What does NFPA 13 cover?

NFPA 13 is the National Fire Protection Association's standard that specifically addresses the installation of sprinkler systems. This standard outlines the design, installation, and maintenance of automatic fire sprinkler systems to ensure that they perform effectively and reliably in the event of a fire. It provides detailed guidelines on the requirements for different types of sprinkler systems and the materials used in their installation, which is crucial for fire safety engineering and compliance with building codes and regulations.

The focus of NFPA 13 is not on maintenance, testing of fire alarms, or evacuation procedures. While maintenance of sprinkler systems is addressed in other standards like NFPA 25, and testing and evacuation procedures fall under different NFPA codes, NFPA 13 is foundational specifically for the installation aspects of sprinkler systems. This ensures that the systems are properly set up to perform their intended function of controlling or extinguishing a fire.