10/16/2018 Understanding Fire Sprinkler Zoning

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Typical sprinkler zone with monitored valve and Zonecheck connected via an addressable loop to a single testing and monitoring panel

Understanding Fire Sprinkler Zoning

Andrew Fisher Follow
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Developing and sustaining inn…

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10/16/2018 Understanding Fire Sprinkler Zoning

This article is based on automatic fire sprinkler systems designed to BSEN 12845 and the LPC Rules
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for Automatic Sprinkler Installations (2015).
When is Zoning Required?
The first basic rule for zoning a sprinkler system is that zoning is a requirement when Life Safety (or
the not quite so catchy "Additional measure to improve system reliability and availability") has been
specified. Where the sprinkler system is installed for an insured risk, zoning is optional and is usually
present at the request of the insurer. Zoning only applies to OH (ordinary hazard) type occupancies
with a wet sprinkler installation(s). Some typical examples of zoned buildings are therefore: a
shopping centre, office block, airport or multi-use development.
Why do we Zone a Sprinkler Installation?
There are two main reasons for zoning a sprinkler system. Firstly, it allows part of the sprinkler
installation to be shut off to allow for servicing and maintenance without affecting fire protection in
other areas of the building. A warehouse will typically have sprinkler protection to protect the
business by protecting the stock from damage or destruction from fire. Warehouse sprinkler
systems are typically un-zoned for convenience. This means that if the sprinkler installation is closed
off then the stock is at risk and therefore the insurance company will have to be informed and may
require additional precautions to be put in-place during this time.
For Life Safety buildings, every effort must be made to keep the sprinkler system in full working
order whilst people are inside. Zoning means that service and maintenance works can be performed
whilst maintaining sprinkler protection to the majority of the building. Members of the public should
not be allowed inside the non-sprinklered areas during works. There are many other methods and
equipment specified in Annex F of BSEN 12845 and TB233 to ensure that the sprinkler system
remains "on" at all times.
Secondly, zoning means that a fire signal is generated from each zone to give a more specific
location of a sprinkler activation. Open plan warehouses would be unlikely to benefit from this as an
activation could be easily seen (and probably heard). However, in a high rise apartment block, the
location of a sprinkler activation is unlikely to be obvious without an electronic signal being
generated.

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What makes a Sprinkler Zone? Sign in Join now

A zone, in terms of a sprinkler system is an area of sprinkler heads and pipework that is fed via a
common main. At the start of a zone (before the first sprinkler head) there must be:
A monitored isolation valve. This is typically a butterfly valve with a handle and gearbox fitted. It is
vital that the valve be correctly monitored as a closed valve means no sprinkler protection and a
partially closed valve means reduced effectiveness. The isolation valve is wired to the local IMM as
part of an Addressable Zonecheck installation.
A water flow detector. This is typically a Zonecheck (LPCB, FM, UL & VdS approved) incorporating an
approved flow-switch. The flow-switch is then wired back to the local IMM to form an addressable
loop back to a smart monitoring and testing panel.
Zone testing facilities*. Zonecheck allows for regular flow-switch testing at the touch of a button
with printed records and a digital log. Zonecheck circulates water around the flow-switch using a
small pump, this pushes the paddle inside the pipe to generate a flow alarm. An orifice plate built
into the unit ensures that flow simulate one head in operation.
Flushing valve. These are typically installed at the end of the distribution pipe spur and must be at
least 20mm nominal diameter.
How Many Zones do I Need?
For Life safety, each zone can serve a maximum of 2,400m2 of floor area (6,000m2 for property
protection systems). Each floor of a multi-storey building must have at least one zone and no single
zone should encompass more than one ownership or tenancy (TB229.3.14).
The person or team responsible for the sprinkler design should confer with the client, consultant
and/or architect to decide on the best solution for number and location of the sprinkler zones to
allow easy access to the isolation valves and Zonechecks, simplifies the sprinkler pipe routes and
allows for easier future servicing, maintenance and alterations where required.
It should be noted that closing a zone isloation valve in a building which members of the public are
present (for whatever reason) creates a serious safety risk and therefore correct planning and
proceedures must be followed wherever possible. These are listed in Annex J and TB203.
Annex F of BSEN 12845 states that

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“Only one zone of a multi-zone installation shall be shut down at a time. An installation or zone shall
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be shut down only for the minimum time necessary for maintenance. The partial or complete shut-
down of an installation shall be avoided wherever possible. Only the smallest part of the
installation necessary shall be isolated.”
As part of my role I deliver accredited CPD presentations to consultants, architects, local councils,
fire authorities and other interested parties. This topic is discussed in far more detail in my "Fire
Sprinkler Zoning" CPD presentation. Please contact me for more information.
References / Further Reading
Annex D of BSEN 12845:2015 (Zoning of Sprinkler Installations)
Annex E of BSEN 12845:2015 (Special Requirements for High Rise systems)
Annex F of BSEN 12845:2015 (Additional Measures to Improve System Reliability and Availability)
Annex H of BSEN 12845:2015 (Sprinkler Systems Monitoring)
Annex I of BSEN 12845:2015 (Transmission of Alarms)
Annex J of BSEN 12845:2015 (Precautions and procedures when a system is not fully operational)
TB203 of LPCB Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations:2015 (Care and Maintenance of Automatic
Sprinkler Systems)
TB229.3.14 of LPCB Rules for Automatic Sprinkler Installations:2015 (Zoning of sprinkler installations)
 
