this valve.

Normally, the dry pipework system is only allowed to be installed in the buildings where
temperature condition is maintained as or lower than the freezing temperature of water as
in freezers, animal fur warehouse or at the locations where temperature is maintained
over 70oC as in ovens. When installing dry pipework in other special circumstances,
particular license is required.

The number of sprinklers controlled by one valve in dry pipework shall not exceed the
quantity sated in Table 1 for alternate dry & wet pipework.

The sprinklers shall be installed upwards above the pipes of dry pipework system, except
when the downward sprinklers with oriented jets (see 6.7) are designated for installation
or when the standard downward sprinklers are installed with approved anti-freezing
component.

The pipework shall be installed with suitable gradient to drain water (see 8.13).

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5.3.1.4 Ending section of an alternate dry & wet pipework or dry pipework

These systems in general are similar to the systems described in 5.3.1.1, 5.3.1.2. and
5.3.1.3. except when they are in relatively small size and forming an extended section for
a standard sprinkler system.

These systems are allowed as follows:

(a) as an extended section for wet pipework in:

- relatively small areas where freezing may occur in the buildings which are
suitably heated. In such case the extended system shall be type of alternate dry
& wet system; and

- drying rooms and ovens at high temperature. In such case the extended system
shall be type of dry one.

(b) as an extension for the alternate dry & wet pipework in those ovens or stoves at
high temperature, when the extended pipework operates according to dry pipework
principle.

The sprinklers shall be installed upwards above the pipes in the extended system, except
when the downward sprinklers with oriented jets (see 6.7) are designated for installation
or when the standard downward sprinklers are installed with approved anti-freezing
component.

The number of sprinklers in a group of extended systems controlled by a wet-pipe valve


or alternate dry & wet pipe valve shall not exceed 250 sprinklers, with a number of <100
for any extension systems.

Each extension system shall be equipped with a water-drain valve typed 50mm and a
drainage pipework with water-meter installed above the installation location of the
extended valve.

In order to assist the maintenance of the extended system under pressure, it is allowed to
installed an auxiliary valve right below the extended valve.

5.3.1.5 Extension system filled with anti-freezing solution

These systems are suitable to be installed in small cooling chamber, freezing cabinet and
other areas such as loading ports and annexes in the areas under freezing impacts. These
systems also undertake the assignments as described in 5.3.1.4. The pipes located in
freezing areas shall be filled with an appropriate anti-freezing solution and installed in
such a manner that no water can infiltrate into those areas.

The anti-freezing solution shall have frozen point at least 10oC lower than the lowest
possible temperature in the areas being under freezing impacts. Detailed proposals on
freezing solution shall be submitted to the relevant authority for approval.

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The number of sprinklers in any extension system with anti-freezing solution shall not
exceed 20.

The pipework shall be so arranged that the interface between the anti-freezing solution
and water in wet pipework shall be lower than the connection point to the wet pipework.

Auxiliary stoppage valve (see 5.3.1.4) can be installed in the pipework. Types of valve
and installation requirements are stipulated as follows:

a) Water drainage valve


b) Above testing valve, not lower than 300mm under the water level of wet pipework
system.
c) Below testing valve, not lower than 1.5m under water level of wet pipework.
d) Connection section.
e) Non-return valve. Disk of such valve shall have a hole with diameter of 1mm to
allow the solution to expand once temperature increases and thus prevent sprinkler
from damage. All valves in the pipework shall be covered with metal.

5.3.1.6 Pre-activate system

A pre-activate system is a combination between a standard sprinkler system and an


independent smoke or heat alarming system which has been approved and installed in the
same area as the sprinklers, and therefore a pre-activate valve shall open to supply water
to sprinkler pipework before the first sprinkler starts to operate.

Normally, a sprinkler pipework shall be filled with compressed air and so controlled that
alarming signal will appear once air pressure reduces.

A pre-activate alarm valve which controls water supply shall operate:

- completely by an approved detector to enable the sprinklers to be filled with


water and thus turn to wet pipework, making the protected subject not get wet
as water comes out from the pipework or from the ejector which is having a
mechanical failure; or

- by an approved detector or independently by the operation of an ejector which


discharges gas from pipework, the protected object will actuate the premature
water sprinkling at the ejectors in dry pipework. The operation of sprinkler
system will not be affected by any failure/problem from detectors.

In each case, the detector system will also operate automatically as a fire-alarm system.

The pre-activate system shall be so designed that the number of sprinklers to be


controlled by pre-activate valve shall not exceed the following quantities:

i) for low fire-rate systems 500

ii) for average or high fire-rate systems including the sprinklers in low fire-rate
systems (see note in 5.3.1.1) 1000

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The sprinkler system when installed in places with freezing risks shall be made upwards
while pipework shall be arranged with appropriate gradient to drain water (see 8.13)

All details proposed for the installation of pre-activate system shall be approved by
relevant authority prior to carrying out installation.

