Classification of

occupancies
a) Light hazard Dccupancies
b) Ordinary occupancies:
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary

hazard
hazard
hazard
hazard

group
group
group
group

1
2
3
3 special

c) High hazard occupancies

High hazard-process risks
High hazard-high-piled storage risks

Category
Category
Category
Category

1
2
3
4

Light hazard class systems

Light hazard Dccupancies
Non-industrial occupancies where the amount of combustible content is
low
Examples

Lodging houses
Residential houses
Places of worships
Schools, colleges, universities
Sewerage works

The piping and pressure flow requirements for light hazard systems are
not designed to provide adequate densities should more than six
sprinklers come into operation.
Therefore, where there is any undivided area in excess of 126 m2 within a
building otherwise classified as light hazard, the building shall be classified
throughout as ordinary hazard group 1.
NOTE - Undivided areas are those enclosed between full height walls and partitions,
adequate to delay the flow of hot gases until a sprinkler head is operated

Light hazard class systems

Design data
Light hazard systems shall be fully hydraulically designed to provide a flow of at least
48 L/min from each sprinkler within each hydraulically most unfavorable group of six
sprinklers in all parts of the building regardless of the area covered by individual
sprinklers.
Each group of sprinklers shall be selected to form, as near as possible., a square with
the longest side positioned such that it imposes the greatest hydraulic demand.
Except as varied by this section, hydraulic calculation methods shall conform to the
requirements of clause 13.(Full Hydraulic Calculation of Sprinkler Systems)

Water supply
The water supply shall be capable of providing the maximum pressure and flow
requirements of the system as determined by the full hydraulic calculation methods
described in above and clause 13 for a minimum duration of 30 min
Minimum capacity of water supplies shall be a minimum of calculated flow rate (48
L/min/sprinkler) for the most unfavorable six sprinklers for a duration of 30 minutes
plus 20%
The calculated minimum water storage capacity may be reduced by up to a third,
provided an automatic inflow to sprinkler tank is available at all times with sufficient
flow to make up the difference within 30 minutes.

Light hazard class systems

Pumps
Pumps shall comply with the appropriate
requirements of 5.10 (pump
installations) and 5.11(pump
specifications) also 5.6.

Light hazard class systems

The performance characteristics of pumps drawing from

pump suction tanks shall be as set out in Table 14

Light hazard class systems

The minimum nominal diameter of a
suction pipe for pumps shall be 100 mm.
The capacity of the fuel tank, which shall
be kept full
for a compression-ignition engine driven pump
shall be sufficient to allow the engine to run
on full load for 4 hours (see 5.11.3.3(f)(2))
In addition there shall be kept on hand
sufficient fuel to run the engine for a further 6
hours.

Light hazard class systems

Pumpsets shall comply with the
foIlowing requirements:
The duty flow and pressure of the
pump(s) shall be not less than the flow
and pressure calculated in accordance
with 10.1 (Design data)
The maximum flow rate of the pump(s)
shall be taken to be 130% of the duty
flow rate

Light hazard class systems

Spacing of sprinklers
The maximum area coverage per sprinkler shall be as follows:
Sidewall sprinklers = 17 m2
Other sprinklers =21m2

In certain areas of light hazard occupancies such as attics, basements,

boiler rooms, kitchens, laundries, storage areas, workrooms, electronic
data processing rooms, air conditioning and building services plant
rooms, restaurants and cafes not exceeding 126 m2 in area
The maximum area coverage shall be limited to 12 m2 per sprinkler
The maximum distance between sprinklers shall be limited to 4.2 m
The maximum distance from walls and partitions shall be 2.1 m.

The maximum distance between sprinklers on range pipes and between

adjacent rows shall be as follows:
Sidewall sprinklers along the walls = 4.6 m
(see also 6.5) spacing and location of sidewall sprinklers

Other sprinklers = 4.6 m

Light hazard class systems

The maximum distances of sprinklers
from walls and partitions shall be as
follows:
Sidewall sprinklers from end walls = 2.3 m
Other sprinklers = 2.3m

Sprinklers shall have a nominal orifice

size of 10 mm and maybe spray
pattern, ceiling (flush) pattern or
sidewall pattern

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Ordinary hazard group 1 (OH 1) occupancies
NOTE
OH 1 Excludes woodworking, painting and any other high fire load
areas which are to be treated as ordinary hazard Group 3
occupancies.
In areas where there is storage of stock within the categories
described in 3.2.1.1 in excess of the storage heights set out in the
note to Table 21 (A) and 21 (B), high hazard protection will be
required.
Premises having mixed occupancies must be referred to the relevant
authority for a decision

Group 1 ordinary hazard occupancies include the

following
Commercial Office building
Restaurants and cafes

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Ordinary hazard group 2 (OH 2) occupancies
NOTE
OH 2 Excludes woodworking, painting and any other high fire load areas
which are to be treated as ordinary hazard group 3 occupancies.
In areas where there is storage of stock within the categories described
in 3.2.1.1 in excess of the storage heights set out in the note to Table 21
(A) and 21 (B), high hazard protection will be required.
Premises having mixed occupancies must be referred to the
relevant authority for a decision.

