NFPA 13 work procedure

Sprinkler System Type Selection Workflow

Compare wet, dry, preaction, and deluge system considerations before setting up preliminary calculations.

Page role

Use this page for a defined task before moving to the next project record.

Audience: Engineers, designers, contractors, technicians, and reviewers following a tool-backed workflow.
Job: Compare wet, dry, preaction, and deluge system considerations before setting up preliminary calculations.
Evidence: Ambient temperature, freeze exposure, occupancy, hazard, and operational risk basis.; Selected system type rationale for wet, dry, preaction, or deluge screening.; Detection, supervision, water delivery, and maintenance assumptions that affect calculator setup.
Output: System type is selected before hydraulic assumptions are treated as project-ready.; Freeze exposure and operating risk are documented before dry or preaction assumptions are used.; Detection, supervision, and water delivery requirements are routed to authority or design review.
Next: Start with the related worksheet, run the linked calculators, then retain reviewed values before project use.

1Open the worksheet first when the guide spans multiple calculations or review gates.
2Use each linked calculator only after the input source for that step is known.
3Keep warning states, assumptions, and review notes with the project record.
4Move to the handoff panel after the guide sequence is complete.

Follow the sequence as an engineering workflow: each phase lists the action, tools, and evidence to retain before moving forward.

Phase	Action	Tools	Evidence to keep
Step 1	Identify ambient temperature and freeze exposure.	Occupancy Hazard Classifier Calculator	Document the source used to start the NFPA 13 workflow.
Step 2	Confirm occupancy, hazard, and operational risk.	Occupancy Hazard Classifier Calculator, Sprinkler System Demand Calculator	Keep calculation notes showing how this step supports: confirm occupancy, hazard, and operational risk.
Step 3	Select system type constraints before hydraulic screening.	Occupancy Hazard Classifier Calculator, Sprinkler System Demand Calculator	Keep calculation notes showing how this step supports: select system type constraints before hydraulic screening.
Step 4	Review water delivery, supervisory, and detection requirements.	Occupancy Hazard Classifier Calculator, Sprinkler System Demand Calculator	Keep calculation notes showing how this step supports: review water delivery, supervisory, and detection requirements.
Step 5	Document assumptions for AHJ and engineer review.	Occupancy Hazard Classifier Calculator, Sprinkler System Demand Calculator	Record the reviewed output, warning state, and next review decision.

1Ambient temperature, freeze exposure, occupancy, hazard, and operational risk basis.
2Selected system type rationale for wet, dry, preaction, or deluge screening.
3Detection, supervision, water delivery, and maintenance assumptions that affect calculator setup.
4Hazard-density and hydraulic worksheet handoff notes for the selected system type.

1System type is selected before hydraulic assumptions are treated as project-ready.
2Freeze exposure and operating risk are documented before dry or preaction assumptions are used.
3Detection, supervision, and water delivery requirements are routed to authority or design review.
4Hazard and hydraulic worksheets are updated when system type changes the design basis.

1Open the hazard-density worksheet before system type assumptions feed density or coverage checks.
2Open the NFPA 13 hydraulic worksheet after the selected system type changes calculation setup.
3Carry detection, supervision, freeze, and water delivery assumptions into authority or submittal records.
4Treat the system type decision as preliminary until project-specific and AHJ context is documented.

Sprinkler System Type Selection Workflow

1Open the hazard-density worksheet before system type assumptions feed density or coverage checks.
2Open the NFPA 13 hydraulic worksheet after the selected system type changes calculation setup.
3Carry detection, supervision, freeze, and water delivery assumptions into authority or submittal records.
4Treat the system type decision as preliminary until project-specific and AHJ context is documented.