5.3.1.7 Circulating pre-activate system

A circulating pre-activate system is the pre-activate system described in 5.3.1.6 with heat
detector, combined with a pre-activate valve which controls flow and is capable to repeat
close/open cycle corresponding to the re-burning in protected areas. The impact of heat
detector, which operates like an interlock, making the flow controlling pre-activate valve
open and close. To ensure safety, the flow-control pre-activate valve shall be close again
after some time delayed for confirmation (normally 5min.) with an automatic timer.
However, if the fire activates the re-operation of the heat detector, then the flow control
pre-activate valve shall immediately re-open and water will spray from the open
sprinklers.

The purpose of the circulating pre-activate system is:

- to avoid damages caused by water once the fire has been extinguished

- to avoid the necessity to close the main valve when executing changes in
pipework or when replacing sprinkler, and

- to avoid damages caused by water when pipework or sprinkler has accidental


mechanical failure.

The maximum number of sprinklers to be controlled by flow-control pre-activate valve


shall be 1000. The sprinklers shall be installed upwards except where the authority
confirms that the system installed in the building is suitably heated. The pipework shall
be arranged with appropriate gradient to drain water (see 8.13)

All details proposed for the installation of circulating pre-activate system shall be
approved by the relevant authority prior to carrying out installation.

5.3.1.8 Installation of fire-alarm sensor (fire detector?)

The installation and interval arrangement of fire/heat detectors in pre-activate and


circulating pre-activate systems shall conform to TCVN 5738:2001.

5.3.2 Flooding system (drencher)

A flooding system is a system consisting of uncovered sprinklers (drenchers) controlled


by a quickly-open valve (flooding valve), to operate due to an approved detector system
or the sprinklers which have been installed in the same area with uncovered sprinklers.

These system are mainly designed for buildings with special fire-rate risks such as the
high fire-rate buildings listed in A.3m where a fire may flare up and spread out quickly.
In such circumstances water should be sprayed simultaneously in the whole area where
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fire may occur by pumping water into the sprinkler or fog-creating ejectors having
average or high velocity.

All details proposed for the installation of drencher system shall be approved by the
relevant authority prior to carrying out installation.

5.4 Design data

5.4.1 Standard sprinkler system

Each standard sprinkler system shall be designed hydraulically based on the


corresponding fire-risk rate in order to ensure suitable sprinkling flow on an assumed
operative area, i.e. the number of sprinklers which may be put into operation in the most
unfavorable zones in term of hydraulics of a protection-required building.

5.4.2 Drencher system

The piping system for fog-creating ejectors shall be calculated in terms of hydraulics as
those systems for high fire-risk (see 5.3.2) in order to ensure that a suitable sprinkling
density is produced by 4 sprinklers of fog-creating ejectors. These ejectors are located at
the most disadvantageous positions in term of hydraulics such as the corners of the area
protected by drencher system when all sprinklers or fog-creating ejectors in the system
operate simultaneously.

6. Fire-fighting water and foam spraying sprinklers

6.1 Subject to room temperature, fire-fighting water and foam spraying sprinklers shall
be designed suitably for rooms having the lowest annual temperature over 4oC.

6.2 The sprinklers shall be designed for one or several fire-fighting units. Each unit
shall have separate control station.

6.3 Each fire-fighting unit shall only be arranged with 800 water or foam spraying
sprinklers at maximum, and total capacity of the foam spraying sprinkler pipes shall
not exceed 2000 liters.

There is no capacity limitation for pipework in a water spraying system.

6.4 Water and foam-creating solution spraying intensity, protection area per 1 sprinkler
or controlling area of a melting lock (?), distance between ejectors or between
melting locks and operation time of water fire-fighting shall be taken according to
Table 2.

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Table 2

Spraying intensity
Area Area to
(designed spraying Max.
protected calculate Fire
density), l/m2.s distance
Group of buildings by 1 water fighting
(mm/min), no less between
and construction sprinkler flow, foam spraying
than sprinklers
works or 1 creating time,
Foam or melting
melting solution, min
Water creating locks, m
lock, m2 m2
solution
0.08
Low fire rate - 12 120 30 4
(4.8)
Average fire rate
Group I 0.12 0.08 12 240 60 4
(7.2) (4.8)
Group II 0.24 0.12 12 240 60 4
(14.4) (7.2)
Group III 0.3 (18) 0.15 (9) 12 360 60 4
Group III (special) ** *** 9 360 60 3
High fire-rate
During production **** ***** 9 180 60 3
Anti-freezing - ****** 9 180 - 3
maintenance

