January 16, 2014
bulletin
UL 1767 Compliance
program - hIGH
CLEARANCE STORAGE
The Viking Corporation, 210 N Industrial Park Drive, Hastings MI 49058
Telephone: 269-945-9501 Technical Services: 877-384-5464 Fax: 269-818-1680 Email: techsvcs@vikingcorp.com
1. What are the details of the UL compliance program?
The UL 1767 compliance program, which has a current deadline of September 2, 2014, establishes additional test criteria to evaluate all manufacturers’ ESFR sprinklers in rack storage scenarios with 20 ft (6.1
m) or greater distance between the top of the highest stored commodity and the ceiling
Specifically, the UL compliance program addresses maximum ceiling heights of 40 ft (12.2 m) and higher,
which is relevant for ESFR sprinklers with a K factor of 16.8 and larger. New limitations in NFPA 13 limit
the use of K14 ESFR sprinklers to a maximum ceiling height of 35 ft (10.7 m).
High Clearance Example: 40 ft ceiling height with 20 ft of storage
2. What Viking sprinklers were re-tested? And, what were the results?
In total, four Viking ESFR sprinklers, those with K factors of 16.8 and greater, were tested:
• VK503 – K16.8 ESFR Pendent
• VK504 – K16.8 ESFR Dry Pendent
• VK506 - K22.4 ESFR Pendent
• VK510 - K25.2 ESFR Pendent
All four of these currently listed ESFR sprinklers have successfully passed the revised UL test program.
Form No. F_012114
January 16, 2014
bulletin
UL 1767 Compliance
program - hIGH
CLEARANCE STORAGE
The Viking Corporation, 210 N Industrial Park Drive, Hastings MI 49058
Telephone: 269-945-9501 Technical Services: 877-384-5464 Fax: 269-818-1680 Email: techsvcs@vikingcorp.com
3. what is the status of the UL Listings for Viking’s ESFR sprinklers moving forward?
As a result of successfully meeting all requirements for this compliance program. Viking’s UL Listings for
the above products remain unchanged, just as they are today. Viking’s UL Listings are the same as in the
past ... and will be the same after September 2, 2014. In other words, customers can have confidence that
if they install these Viking ESFR sprinklers today, or have in the past, those products have successfully
completed and passed full-scale fire testing for high-clearance fires and are in compliance with all current
UL requirements and all editions of NFPA 13.
4. What is the impact on Viking’s K14 line of ESFR sprinklers (upright, pendent, and
dry pendent)?
Consistent with the changes to NFPA 13, Viking’s K14 ESFR sprinklers will continue to be UL Listed after
September 2, 2014. However, they will be restricted to a maximum ceiling height of 35 ft, when installed
without in-rack sprinklers. This restriction is the same for all manufacturers K14 ESFRs. Approval criteria
for other evaluation agencies are not changing.
5. Has the NFPA 13 standard been updated to reflect the new limitations on K14 ESFR
sprinklers?
Yes, the 2013 edition of NFPA 13 has been changed to restrict the use of K14 ESFR sprinklers to a maximum ceiling height of 35 feet. Prior editions of NFPA 13 do not have this limitation, however the UL listing
for the product is now limited to buildings with ceilings 35’ high or less.
6. Will UL or NFPA require retrofits of existing systems?
No. Generally speaking, the intent of any code change and/or compliance program is always to improve
fire protection moving forward. These changes do not affect ESFR sprinkler systems already installed.
Products on these systems will remain UL Listed, according the codes, rules, approvals, and listings that
were in place at the time they were installed.
7. If a manufacturer’s ESFR sprinkler does not pass the compliance test by the Sep.
2, 2014 deadline, does the product lose its entire UL Listing, or is it just restricted
to clearances of less than 20 feet?
Any product manufactured after the compliance deadline would lose its entire UL Listing. Viking has successfully passed all compliance testing for our nominal K17 and greater ESFRs. This scenario does not
apply to Viking.
8. Are the FM, LPCB, VDS, etc. Approvals of ESFR sprinklers impacted?
No. This compliance program only affects the UL Listing of ESFRs. At this time, Viking is not aware of
Factory Mutual requiring manufacturers to retest any ESFR sprinklers to evaluate performance in high
clearance scenarios. FM Approvals remain unchanged for all Viking ESFR sprinklers. Viking is not aware
of any other approval agencies pursuing such changes to their test programs.
January 16, 2014
UL 1767 Compliance
program - hIGH
CLEARANCE STORAGE
bulletin
The Viking Corporation, 210 N Industrial Park Drive, Hastings MI 49058
Telephone: 269-945-9501 Technical Services: 877-384-5464 Fax: 269-818-1680 Email: techsvcs@vikingcorp.com
TABLE 1: AVAILABLE SPRINKLER TEMPERATURE RATINGS AND FINISHES
Storage
Arrangement
Commodity
Maximum
Storage
Height
ft
Class I,II,III,
or IV, encapsulated or unencapsulated
20
ft
m
40
12.2
or
12.1
6.1
45
25
Single-row, double row, and multiple-row racks
(no open-top
containers)
m
Maximum
Ceiling/Roof
Height
7.6
45
40
20
45
Exposed
nonexpanded
20
25
13.7
12.2
6.1
Cartoned
nonexpanded
25
13.7
7.6
45
13.7
13.7
Nominal
K-Factor
Orientation
Minimum
Operating
Pressure
psi
bar
In-Rack
Sprinkler
Requirements
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
No
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
25
1.7
No
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
63
4.4
Yes
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
63
4.4
Yes
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
No
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
25
1.7
No
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
Yes
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
25
1.7
No
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
Yes
VK506
22.4
Pendent
40
2.8
No
VK510
25.2
Pendent
25
1.7
No
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
No
40
12.2
VK504
VK503
45
13.7
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
Yes
45
13.7
VK504
VK503
16.8
Pendent
52
3.6
Yes
6.1
7.6
Sin
Number