Hypermarkets and big-box retail (IKEA, Metro, Carrefour) combine high racks, mixed commodity and back-of-house storage, making sprinkler design challenging. NFPA 13 typically combines EH1 in the sales floor with ESFR in the back warehouse.
Commodity Class Selection
- Class I: metal, glass, ceramic (non-combustible)
- Class II: Class I in paperboard packaging
- Class III: paper, textile, wood
- Class IV: 5-15 percent plastic
- Group A Plastics: expanded plastic (foam), plastic hangers
Sales Floor Design (EH1)
- Density: 0.30 gpm/ft2 (12 L/min/m2)
- Area: 2,500 ft2 (230 m2)
- Rack height limit: 12 ft (otherwise EH2 or ESFR)
- Duration: 90 min (EH1)
- Sprinkler: QR standard response, K=8.0
Back-of-house ESFR
- ESFR K=14: pallet racks to 12 m, no in-rack needed
- ESFR K=17: to 14 m
- ESFR K=22/25: 14-18 m
- Ceiling height: ESFR max 45 ft (13.7 m)
- Pressure: 50 psi ESFR K=14
Mixed Commodity
- Group A plastic aisle: separate hazard - EH2 or ESFR
- Detergent/oil aisle: if aerosols (NFPA 30B), special design
- Spices/textile: Class III standard
- Barrier walls: separate groups, localize design density
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Sources & Further Reading
NFPA 13 Chapter 20-25, FM Global DS 8-9, FM Global DS 8-1. NFPA 13 Sprinkler standard.