* List of buildings and construction works is stated in Annex A


** Spraying intensity (designed spraying density), l/m2.s (mm/min.) when height of materials
piled on shelf:
under 1m: 0.08 (4.8)
from 1 to 2m 0.16 (9.6)
from 2 to 3m 0.24 (14.4)
from 3 to 4m 0.32 (19.2)

*** Spraying intensity (designed spraying density), l/m2.s (mm/min.) when height of materials
piled on shelf:
under 1m: 0.04 (2.4)
from 1 to 2m 0.08 (4.8)
from 2 to 3m 0.12 (7.2)
from 3 to 4m 0.16 (9.6)
from 4 to 5.5m 0.4 (24)

**** Spraying intensity (designed spraying density), l/m2.s (mm/min.) when height of materials
piled on shelf:
under 1m: 0.16 (9.6)
from 1 to 2m 0.32 (19.2)
from 2 to 3m 0.4 (24)

***** Gas spraying intensity (designed spraying density), l/m2.s (mm/min.) when height of
materials piled on shelf:
under 1m: 0.08 (4.8)
from 1 to 2m 0.2 (12)
from 2 to 3m 0.24 (14.4)
from 3 to 4m 0.32 (19.2)
from 4 to 5.5m 0.4 (24)

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****** Gas spraying intensity (designed spraying density), l/m2.s (mm/min.) when height of
materials piled on shelf:
under 1m: 0.1 (6)
from 1 to 2m 0.2 (12)
from 2 to 3m 0.3 (18)
from 3 to 4m 0.4(24)
from 4 to 5.5m 0.4 (24)

Note:

1. When equipping drencher ejector for the rooms (except for those listed in Group 3
(special) which belong to average and high fire-rate buildings), room area to
calculate water output, foam creating solution and quantity of simultaneously
operating fire-fighting units shall be defined subject to the engineering parameters.
When such engineering parameters are not available, total room area to be used for
water output calculation shall be taken according to Column 5 of Table 3.

2. Minimum distance between sprinklers of water fire-fighting sprinkler system to be


installed in smooth ceilings shall be 1.5m.

3. The figures in Columns 2,3 and 5 of Table 3 shall be applied for rooms with height
ups to under 10m and equipped with sprinklers.

6.5 In buildings where there are ceiling (roof) beams made of either flammable or non-
flammable materials having protruding parts of over 2m high and the ceiling (roof)
made of non-flammable materials having protrusion of over 0.32m high, sprinklers
shall be arranged between the beams, trusses and other building structures.

6.6 The distance between fire-fighting ejectors and ceiling (roof) planes shall not be
over 0.4m and under 0.08m. The distance between the lower side of foam ejector of
a foam fire-fighting system to the ceiling (roof) planes shall not exceed 0.5m.

6.7 The sprinklers of a water fire-fighting sprinkler system are allowed to be installed
either upwards or downwards, while the sprinklers of foam fire-fighting system
shall be installed downwards.

The sprinkler ejector of a water fire-fighting sprinkler system shall be installed in


right angle with the ceiling (roof) plane, while the sprinklers of foam fire-fighting
system shall be installed in right angle with floor plane.

6.8 In the rooms where sprinklers are to be installed but there are working platform and
ventilation boxes with square or round section having diameters or side dimensions
exceeding 0.75m, it is required to installed more sprinklers below these floors and
ventilation boxes.

6.9 The distance between sprinklers and non-flammable walls, ceilings shall not exceed
half of the distance between sprinklers stated in Column 7 of Table 3.

6.10 In buildings having one or two sloping roofs, with gradient exceeding 1/3, the
horizontal distance from sprinkler to wall and from sprinkler to roof edge shall not
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exceed 0.8m for flammable and hardly flammable roofs and not exceeding 1.5m for
non-flammable roofs.

6.11 Where sprinklers may be damaged due to mechanical impacts, proper protection
measures shall be taken.

6.12 Sprinkler-impact temperature of water fire-fighting sprinkler system is stipulated as


follows:

- when installed in rooms having max. air temperature up to 55oC: 68oC or 72oC
- when installed in rooms having max. air temperature from 56oC to 70oC: 93oC
- when installed in rooms having max. air temperature from 71oC to 100oC:141oC
- when installed in rooms having max. air temperature from 101oC to 140oC:
180oC

6.13 Within a protection required room, it is required to install sprinklers with outlets
having the same diameter.

6.14 It is allowed to use water fire-fighting sprinkler system for rooms with height not
over 20m (see Table 4)

6.15 Foam fire-fighting based on volume shall only be designed for rooms in which
foam-occupied volume shall not exceed 3000m3.

7. Drencher system

7.1 The drencher system is designed for one or more fire-fighting units. Each unit shall
have its own control valves.

It is allowed to locate a control valve to be used for some water screens.

