Study on the Effects of Interior Space Partitioning, Pipe Surface Roughness, and Water Flow Velocity on the Design of Sprinkler Systems in High-Rise Buildings

Abstract

This study aimed to examine the effects of key factors influencing the performance of sprinkler systems in buildings. It focused on comparative analysis of three main aspects: (1) partitioning of usable interior building spaces, (2) the roughness coefficient of the fire water supply pipe (C-factor), and (3) fire water velocity inside the pipe. The analysis was based on hydraulic calculation principles in accordance with NFPA 13, combined with quantitative data comparison. The results demonstrated that the partitioning of usable interior building space resulted in the design of the sprinkler system requiring higher number and density of sprinkler heads, causing the pressure of the most hydraulically remote sprinkler head to drop below the minimum requirement specified by the standard, thereby reducing the system effectiveness. In addition, the increase in pipe roughness due to aging significantly raised the system’s pressure loss, particularly when the pipe had been in service for more than 20 years. Furthermore, increasing the water velocity inside the pipe from 10 feet per second to 12 feet per second increased pressure loss by more than 12%, potentially requiring increased fire pump capacity to compensate for the pressure loss for the system to operate efficiently. The findings suggest that designing an effective and cost-efficient sprinkler system requires systematic consideration of the above factors, balancing technical and economic aspects to develop a design plan that is suitable for actual long-term operating conditions.