ISO 6182-7:2020

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 6182-7
Second edition
2020-03
Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler
systems —
Part 7:
Requirements and test methods
for early suppression fast response
(ESFR) sprinklers
Protection contre l'incendie — Systèmes d'extinction automatiques du
type sprinkler —
Partie 7: Prescriptions et méthodes d'essai des sprinklers de type
"extinction précoce/réaction rapide"
Reference number
ISO 6182-7:2020(E)
©
ISO 2020

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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

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ii © ISO 2020 – All rights reserved

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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

Contents Page
Foreword .vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative reference . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 General . 1
3.2 Types of sprinklers according to type of heat responsive element . 3
3.3 Sprinklers classified according to position. 3
4 Product consistency . 3
4.1 Quality control program . 3
4.2 Leak resistance testing . 3
4.3 Glass bulb integrity test . 3
5 Product assembly. 4
5.1 General . 4
5.2 Dynamic O-ring seals . 4
5.3 Rated pressure . 4
6 Requirements . 4
6.1 Dimensions . 4
6.1.1 Orifice size . 4
6.1.2 Nominal thread sizes . 4
6.2 Temperature ratings and color codings. 4
6.3 Operating temperature (see 7.3) . 5
6.4 Water flow constant (see 7.4) . 5
6.5 Water distribution (see 7.5) . 5
6.6 Function (see 7.6) . 7
6.6.1 Lodgement (see 7.6.1) . . 7
6.6.2 Deflector strength (see 7.6.2) . 7
6.7 Service load and strength of sprinkler body (see 7.7) . 8
6.8 Strength of heat-responsive element (see 7.8) . 8
6.9 Leak resistance and hydrostatic strength (see 7.9) . 9
6.10 Heat exposure (see 7.10) . 9
6.10.1 Glass bulb sprinklers (see 7.10.1) . 9
6.10.2 All sprinklers (see 7.10.2) . 9
6.11 Thermal shock for glass bulb sprinklers (see 7.11) . 9
6.12 Corrosion . 9
6.12.1 Stress corrosion for copper-based alloy components (see 7.12.1) . 9
6.12.2 Sulfur-dioxide/carbon-dioxide corrosion (see 7.12.2) . 9
6.12.3 Hydrogen sulfide corrosion (see 7.12.3) . 9
6.12.4 Salt spray loading (see 7.12.4) .10
6.12.5 Moist-air exposure (see 7.12.5) .10
6.13 Water hammer (see 7.13) .10
6.14 Dynamic heating (see 7.14) .10
6.15 Resistance to heat (see 7.15) .10
6.16 Vibration (see 7.16) .10
6.17 Impact (see 7.17) .10
6.18 Rough usage (see 7.18) .11
6.19 Lateral discharge (see 7.19) .11
6.20 Thirty-day leakage resistance (see 7.20) .11
6.21 Vacuum resistance (see 7.21).11
6.22 Freezing (see 7.22) .11
6.23 Actual delivered density (ADD) (see 7.23) .11
6.24 Thrust force measurements (see 7.24) .12
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

6.25 Dezincification of brass components (see 7.25) .12
6.26 Stainless steel components (see 7.26) . .12
6.27 Protective covers (see 7.27) .13
7 Test methods .13
7.1 General conditions .13
7.2 Examination.13
7.2.1 Preliminary examination .13
7.2.2 Visual examination .13
7.3 Operating temperature test (see 6.3) .13
7.3.1 Test of static operation .13
7.4 Water flow constant test (see 6.4) .16
7.5 Water distribution tests (see 6.5) .17
7.6 Function test (see 6.6) .22
7.6.1 Lodgement test (see 6.6.1) .22
7.6.2 Deflector strength test (see 6.6.2) .26
7.7 Service load and strength of sprinkler body (see 6.7) .26
7.7.1 Test option 1 .26
7.7.2 Test option 2 .26
7.7.3 Test option 3 .27
7.8 Strength of heat-responsive element test (see 6.8).27
7.8.1 Glass bulbs .27
7.8.2 Fusible elements .27
7.9 Leak resistance and hydrostatic strength tests (see 6.9) .28
7.10 Heat exposure test (see 6.10) .28
7.10.1 Glass bulb sprinklers (see 6.10.1) .28
7.10.2 All sprinklers (see 6.10.2) .28
7.11 Thermal shock test for glass bulb sprinklers (see 6.11) .29
7.12 Corrosion tests .29
7.12.1 Stress corrosion for copper-based alloy components test (see 6.12.1) .29
7.12.2 Sulfur dioxide/carbon dioxide corrosion test (see 6.12.2) .29
7.12.3 Hydrogen sulfide corrosion test (see 6.12.3) .30
7.12.4 Salt spray loading test (see 6.12.4) .30
7.12.5 Moist air exposure test (see 6.12.5) .31
7.13 Water-hammer test (see 6.13) .31
7.14 Dynamic heating test (see 6.14) .31
7.14.1 Plunge test .31
7.14.2 RTI value calculation .32
7.15 Resistance to heat test (see 6.15) .32
7.16 Vibration test (see 6.16) .32
7.17 Impact test (see 6.17) .33
7.18 Rough usage test (see 6.18) .33
7.19 Lateral discharge test (see 6.19) .33
7.20 Thirty-day leakage test (see 6.20) .34
7.21 Vacuum test (see 6.21) .35
7.22 Freezing test (see 6.22) .35
7.23 Actual delivered density (ADD) test (see 6.23).35
7.24 Thrust force test (see 6.24) .36
7.25 Dezincification of brass components (see 6.25) .37
7.26 Stainless steel components (see 6.26) . .38
7.26.1 Stress corrosion — Magnesium chloride .38
7.26.2 Stress corrosion — Magnesium chloride test .38
7.27 Protective cover impact test for glass bulb sprinklers (see 6.27) .39
8 Marking of sprinklers .40
8.1 Sprinklers .40
8.2 Protective covers .41
9 Manufacturer’s installation instructions .41
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