7.2. In rooms to be installed with drencher system where there are working platform and
ventilation boxes having round or square sections with width or diameter over
0.75m, it is required to add more drencher heads below the working platform or
ventilation box.

7.3. The distance between drencher ejectors of water screen shall be determined on the
basis of sprinkling intensity of 1l/s for 1 length of water screen.

7.4. The automatic start-up of drencher shall be made, when in control valves there are
group operating valves and quickly operating valves, by activating pipeline
equipped with sprinklers or melting stoppers or fire-alarming signals; when in
control valves there are electric stopping valve and driving valve, by fire-alarm
signals.

7.5. The water-containing activating pipeline shall be installed at a height not exceeding
¼ pressure column in the pipeline located in front of control unit with either group
operating valve or quickly operating valve.

7.6. The drencher system shall have automatic control, manual control or remote control.
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7.7. The drencher heads and melting locks shall be installed at a distance no less than
0.4m away from the ceiling.

8. Sprinkler system pipework

8.1 The fire-fighting water supply pipework (internal and external pipework) is required
to be designed in closed circuit style.

The closed circuit fire-fighting water supply pipework shall only be designed for 3 or
less control valves.

8.2 The closed circuit water supply pipework (internal and external pipework) shall be
divided into sections by separating valves; each section shall not have more than 3
control valves.

8.3 Normally, fire-fighting water supply pipework (external) of a sprinkler system and
water conduct pipework of other water fire-fighting systems can be shared.

8.4 The diameter of sprinkler-conduct pipes shall be selected on the basis of hydraulic
calculations but shall not be smaller than 15mm.

8.5 It is not allowed to connect water supply system serving for production equipment
and sanitary equipment to the water supply pipework of fire-fighting system.

8.6 It is allowed to install wall fire-fighting hydrant and manual foam ejection post (lăng
phun bọt cầm tay) on water supply pipework having a diameter from 70mm upwards
of water and foam fire-fighting sprinkler systems.

8.7 The unit of sprinklers with 12 fire-fighting hydrants or more and 12 foam ejection
posts or more shall have two water supply pipelines. For sprinklers having from 2
units or above, it is allowed to connect the second water supply pipeline having locks
to the next unit, but there must be a manual operated closing cock on the control
valve.

8.8 It is allowed to install 6 sprinklers at maximum with spraying hole diameter of 12mm
downwards or 4 sprinklers with spraying hole diameter of over 12mm on the
distribution pipework of water or foam fire-fighting sprinkler system.

8.9 It is not allowed to install stoppage valve and to connect flanges on the main
distribution pipework and branch distribution pipework. In special cases, it is
permitted to install stoppage valve but valve opening/closing status must be
controllable.

8.10 Fire-fighting main pipework, branch pipework and activating pipework with
welding connections shall be designed from steel pipes conforming to current
standards. It is allowed to use gas/water conduct steel pipes connected to each other
by couplings in the rooms of the operational establishments producing explosive
materials.

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External fire-fighting conduct pipes may be designed from non-metal pipes, as
well as from centrifugal cast-iron pipes and semi-continuous cast conforming to
current standards.

8.11 The distance between steel pipe support posts or suspension hooks shall conform to
Table 3
Table 3

Steel pipe
external 18 25 32 40 45 57 76 89 114 140 152 219
diameter, mm
Max. distance
between support 2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 6 6 6 7 8 9
posts, m

The distance from building structures to the selected pipes shall be 20mm.

8.12 The fire-fighting water supply pipework and water distribution pipework for dry
and alternate dry & wet systems shall be installed with following gradients:

0.01 for pipes with diameter up to 50mm


0.005 for pipes with diameter more than 50mm

9. Control valve for automatic fire-fighting with water and foam sprinkler system

9.1 The control valve for automatic fire-fighting with water and foam sprinkler system
shall be located near the door, where the lowest annual air temperature is over 4oC.

It is allowed to position such control valves in pump chamber or fire-fighting


stations.

9.2 The partitions and ceiling of the room where control valves are located in protection
required buildings shall be selected with fire-resistant limit of 0.75 h at the lowest.
The covering structure of control valve located room placed outside the protection-
required rooms shall be made in glass.

9.3 Normally, the control valves shall be located in ground floor.

It is permitted to locate the control valves for “air” and “air-water” fire-fighting
sprinkler equipment, control valves for sprinklers with water-containing activating
pipeline on upper floors.

10. Hydraulic calculations of sprinkler systems

10.1 The design and installation of fire-fighting sprinklers for rooms at height over 10m,
when calculating water expenses, intensity should be selected according to Table 4.

