US 12,303,728 B1
Systems and methods for fire protection of horizontal interstitial spaces with expanded localized heat detection areas
Martin H. Workman, Delton, MI (US); Scott T. Franson, Hastings, MI (US); and James E. Golinveaux, Ada, MI (US)
Assigned to Viking Group, Inc., Caledonia, MI (US); and Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed by Viking Group, Inc., Caledonia, MI (US); and Minimax Viking Patent Management GmbH, Bad Oldesloe (DE)
Filed on Jan. 17, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/027,333.
Application 19/027,333 is a continuation of application No. 18/894,149, filed on Sep. 24, 2024.
Application 18/894,149 is a continuation of application No. 18/102,016, filed on Jan. 26, 2023, granted, now 12,151,128, issued on Nov. 26, 2024.
Application 18/102,016 is a continuation of application No. 16/643,800, granted, now 11,590,371, issued on Feb. 28, 2023, previously published as PCT/US2019/054775, filed on Oct. 4, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/741,883, filed on Oct. 5, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/804,099, filed on Feb. 11, 2019.
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A62C 2/10 (2006.01); A62C 35/60 (2006.01); A62C 37/11 (2006.01); A62C 35/62 (2006.01)
CPC A62C 2/10 (2013.01) [A62C 37/11 (2013.01); A62C 35/60 (2013.01); A62C 35/62 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of fire protection for a horizontal interstitial concealed space between a ceiling and an upper deck with a fire protection system, the horizontal interstitial concealed space consisting of wood truss or bar joist construction having a depth ranging from 6 inches to 60 inches, the fire protection system including a plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers coupled to a network of CPVC pipes within the concealed space and filled with firefighting fluid in an unactuated state of the fire protection system to define a wet system, the plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers being located at a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from 6 ft. to 16 ft. and having a hydraulic remote area, each of the plurality of upright fire protection sprinklers having a nominal K-factor of 5.6 gpm/(psi)½, a thermally sensitive actuating assembly, and a deflector having a central portion and a plurality of spaced apart tines, the method comprising:
locating the fire protection system within the concealed space with the hydraulic remote area defined as the greater of 1000 sq. ft. or 6 sprinklers, and
providing in the concealed space a localized heat detection area equal to or greater than two thousand square feet (2,000 sq. ft.).
 
18. A method of fire protection for a horizontal interstitial concealed space between a ceiling and an upper deck with a fire protection system, the horizontal interstitial concealed space consisting of wood joist construction with non-combustible insulation having a depth ranging from 6 inches to 60 inches, the fire protection system including a plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers coupled to a network of CPVC pipes within the concealed space and filled with firefighting fluid in an unactuated state of the fire protection system to define a wet system, the plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers being located at a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from 6 ft. to 16 ft. and having a hydraulic remote area, each of the plurality of upright fire protection sprinklers having a nominal K-factor of 5.6 gpm/(psi)½, a thermally sensitive actuating assembly, and a deflector having a central portion and a plurality of spaced apart tines, the method comprising:
locating the fire protection system within the concealed space with the hydraulic remote area defined as the greater of 1000 sq. ft. or 6 sprinklers, and
providing in the concealed space a localized heat detection area equal to or greater than two thousand square feet (2,000 sq. ft.).
 
28. A method of fire protection for a horizontal interstitial concealed space having a depth ranging from 6 inches to 60 inches, the horizontal interstitial concealed space consisting of wood truss or bar joist or wood joist construction with non-combustible insulation, the method comprising:
obtaining a plurality of upright automatic fire protection sprinklers, each of the plurality of upright fire protection sprinklers having a nominal K-factor of 5.6 GPM/(psi)½, a thermally sensitive actuating assembly, and a deflector having a central portion and a plurality of spaced apart tines, and
providing the plurality of automatic fire protection sprinklers for installation in a fire protection system within the horizontal interstitial concealed space, the fire protection system includes the plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers coupled to a network of CPVC pipes at a sprinkler-to-sprinkler spacing ranging from 6 ft. to 16 within the concealed space and filled with firefighting fluid in an unactuated state of the system to define a wet system,
wherein the plurality of automatic upright fire protection sprinklers comprises a hydraulic remote area defined by the greater of 1000 sq. ft. or 6 sprinklers, and
wherein the concealed space comprises a localized heat detection area equal to or greater than two thousand square feet (2,000 sq. ft.).