Group 2 ordinary hazard occupancies include the following

public and private car parks
Motor vehicle manufacturers and assembly plants (excluding
plastic component handing)
Food manufacturing

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Ordinary hazard group 3 occupancies
NOTE
In areas where there is storage of stock within the categories
described in 3.2.1.1 in excess of the storage heights set out in the
note to Table 21 (A) and 21 (B), high hazard protection will be
required.

Ordinary hazard group 3 occupancies include the

following
Aircraft factories (excluding hangars)
Industrial Factories
Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers (not producing
or using flammable solids, liquids, dust and the like)
Data processing
Departmental stores, Shopping Centers

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Ordinary hazard group 3 special
NOTE
This group is an extension of group 3 occupancies where flash
fires are likely, covering somewhat larger
areas of operation, such as might be anticipated in connection
with preparatory processes in textile mills and certain other risks.

Group 3 special ordinary occupancies include the

following
Pharmaceutical and chemical manufacturers (producing or
using flammable solids, liquids, dust and the like)
Printing and allied trades (using flammable inks and
solvents)
Exhibitions

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Ordinary hazard systems shall be hydraulically designed to provide an
appropriate density of discharge over an assumed area of operation
(number of sprinklers likely to operate) in all areas including the
hydraulically most unfavorable areas of the protected building.
The design density of discharge and the assumed area of operation
shall be as follows
Design density of discharge 5 mm/min

Assumed area of operation:

Group
Group
Group
Group

1 72 m2
2 144 m2
3 216 m2
3 Special (see Note) 360 m2

NOTE - This group is an extension of Group 3 occupancies where flash fires are likely,
covering somewhat larger areas of operation, such as might be anticipated in connection
with preparatory processes in textile mills and certain other risks (for classification of
occupancies, see 3.2.3)

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Water supplies for ordinary hazard
class systems shall comply with Table
15.

Ordinary hazard class

systems
The minimum capacity required for fully hydraulically
calculated systems shall be not less than that which will
supply the calculated flow requirements of the
hydraulically most favorable area of operation for 60 min.
For partially pre-calculated systems designed in
accordance with 11.4.2.2 and 11.4.2.3,
The minimum capacities shall be as specified in Table 16.
These capacities relate to stored water sources entirely
reserved for the sprinkler system (including fire hose
reels).
For pump suction tanks these capacities may be reduced
In accordance with 11.2.2.2, but the maximum period of
inflow shall be 1 hour.

Ordinary hazard class

systems

Ordinary hazard class

systems

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Pump suction tanks shall have an effective capacity reserved
entirely for the sprinkler system not less than that specified
in Table 17 except that, where there is an automatic inflow
which can be relied upon at all times, a smaller capacity will
be allowed, provided that the pump can operate at full
capacity for not less than 1 hour, subject to the following
minimum capacities (see also 5.8.1):
Group
Group
Group
Group

1 25 m3
2 50 m3
3 75 m3
3 Special 100 m3

NOTE
Sharing of the storage tanks for sprinkler system and domestic purposes is not allowed.
The pipes for the sprinkler system shall not be connected to any pipes or storage tanks
conveying potable water.

Ordinary hazard class

systems
Pumps
Pumps shall comply with the appropriate
requirements of 5.10 (pump
installations) and 5.11(pump
specifications) also 5.6.

Ordinary hazard class

systems

The performance characteristics of pumps drawing from

pump suction tanks shall be as set out in Table 17

Ordinary hazard class

systems

Ordinary hazard class

systems

Ordinary hazard class

systems
The minimum nominal diameter of. pump
suction pipe shall be as follows:
Groups 1 and 2150mm
Groups 3 and 3 Special

200mm

The capacity of the fuel tank, which shall be

kept full,
for a compression-ignition engine driven pump
shall be sufficient to allow the engine to run on
full load for 4 hours. (see 5.11.3.3(f)(2)).
In addition there shall be kept on hand sufficient
fuel to run the engine for a further 6 hours

Ordinary hazard class

systems

Ordinary hazard class

systems