10.2 The sprinkler conduct pipe diameter shall be determined by hydraulic calculation;
when calculating it is required to take water velocity and foam-making solution in
the pipe not exceeding 10m/s.
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10.3 When selecting pipes to install sprinklers and drencher-style equipment, the
hydraulic calculation shall be based on the assumption that the water supplied for
this equipment is taken from the main water source.

10.4 When selecting pipes to install sprinklers having fire-alarming equipment with
requirement to start-up the fire-fighting system under 10s since issuing fire-alarm
signal, the hydraulic calculation shall be based on the assumption that the water
supplied for this equipment is taken from main water source.

Table 4

Room height, Spraying intensity (minimum), l/m2.s Area to calculate water


m expense, foam-making
solution, m2
Group Group 3:
Group 2:
1: low special Group 4: high

Group 1: rooms and

Group 2: rooms and

Group 3: rooms and

Group 4: rooms and


average fire-
fire- buildings fire-rate
rate
rate with average buildings

buildings

buildings

buildings

buildings
buildgs
buildgs fire-rate
solution

solution

solution
making

making

making
Foam-

Foam-

Foam-
Water

Water

Water

Water

From 10 to 12 0.09 0.13 0.09 0.26 0.13 0.33 0.17 132 264 264 396
From 12 to 14 0.1 0.14 0.1 0.29 0.14 0.36 0.18 144 288 288 432
From 14 to 16 0.11 0.16 0.11 0.31 0.16 0.39 0.20 156 312 312 468
From 16 to 18 0.12 0.17 0.12 0.34 0.17 0.42 0.21 166 336 336 504
From 18 to 20 0.13 0.18 0.13 0.36 0.18 0.45 0.23 180 360 360 540

Note: It is required to select group of rooms and buildings on the basis of fire-rate

10.5 The calculated water expense or foam making solution expense Q, l/s going through
sprinkler shall be calculated as following formula:

Q=K√H

of which K is water expense coefficient through sprinkler taken according to Table 5


H is free pressure before sprinkler, m: water column
Table 5

Name of sprinkler, foam making Coefficient Minimum free Allowed maximum


equipment K pressure H min., m free pressure H max.,
water column m water column
Sprinkler-typed sprayer and
sprinklers having hole diameter of
(mm)
10 0.3 4 100
12 0.448 5 100
17 0.92 8 100
22 1.454 10 100

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TCVN 7336:2003

Head loss (pressure loss) on the pipe section being calculated, h - m water column, shall
be determined by the formula:

h= Q2
BT

of which: Q is water flow or foam making solution on the calculated pipe section, l/s;
BT is pipe feature, m5/s2, shal be determined according to the formula:

BT = KT
l
of which: KT is selected value subject to pipe diameter in Table 6
l is length of the pipe being calculated, m

The head-loss in valve controlling water and foam fire-fighting systems shall be
determined according to Table 7

Table 6
thickness,

pipe, liter
Calculate
diameter,

diameter,

diameter,

Coefficie
of 1m of
External

Volume
Internal

Pipework

nt KT
Pipe
mm

mm

mm

mm
d

Electric welded steel pipe 18 2 14 13 0.133 0.0755


25 2 21 20 0.134 0.751
32 2.2 27.6 26.6 0.555 3.437
40 2.2 35.6 34.6 0.94 13.97
45 2.2 40.6 39.6 1.23 28.7
57 2.5 52 51 2.04 110
76 2.8 70.4 69.4 3.77 572
89 2.8 83.4 82.4 3.32 1429
108 3 102 101 8 4232
114 3 108 107 9 5757
140 3.5 133 132 13.7 17642
152 3.5 145 144 16.3 28060
159 4.5 150 149 17.45 33662

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TCVN 7336:2003

Normal gas, water conduct 21.5 2.8 15.7 14.7 0.17 0.145
steel pipework 26.8 2.8 21.2 20.2 0.32 0.79
33.5 3.2 27.1 26.1 0.535 3.1
42.3 3.2 35.9 34.9 0.956 14.7
48 3.5 41 40 1.26 30.2
60 3.5 53 52 2.12 122.6
75.5 4 67.5 55.5 3.47 455.6
88.5 4 80.5 79.5 4.95 1180.6
114 4.5 105 104 8.5 4946.9
140 4.5 131 130 13.25 16262.6
165 4.5 156 155 18.84 41552.1

High pressure cast iron 113 8.3 101.4 100.4 7.9 4099.5
pipework 144 8.7 126.6 125.6 12.4 13534.3
169 9.5 151.6 150.6 17.9 35636.1
222 10.1 202.6 201.6 31.3 168829.
2
274 11 252 251 70.5 543354.
3

Note: - Coefficient KT is selected with roughness coefficient 0.0106

10.6 The foam making solution quantity N1m31 in fire fighting the volume shall be
determined according to the formula:
KpW
N=
K

