BC Class C-R Low Energy FSR key terms

A sprinkler arrangement that uses a limited, carefully controlled water supply, such as a small tank and pump, to protect one or a few rooms rather than a whole building.

A room or suite classification covering residential-style spaces where occupants sleep or live, such as a dwelling unit, hotel suite, or care bedroom, protected by a low energy system.

Equipment that has been evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory and accepted by the authority having jurisdiction for the specific use in the installation.

The official or agency responsible for reviewing plans, issuing permits, witnessing tests, and accepting the finished sprinkler installation, often a fire department or building department.

A published technical document that sets minimum requirements for design, materials, installation, and testing, adopted into law by a code or regulation.

A body of legally enforceable rules adopted by a government body that governs building construction, fire protection, and life safety requirements in a jurisdiction.

The amount of water, expressed as flow per unit of protected floor area, that the system must deliver to control or extinguish a fire in the space being protected.

The calculated floor area used with the design density to determine the minimum flow and pressure the water supply must provide for the sprinkler system.

A step-by-step pressure and flow analysis of the piping network that proves the supply can deliver the required density at the most remote sprinklers.

The sprinkler head that is hydraulically farthest from the water supply, where pressure is lowest and which therefore governs the sizing of the system.

The maximum permitted distance between adjacent sprinkler heads and between heads and walls, set by the listing and the adopted standard for the hazard.

The floor area protected by a single sprinkler head, calculated from spacing limits and used to count heads and size the water supply.

The required clearance between the sprinkler deflector and the ceiling, measured vertically, so the water spray develops properly before it reaches the protected space.

A sprinkler head that hangs below the pipe with its deflector pointing down, used where piping runs above a ceiling and spray must cover the room below.

A sprinkler head mounted on a wall or vertical pipe with a deflector that throws water outward and along the wall, used where overhead piping is impractical.

A sprinkler head that has been tested and certified by a recognized laboratory for a specific temperature rating, orientation, and installation condition.

The nominal activation temperature marked on a sprinkler head, chosen to be above normal ambient temperatures but low enough to respond quickly to a fire.

The fusible link or glass bulb in a sprinkler head that fails at its rated temperature, releasing the cap and allowing water to discharge.

The discharge device at the end of a branch line that opens at a set temperature to spray water over a defined floor area during a fire.

The minimum time, usually stated in minutes, that the stored water and pump must sustain the design flow for the protected occupancy.

A dedicated reservoir holding the volume of water needed for the required duration, fitted with fill, drain, overflow, and level-indicating connections.

A motor-driven pump that starts on a pressure drop in the system piping and supplies the design flow and pressure to the sprinkler network.

A device that senses falling water pressure in the piping and sends a signal to start the pump or trigger an alarm when pressure drops below a set point.

A device installed in the piping that detects water movement and sends an alarm or control signal when a sprinkler opens and flow begins.

A one-way valve that permits water to flow toward the sprinklers but prevents backflow, protecting the potable supply and holding system pressure.

An assembly that stops water in the sprinkler piping from reversing into the public or building drinking water supply under any pressure condition.

Any actual or potential link between the potable water supply and a non-potable source, such as sprinkler water, that could allow contamination.

A valve that controls water to the sprinklers and includes a passage that routes water to an alarm device when a sprinkler operates.

A valve and discharge pipe at the low point of the system used to empty the piping for repairs and to perform the main drain flow test.

A small valve at the end of the most remote branch line that simulates an open sprinkler so the alarm and water flow can be tested.

Passing water through the piping at adequate velocity to remove debris, mill scale, and cutting residue before the system is placed in service.

A pressure test in which the piping is filled with water and held above the working pressure for a set period to reveal leaks and weak joints.

The witnessed demonstration, before the system is approved, that alarms, pump start, flow, and pressure all operate as designed and required.

Measures such as insulation, heat tracing, or dry piping that prevent water in the sprinkler system from freezing and bursting the pipe.

A sprinkler arrangement in which the piping holds compressed air or nitrogen until a sprinkler opens, letting air escape and water enter the pipes.

A mixture of water and an approved antifreeze agent used to fill wet piping in spaces exposed to freezing, with limits on concentration and volume.

The valve assembly that isolates a single sprinkler zone or floor so it can be drained, repaired, or tested while the rest of the system stays in service.

A safety procedure in which an energy source is shut off, locked, and marked with a tag so it cannot be re-energized while work is in progress.

Wearable gear such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves, and hearing protection that reduces the risk of injury on the job site.

An enclosed area with limited entry and exit and poor ventilation, such as a tank or pit, that requires evaluation and controls before entry.

A condition in which all or part of the sprinkler system is out of service, requiring notification, fire watch, and prompt restoration to protect occupants.

A durable record attached to a control valve or panel showing the date, results, and name of the person who last inspected or tested the equipment.