NFPA Journal - Summer 2021 - 47

In Compliance
based on safety from fire; rather, they
are intended to mitigate the risk posed
to building occupants by exposure
to CO gas. Where combustion gases
from equipment-such as generators
or vehicles, in the Texas example-are
not properly vented, or in areas where
CO gas can infiltrate, such as spaces
attached to garages, occupants run the
risk of CO poisoning. This is not the
only example of the code expanding
its reach to provide protection requirements beyond that of safety from
fire. To address this hazard, NFPA 101
added a goal in 2018 that its requirements would provide reasonable life
safety during emergency events involving hazardous materials regulated
by a number of NFPA standards. In
2021 that list of regulations added
NFPA 72®, National Fire Alarm and
Signaling Code®, to recognize carbon
monoxide detection as a hazardous
material emergency mitigation strategy
employed by the code.
For those occupancies that mandate
it, NFPA 101 provides requirements
for CO detection and warning equipment via a reference to NFPA 72, where
requirements were consolidated into
the 2019 edition. Previously, these
requirements could be found in NFPA
720, Standard for the Installation of
Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detection and
Warning Equipment. Once it is determined when an occupancy requires the
presence of CO detection and warning
equipment, further details are provided
within the occupancy chapter for where
the equipment is to be installed. For the
purpose of applying the requirements
for CO detection, where NFPA 72 (or
NFPA 720 in earlier editions) is applied
via the adoption of NFPA 101 and where
the occupancy chapter requirements
in NFPA 101 differ from the requirements in NFPA 72 (or NFPA 720), the
requirements of NFPA 101 should apply.
Where both NFPA 101 and NFPA 72 (or
NFPA 720) are separately adopted and
enforced, the more stringent requirements should be followed to meet the
requirements of both documents.
The current requirements for CO
detector installation are summarized
in a new report, " Carbon Monoxide

Detection and Alarm Requirements:
Literature Review, " published by the
Fire Protection Research Foundation
(nfpa.org/foundation). Requirements
for a variety of occupancies are
reviewed based on codes, standards,
and state regulations.

Protecting people
from carbon monoxide
cannot be achieved
by assuming that those
who face these
dangers are aware
of the provisions in
NFPA 101, or that this
silent killer is only a
hazard during cold
weather. The dangers
of CO poisoning are
ever-present, especially
during extreme weather
events where people
find themselves
without power and
other resources.

Protecting people from carbon
monoxide cannot be achieved by
assuming that those who face these
dangers are aware of the provisions in
NFPA 101, or that this silent killer is
only a hazard during cold weather. The
dangers of CO poisoning are ever-present, especially during extreme weather
events where people find themselves
without power and other resources.
Reducing the risk of CO exposure
requires not only the application of
current codes and standards, but also
educating the public on safe practices
such as the proper storage, use, and
operation of fuel-burning equipment
such as generators, and the CO hazards
associated with the use of vehicles.
Additionally, many local jurisdictions
mandate the installation of CO detection beyond that required by NFPA 101.
All applicable local requirements must

be followed to ensure complete and
adequate protection for new and existing conditions.
For more information, including
resources on carbon monoxide safety,
visit nfpa.org/carbonmonoxide.
Kristin Bigda is technical lead for Engineering
Technical Services at NFPA. NFPA members and
AHJs can use the Technical Questions tab to post
queries on NFPA 101 at nfpa.org/101. To follow
the progress on the upcoming edition of the code,
visit nfpa.org/101next

NFPA 13

Water-based fire
protection systems

The need for underground restraints for
sprinkler systems
By Brian O'Connor
n a recent report, NFPA
regional representatives
highlighted underground
restraints as an element
of sprinkler systems that
they commonly see done incorrectly.
This can have a detrimental impact on
the entire system, and fixing the problem after something goes wrong can
be costly in terms of both money and
time. It is essential that underground
restraints are done correctly the first
time to ensure the protection of property, the safety of occupants, and the
overall success of the project.
Sprinkler systems need to be dependable and ready to activate at a moment's
notice. The use of private, underground
piping leading from a municipal water
supply or privately owned waterworks
system is one of the most common methods of supply to automatic sprinkler
systems. For this system to work, the
underground piping that delivers water
to the system must be dependable, and
must be able to resist underground pipe
separation with the use of restraints.
Pipes need to be restrained against
movement caused by hydraulic pressure or dynamic thrust forces created
by water changing direction as it flows

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NFPA Journal - Summer 2021

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