Of which, Kp is broken foam coefficient, selected according to Table 8


K is expanding multiple;
W is the room volume to be protected, m3

Table 7

Control valve Valve diameter, mm Pressure loss defined


of water fire fighting sprinkler 100 H = 0.00302Q2
150 H = 0.000368Q2
of air-mixed foam fire fighting 10 H = 0.00936Q2
sprinkler 150 H = 0.002269Q2
of sprinkler equipment 65 H = 0.048Q2
100 H = 0.00634Q2
100 H = 0.0014Q2
of fire fighting system 100 H = 0.0235Q2
100 H = 0.00077Q2
200 H = 0.000198Q2

Number of foam making equipment working simultaneously n is determined according to


the formula:

16
TCVN 7336:2003

N
n = qt

of which q is the capacity of a foam making equipment calculated according to foam


making solution, m3/min.
t is working time of equipment, selected according to Table 8

Table 8

Flammable materials during


Broken foam coefficient Working time of
production process requiring
Kp equipment, t, min.
protection
Solid 3 25
Liquid 4 15

11 Water supply for water and foam fire-fighting systems

11.1 It is allowed to store a reserved water quantity for water fire-fighting sprinkler
system in the reservoirs with different functions. For foam fire-fighting sprinkler
system, the water quantity shall be stored in a reservoir which is not used for daily
activities. Also, in these reservoirs, it is required to arrange some equipment which
prevent the use of water reserved therein for other purposes.

It is permitted to store a water quantity of foam making solution for reservation up


to a volume of 1000 m3 in a reservoir.

11.2 Working time of foam fire-fighting sprinkler system with type of foam having low
expansion is fixed as follows:

- 15 minutes – for rooms having flammable solid materials with flowing load
more than 200 kg/m2 or having flammable liquid with fire-catching
temperature up to 28oC.
- 10 min. - for rooms having flammable solid materials with flowing load less
than 200 kg/m2 or having flammable liquid with fire-catching temperature
over 28oC.

11.3 For foam fire fighting sprinkler system (with type of foam having low or average
expansion), the foam making chemicals shall be reserved double.

11.4 When determining reservoir volume for water fire fighting sprinkler system, the
water volume which is automatically filled into the reservoir during fire fighting
time shall also be calculated.

11.5 Water supplied for water and foam fire-fighting sprinkler systems, since the bell
rings, shall be taken from the main water supply source.

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TCVN 7336:2003
11.6 To ensure the calculated pressure in water fire fighting sprinkler system before
starting up the pumps, it is required to arrange in the conduct pipes and in the
supply pipes of the sprinkler system a pulse-creating equipment (a metal basin of
0.5m3 containing water under pressure) or pipes with various functions with
pressure equal to or higher than the calculated pressure. It is allowed to use air
compressor or the air-compressed common station of the plant (provided that it
operates continuously) to feed in compressed air to the air-water tank.

11.7 To supply water for a foam or water fire-fighting sprinkler system equipped with
automatic starter operated on the signal of fire alarm system, with the requirement
of starting up the fire-fighting system under 10 s since the signal is issued, it is
required to take water from the main source automatically.

11.8 All foam and water fire-fighting sprinkler systems equipped with manually-
operated pumps shall have an automatic water supply source to ensure the
equipment can operate continuously in 10 min.

11.9 The automatic water supply source (air-water tank or pressure column tank) for
sprinklers as stated in 11.8 shall ensure to supply a sufficient water quantity or
foam-making solution as calculated during a period required to put the stand-by
pump into stable operation status.

11.10 The automatic water supply source or pulse-creating equipment is required to stop
its operation after the pump is started.

11.11 The number of pumps at the pump station shall be more than two (one working and
one stand-by). Each shall have separate power supply source. If there is only one
power supply source, it is permitted to arrange a pump equipped with automatic
starter with approval from the fire protection authority.

11.12 When there is only one power supply source, it is required to arrange a pump
operated by an internally-ignited motor, either automatically starting or manually
starting.

11.13 Both pump and engine shall not use belts for driving.

11.14 The foam-making chemicals shall be put into the tank by a separate pump,
manually started.

11.15 To put the foam making chemicals into a tank which contains a pre-fixed water
quantity, it is required to use a perforated pipe placed around the tank and 0.1m
under the tank water level.

11.16 For a foam fire-fighting sprinkler system with quantitative unit, it is required to
arrange two quantitative pumps (one working, one stand-by).

11.17 Normally, the pump station of a sprinkler system is placed in-house either in the
ground floor or basement, in separate rooms with walls and ceiling having fire-
resistant limit of 0.75h at the lowest, with exits out or to the staircase. The above

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TCVN 7336:2003
requirements shall also be applied when designing the pump stations located in the
areas with special weather and nature conditions.

