By Healthcare Facilities Today

Hastings, Michigan, USA – Viking Corporation, a global leader in fire protection and life safety systems, is pleased to announce that it has successfully completed all fire tests and requirements for the UL 1767 compliance program for “high clearance” storage.  This 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).  The following Viking ESFR sprinklers, as a result of successfully meeting the new requirements, will retain the same UL Listings that exist today following the September 2 deadline:

Model VK503 – K16.8 (242) ESFR Pendent Sprinkler

Model VK504 – K16.8 (242) ESFR Dry Pendent Sprinkler

Model VK506 – K22.4 (320) ESFR Pendent Sprinkler

Model VK510 – K25.2 (363) ESFR Pendent Sprinkler

These sprinklers, as currently manufactured and produced in the past, already meet the new UL 1767 requirements for high clearance storage.  As such, no changes to these sprinklers and their associated UL Listings will be necessary following the September 2, 2014 deadline.  For additional information, please refer to Viking Technical Bulletin F_012114 (www.vikinggroupinc.com/databook/bulletins/012114.pdf).

Viking is a global leader in the manufacture and distribution of innovative fire protection and life safety systems.  For over 90 years the company’s products and services have protected lives and property worldwide from the devastating effects of fire.  For more information on Viking’s complete line of quality fire protection products and services, please visit www.vikinggroupinc.com or call 800-968-9501.