Annex A (normative) Tolerance limit calculation methods .42
Annex B (informative) Analysis of the strength test for fusible element .44
Annex C (normative) Tolerances .45
Bibliography .46
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
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ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www .iso .org/ directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
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iso/ foreword .html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 21, Equipment for fire protection and fire
fighting, Subcommittee SC 5, Fixed firefighting systems using water.
This second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 6182-7:2004), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes compared to the previous edition are as follows:
— added requirements and test methods for K242 pendent ESFR sprinklers.
A list of all parts in the ISO 6182 series can be found on the ISO website.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www .iso .org/ members .html.
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

Introduction
Early Suppression-Fast Response (ESFR) sprinklers are a unique type of sprinkler primarily intended to
provide sprinkler protection for storage facilities. Other types of sprinklers are addressed in separate
documents in the ISO 6182 series. These sprinklers are specifically designed to discharge water at a
location near the ceiling of a structure in a manner that effectively attacks a fast-growing fire that can
occur in a storage facility.
These sprinklers characteristically discharge water in a mostly downward trajectory with relatively
large water droplets and incorporate a fast-response type heat responsive element intended to allow
the discharge of water at an early stage of the fire growth. Due to the relatively quick operation
and effective nature of the sprinkler discharge, these sprinklers can be used to provide ceiling-only
sprinkler protection for taller storage facilities compared to other types of sprinklers. The performance
of ESFR sprinklers is sensitive to obstructions to the sprinkler discharge. ESFR sprinkler installation
guidelines need to account for this obstruction sensitivity by limiting the size of obstructions as well as
specifying sprinkler installation locations that minimize the impact of these obstructions.
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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 6182-7:2020(E)
Fire protection — Automatic sprinkler systems —
Part 7:
Requirements and test methods for early suppression fast
response (ESFR) sprinklers
1 Scope
This document specifies performance requirements, test methods and marking requirements for
pendent early suppression fast response (ESFR) sprinklers.
NOTE This document currently provides requirements for K202 and K242 ESFR pendent sprinklers.
2 Normative reference
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 7-1, Pipe threads where pressure-tight joints are made on the threads — Part 1: Dimensions, tolerances
and designation
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminological databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at http:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 General
3.1.1
actual delivered density
ADD
rate at which water is deposited from an operating sprinkler onto the top horizontal surface of a
simulated burning combustible array
3.1.2
assembly load
force exerted on the sprinkler body excluding hydrostatic pressure
3.1.3
average design strength
glass bulb supplier’s specified and assured lowest average axial design strength of any batch of 50 bulbs
3.1.4
design load
force exerted on the release element at the service load (3.1.10) of the sprinkler
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

3.1.5
early suppression fast response automatic sprinkler
ESFR
sprinkler that is intended to provide early suppression of a fire when installed on the appropriate
sprinkler piping
3.1.6
orientation A
orientation with the airflow perpendicular to both the waterway axis and the plane of the frame arms
and with the heat responsive element upstream of the frame arms
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
3.1.7
orientation B
orientation with the airflow perpendicular to both the waterway axis and the plane of the frame arms
and with the heat responsive element downstream of the frame arms
Note 1 to entry: See Figure 1.
a) Orientation A
b) Orientation B
Key
1 tunnel test section (elevation view)
a
Airflow.
Figure 1 — Orientations A and B
3.1.8
protective covers
protective caps or straps intended to provide temporary protection for sprinklers during shipping,
handling and installation
3.1.9
response time index
RTI
measure of sprinkler sensitivity
RTIt= u
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ISO 6182-7:2020(E)

where
t is equal to the time constant, expressed in seconds, of the heat-responsive element;
u is the gas velocity, expressed in metres per second.
0,5
Note 1 to entry: The RTI is expressed in units of (m·s) .
3.1.10
service load
combined force exerted on the sprinkler body by the assembly load (3.1.2) of the sprinkler and the
equivalent force of the rated pressure on the inlet
3.1.11
sprinkler
thermosensitive device designed to react at a predetermined temperature by automatically releasing a
stream of water and distributing it in a specified pattern and quantity over a designated area
Note 1 to entry: For the purposes of this document, "sprinkler" is intended to refer to ESFR (3.1.5) sprinklers.
3.2 Types of sprinklers according to type of heat responsive element
3.2.1
fusible element sprinkler
sprinkler that opens under the influence of heat by the melting of a component
3.2.2
glass bulb sprinkler
sprinkler that opens under the influence of heat by the bursting of the glass bulb through pressure
resulting from expansion of the fluid enclosed therein
3.3 Sprinklers classified according to position
3.3.1
pendent sprinkler
sprinkler arranged in such a way that the water stream is directed
...