12 Pump station power control

12.1 The motors of working and stand-by pumps of sprinkler system and the motor of
lock valves shall be classified into type of electric equipment with Class-1
reliability according to electrical equipment standards.

12.2 It is allowed to use circuit breaker to shut/open and protect for the stand-by pump.

12.3 To control power of pump station, it is required to ensure:

- automatically starting up the main pump


- automatically starting up the stand-by pump when the main pump cannot start
up or after starting up it cannot achieve an operation status during a pre-fixed
period.
- automatically turning on the electric driven stoppage valve
- automatically transferring control circuit from working power supply source
into back-up power supply source (once the inlet voltage of the working
circuit is lost)
- automatically starting up the main quantitative pump.
- automatically starting up the standby quantitative pump once the main pump
cannot achieve operation status after some pre-fixed time.
- creating pulse of automatic control to stop the ventilation fan of M & E
equipment.
- creating pulse of automatic control to stop power receiving equipment Class 2
and Class 3.

12.4 The forming of control pulse to automatically start up quantitative pump shall be
made by electric control mechanism.

12.5 Normally, the pressure sensors installed on sprinkler control valves should be used
to act as activating mechanism, creating pulse to automatically starting up pumps. It
is allowed to automatically start the pumps of sprinkler system when receiving
pulse from fire-alarming system.

12.6 The electric control of pump station shall be equipped with manually starting
mechanism located in pump chamber. It is allowed to start the pump by remote
control at the fire-fighting stations and at wall fire-fighting boxes in the building.

12.7 The shut-down of pumps and quantitative pumps needs to be arranged at pump
chamber. It is permitted to shut down pump from fire-fighting station.

12.8 The electric driving stoppage valves installed on activating pipes of sprinkler
system control station shall be in Class-2 of equipment reliability, in which the
electric-shock protection is mainly by insulation. The electric control is required to
ensure such a continuous control that the control circuit of stoppage valve is always
in good conditions.

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TCVN 7336:2003
12.9 The air compressor control of the fire-fighting system is made manually.

12.10 The turning on of electric driving stoppage valve installed on the pressure pipes of
the pump shall be carried out simultaneously with pump starting up.

12.11 In the pump chamber, light signal shall be arranged to give signals of:

- voltage of main and stand-by inlets of power supply source and grounding
phase.
- switching of pump and quantitative pump automatic start-up.
- water level in the reservoirs
- water level in drainage pits.

12.12 In fire-fighting stations or chambers or other rooms where there are permanent
fire-fighting staff in charge, light and sound alarming system shall be installed to
give signals of:

- the occurrence of a fire


- pump starting up
- sprinkler starting to operate, sprinkler showing water (or foam making
solution) conduct direction.
- the circuit breaking of pump automatic start-up.
- the switching of fire-alarm sound signal.
- equipment problem (e.g. losing voltage at power source main inlet, reducing
pressure in water-air tank or in pulse-making equipment.
- alarming water level in reservoirs and in drainage pits.
- failure of electric driving stoppage valve.
- failure of control circuit of stoppage valve installed on the activating pipes of
sprinkler and quantitative pump control valves

12.13 The fire-alarming sound signals shall be different in term of timbre from those
alarming failures.

12.14 The electric equipment grounding system shall satisfy the requirements stated in
TCVN 4756-89

20
TCVN 7336:2003

Annex A
(stipulated)
Classification of buildings based on fire-occurring risk rate (fire-rate)

A.1 Low fire-rate buildings

Following are examples of low fire-rate buildings:

Bathroom (Turkish bathroom and steam- Consulting room and dental office
bath)
Guest house, clubhouse hotels Museum and art gallery
Church Government office
Hospital, orphanage, sanatorium and insane Prison
asylum
Library (except book storehouse) School, university
Room for rent Water treatment station and pump station

For pipework and spraying pressure of fire-fighting system for low fire-rate buildings, it
is not required to design more than 6 simultaneously-operating sprinklers, but a proper
density shall be ensured. Therefore, when a building has holds of more than 126m2 wide
and not classified as low fire-rate buildings, it shall be listed into Group 1 of Average
fire-rate buildings.

A 2 Average fire-rate buildings

The average fire-rate buildings are divided into 4 groups as follows;

A.2.1 Group 1 of average fire-rate buildings** includes:

Sand paper, grinding powder Grinding machine


manufacturing installation
Beverage manufacturing Chiseling, carving installation
establishment (excluding beer)
Artificial stone manufacturing Electroplating installation
plant

*Holds mean the areas separated by high walls up to the ceiling and spandrels which can
reduce heat - spreading velocity until the ejector operates.

** Except for wood processing establishment, paint manufacturing and other places where fire
can easily occur, which are classified in Group III of average fire-rate buildings.

