NFPA 13 requires a fire department connection for all sprinklered buildings, including those with dry-systems, except single-story buildings not exceeding ______ square feet.

NFPA 13 requires a fire department connection for all sprinklered buildings, including those with dry-systems, except single-story buildings not exceeding ______ square feet.

• A. 1000
• B. 2000
• C. 3000
• D. 4000

Answer: (B)

Fire department connections are used to boost the sprinkler system’s water supply during a fire. NFPA 13 generally requires an FDC for most sprinklered buildings, including those with dry-pipe systems. However, there’s an exception for very small, single-story buildings: if the building is not larger than 2,000 square feet, an FDC is not required. The rationale is that such small, single-story structures have low fire-water demand and limited area to protect, so their own water supply and internal sprinkler layout can typically handle initial suppression without the extra complexity and cost of an external connection. For larger or multi-story buildings, the external connection remains necessary to ensure adequate water flow during a fire.

Fire department connections are used to boost the sprinkler system’s water supply during a fire. NFPA 13 generally requires an FDC for most sprinklered buildings, including those with dry-pipe systems. However, there’s an exception for very small, single-story buildings: if the building is not larger than 2,000 square feet, an FDC is not required. The rationale is that such small, single-story structures have low fire-water demand and limited area to protect, so their own water supply and internal sprinkler layout can typically handle initial suppression without the extra complexity and cost of an external connection. For larger or multi-story buildings, the external connection remains necessary to ensure adequate water flow during a fire.