Fire protection system for sloped combustible concealed spaces
A fire protection system is provided for a space having a pitched roof constructed of structural members extending from a ridgeline to an eave, with respective channels therebetween. A first row of sprinklers is mounted to a first branch line extending generally parallel to the ridgeline. Each sprinkler is positioned within a respective channel, with consecutive sprinklers spaced apart having no less than one, and no more than five, channels therebetween. A second row of sprinklers, downslope from the first row, is mounted to a second branch line extending generally parallel to the first branch line. Each sprinkler thereof is positioned within a respective channel, with consecutive second row sprinklers spaced apart as in the first row. Each second row sprinkler is also placed within a different channel from each first row sprinkler. A farthest number of channels between a first row sprinkler and a second row sprinkler is three.
1. A fire protection sprinkler comprising:
a frame having:
a body defining a proximal inlet, a distal outlet and an internal passageway extending therebetween, the internal passageway defining an axial sprinkler axis, and
a pair of frame arms axially extending from the body;
a crossbar extending between the pair of frame arms, the crossbar defining a generally U-shaped opening in axial registry with the internal passageway;
a spacer bar overlying the crossbar and covering the generally U-shaped opening; and
a fluid deflector overlying the spacer bar, the fluid deflector being asymmetrical about a plane defined through the pair of frame arms, a greater portion of the fluid deflector being oriented on one side of the plane than on another side of the plane, the fluid deflector being configured to project fire suppression fluid both upslope and downslope relative to an overlying pitched structure and being configured to project more fire suppression fluid downslope than upslope.
2. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the fluid deflector comprises a first portion and a second portion, the second portion being further elevated from the first portion relative to the frame arms.
3. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein the first portion is a generally planar mounting portion, oriented generally perpendicularly to the sprinkler axis.
4. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein the second portion comprises a generally planar, middle section and two peripheral sections extending from opposite ends of the middle section, wherein each peripheral section defines an acute, included angle with the middle section.
5. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein the peripheral sections are angled downward from the middle section toward the body.
6. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein the middle section is trapezoidal.
7. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 4 , wherein the peripheral sections are triangular.
8. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein the fluid deflector further comprises an inclined third portion, connecting the first portion with the second portion.
9. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 8 , wherein the third portion comprises a generally planer, middle section and two peripheral sections extending from opposite ends of the middle section, wherein each peripheral section defines an acute, included angle with the middle section.
10. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 9 , wherein the peripheral sections are angled downward from the middle section toward the body.
11. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 9 , wherein the middle section is rectangular.
12. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 9 , wherein the peripheral sections are rectangular.
13. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein:
the fluid deflector further comprises an inclined third portion, connecting the first portion with the second portion;
the second portion comprises a generally planar, middle section and two peripheral sections extending from opposite ends of the middle section, wherein each peripheral section defines an acute, included angle with the middle section; and
the third portion comprises another generally planer, middle section and another two peripheral sections extending from opposite ends of the middle section of the third portion, wherein each peripheral section of the third portion defines an acute, included angle with the middle section of the third portion,
the acute, included angle of the peripheral sections of the second portion being greater than the acute, included angle of the peripheral sections of the third portion.
14. The fire protection sprinkler or claim 1 , wherein the fluid deflector is configured to deflect between approximately 20% and approximately 40% of fire protection fluid upslope relative to the overlying pitched structure, and to deflect between approximately 80% and approximately 60% of the fire protection fluid downslope relative to the overlying pitched structure.
15. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler is configured to deflect fire protection fluid between approximately two feet upslope and approximately six feet upslope with respect to the overlying pitched structure.
16. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the sprinkler is configured to deflect fire protection fluid a maximum of approximately forty feet downslope with respect to the overlying pitched structure.
17. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , wherein the fluid deflector is configured to have a maximum spray width of approximately eight feet.
18. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 2 , wherein the first portion is a generally planar mounting portion overlying the spacer bar and oriented generally parallel thereto.
19. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 1 , further comprising a thermal trigger.
20. The fire protection sprinkler of claim 19 , further comprising a sealing member at least partially inserted into the internal passageway, and a compression screw securing the thermal trigger upon the sealing member.