Asbestos fiber and sheet manufacturing Gold and silver treatment (metallurgy)
Gold and silver analyzing Grind stone manufacturing
Meat fumigating plant Hotels, guest houses for drivers (except
resident areas where can be classified as low
fire-rate.)
Chain manufacturing (gold chain) Ice-manufacturing
Hair or cloth pin manufacturing Ivory-treatment
Silica carbide manufacturing Jewelry store
(Stone) Chiseling/carving Schist and marble producing
21
TCVN 7336:2003
Cement factory Mirror manufacturing
Chrome-plating Cement monument manufacturing
Club (except for resident areas where classified Ore-grinding
as low fir-rate places) Precious stone processing
Block brick manufacturing Stone exploitation works
Copper plate carving/chiseling Silver-wares manufacturing
Cheese, butter manufacturing Color-glass plant
Restaurant, cafe Play yards, horse-race course
Salt manufacturing Decoration materials manufacturing

A.2.2 Group II, average fire-risk rate, includes:

Abattoir, hot water supply station Plant producing fiber-core mortar, etc.,
moulds,
Plane engine manufacturing plant Film production building
Bread, biscuit bakery Fish-smoking house
Flour mill Sand-paper plant
Battery plant Glucose sugar production plant
Beer plant (incl. bottling workshop-except Mechanical tool manufacturing plant
for malt and carton workshops) Laundry
Cake flour plant Garage, incl. private and public car parks
Rug cleaning/washing facility Automobile manufacturing/assembling
factory
Pharmaceutical plant (produce or analyze), Pen., pencil manufacturing establishment
where not producing or using flammable Film accessories making establishment
materials either in solid, liquid or powder Material storehouse
form and similar materials.
Film exchanger and distributor Pottery workshop
Coal stockpile Sauce, pickle and other canned food
manufacture
Milk powder plant Old ship-destroying workshop
Confectionery Tee factory
Dentistry materials manufacturing Cigarette factory
workshop
Bulb and Florescent Light production plant Umbrella workshop
Paper/grinding materials plant Alcohol and beer business merchant
(wholesale or retail sale)
Construction works

A.2.3 Group III, average fire-risk rate, includes:

Aircraft plant (incl. hangar) Washing, dying, printing workshop


Discotheque Houseboat
Sports tool manufacturing Shoe-shining materials manufacturing
Automatic entertainment salons Boot, shoe manufacturing
Wine-cellar Wine bottle cellar of wine merchant
Bag storehouse Brake, clutch manufacturing
Mattress manufacturing (except rubber and Beer factory (malt and cask-making
spongy resin mattress) workshops)

22
TCVN 7336:2003
Fuel manufacturing Fat filtering, processing plant
Television and broadcasting station Malt manufacturing and beer cask making
Brush, broom making Plant butter manufacturing
Storehouse of cable and telephone Market
companies
Carbon paper manufacturing Pepper, chili and mustard powder
manufacturing
Cocoa powder grinding Nitrate storehouse
Airplane storehouse and transit commodity Canvas manufacturing
storehouse
Domestic animal food manufacturing Paper product manufacturing
Fireworks manufacturing for Christmas Paper powder factory
Cinema Plastic materials manufacturing (except
spongy ones)
Garment enterprise Poultry food manufacturing
Cod-liver oil manufacturing Printing machine and relevant product
merchant
Cork manufacturing Rice husking plant
Corn powder manufacturing Canvas tent, oiled paper manufacturing
Bras manufacturing Rope, cord plaiting
Cotton manufacturing (except for initial Rubber and rubber product plant (except
processing stages) for spongy rubber)
Egg powder manufacturing Bag/sack manufacturing
Electric cable manufacturing Wood sawing plant
Plastic covered electric wire plant Stage clothes, tools storehouse
Electronic components manufacturing and Schist oil and seed oil processing
assembling plant
Essential oil manufacturing Ship-building plant
Felt manufacturing Shirt-making enterprise
etc.

A.2.4 Group III, special average fire-risk rate, includes:

e.g Exhibition area, etc.

A.3 High fire-risk rate buildings

A.3.1 High fire-risk rate buildings due to production

e.g. airplane hangar

A.3.2 High fire-risk rate buildings due to storing commodities in storehouse,


divided into 4 categories:

A.3.2.1 Class 1
e.g. rugs, clothes, etc.

A.3.2.2 Class 2
e.g. Carton, paper rolls, etc.

23
TCVN 7336:2003

A.3.2.3 Class 3
e.g. Rubber products, oil paper, etc.

A.3.2.4 Class IV
e.g. Spongy plastic or rubber rolls, etc.

(Note: for more details, please see the original. The translator do not think it is necessary
to list everything here..)

24

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