 

Andrew Fisher
Developing and sustaining inn… Follow

9 comments

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Ian
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10/16/2018 Understanding Fire Sprinkler Zoning

Downes Ian Downes Services Manager at Danske Bank 8mo

Engineering
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Sorry I have some corrections, the word should be spelt maintenance and I am basing this
question on a retail unit being occupied by tenants in a UK Shopping Centre
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Ian Ian Downes

8mo
Downes Engineering Services Manager at Danske Bank

Would a small retail unit with an area well below 2400m2 in a shopping centre require to
have a separate sprinkler zone containing the 4 items mentioned? If so, would the owners
of the retail unit or the shopping centre management be responsible of the upkeep and
maintainance of the zone equipment?
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Andrew Andrew Fisher 8mo

Developing and sustaining innovative fire sprinkler solutions
Fisher
The second part of your question is to do with responsibility for the Zone valve
equipment. Once again, I’m afraid there is no hard-and-fast rule for this and will
vary from site to site. I believe that it would be common for a new build shopping
centre to be what is called a “base build”. This means that the main sprinkler
contractor designs and installs the sprinkler layouts for all of the common areas
and back of house. Sorts out the pump, tank, and installation control valves etc.
The design stops short of all of the shops units (as the shop layout is not often
known at the point) and simply provides the zone valve on the landlord’s size of
the shop. Each shop unit then hires a sprinkler contractor to design and install the

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individual sprinklers in each shop. This design generally includes the other
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sprinkler zone equipment such as flow-switch (Zonecheck), drain valve and
flushing valve. The flow-switch is then wired back to the local fire alarm panel in
the shop unit and also to the BMS suit. Then, the zone valve is the responsibility
of the landlord and what is in the shop is the responsibility of the shop unit.
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Andrew Fisher 8mo

Andrew
Developing and sustaining innovative fire sprinkler solutions
Fisher
This is because, as you have noted the maximum size for any one zone is 2400m2.
Other limitations are hinted at but are rather open to interpretation. For example,
F.8 states that “only the smallest part of the installation necessary shall be
isolated”. It would therefore be best practice to zone each shop unit individually
(regardless of size) so that if sprinklers need to be drained, this can be done in the
one shop without affecting protection elsewhere. HOWEVER, if the technical
bulletins of LPCB rules are being used (which is required for a LPC 1048 certificate
of conformity) then TB229.3.14 makes this situation very clear. It states that “no
zone shall encompass more than one ownership or tenancy” or cover more than
one floor. So in this instance, zone equipment WOULD be required. That’s the first
part of your question.
Like Reply

Nimal Tissa Wijetunga, FIFireE 2y

Nimal
Senior Risk Engineer/Fire Safety Consultant
Tissa
Wijetunga,
There is a big difference in installation requirements in Sprinkler Systems in BSEN and NFPA
FIFireE as NFPA REQUIRES Alarm Check Valve in each riser to the building in line with floor area

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limitation for each Hazard Classification for Sprinkler Systems. Besides, there is a difference
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in installation requirements between High Rise and other builsdinga in my understanding.
Like Reply 1 Like

Nimal Tissa Wijetunga, FIFireE 2y

Nimal
Senior Risk Engineer/Fire Safety Consultant
Tissa
Wijetunga,
What is the role of the Alarm Check Valve in each riser?
FIFireE Like Reply 1 Reply

Andrew Andrew Fisher 2y

Developing and sustaining innovative fire sprinkler solutions
Fisher
Hi Nimal. I would like to answer your question by just clarifying for some terms as
even in different parts of the UK we seem to use different expressions. For me, a
check valve is a non-return valve. An alarm valve (which is a type of check
valve/non-return valve) marks the start of a sprinkler installation and generates a
pressure/flow alarm to indicate a sprinkler activation within the installation. These
would not be installed at a sprinkler zone. A pressure reducing valve does exactly
what it says and is commonly used in high-rise projects to reduce the pressure on
the lower floors and is installed at the feed for each floor off the core riser(s).
Non-return valves are not commonly used as part of zones in the UK but I believe
they are more popular under NFPA rules. The advantage of putting a non-return
valve at the start of each zone is that it allows for the core riser or central areas to
be drained down without having to drain the whole lot. Sprinkler protection is not
maintained as there is no additional water to draw from but does mean that the
job can be completed more quickly and efficiently allowing the system to be back
on-line sooner. It also means that flow-switches in the zones will not be activated
when re-filling with water and also reduces corrosion within the zones as the
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10/16/2018 Understanding Fire Sprinkler Zoning

introduction of fresh water accelerates corrosion. This is a whole other topic

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though!
Like Reply

Yaw Yaw Selby 2y

Selby Founder, Board Member. at Selby Fire Protection Co.(SelfproGh.)

Thanks Pal, my company promoting automatic sprinkler system in Ghana and the sub
Sahara region, we really need insight on the technology and I will like to be in touch with
you.
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