FAQ Can plastic pipe only be used in low-rise residential firesprinkler systems per NFPA 13R and in one and two-family dwellings per NFPA13D?
ANSWER: No. Plastic pipe specifically listed for use in firesprinkler systems is allowed to be used with all three NFPA sprinklerstandards. However, there are limitations on where and how plastic pipe is usedwithin NFPA 13. See the commentary following 6.3.7
A.6.3.7
CPVC is a plastic material and consideration is necessary when other materials or chemicals come in contact with CPVC that can cause degradation of perfomance of the pipe due to interaction of materials. Compliance with
6.3.6 combined with following manufacturer’s guidance on installation and compatible materials will help prevent premature performance degradation of CPVC piping. Excessive mechanical stress caused by hanging methods or excessive bending on CPVC piping beyond the recommended limitations can cause stress failure over time and should be avoided.
FAQ Can nonmetallic pipe be used in an ordinary hazard occupancy?
Nonmetallic pipe is not permitted in ordinary hazard occupancies and is only permitted in specific small ordinary hazard rooms within light hazard occupancies. The limitation to rooms that do not exceed 400 ft
2 (37 m
2) recognizes that almost all buildings have typically small storage rooms or mechanical rooms that would be categorized as ordinary hazard. Requiring a change in pipe type for those rooms or requiring the entire system to use metallic pipe would be over burdensome.
