780 CMR Anti-Freeze Update

Wednesday, February 01, 2012

On January 10, 2012 the Board of Building Regulations and Standards (BBRS) voted to amend the use of anti-freeze in commercial and residential sprinkler systems.  Last year the NFPA distributed a technical alert warning that certain concentrations of anti-freeze in water based sprinkler systems can in fact intensify a fire, thereby completely negating the purpose of a water based fire suppression system and posing a greater risk to life and property.  The BBRS responded by issuing an emergency amendment to the building code prohibiting the use of anti-freeze in all newly installed sprinkler systems.  After a year of emergency amendments the board has finally permanently promulgated the restriction through; however, not before tweaking the language.  Instead of banning anti-freeze outright, which was the initial proposal, the board has permitted its use when mixed according to the concentrations outlined in the 2010 Editions of NFPA 13, 13R, and 13D.  These lower, pre-mixed concentrations still offer freeze protection while also ensuring a safe and functional sprinkler system.