A couple weeks ago I sent a sprinkler obstructions cheatsheet for the options with standard spray sprinklers and ceiling-mounted obstructions where the sprinkler cannot throw over the obstruction. Thanks to some great suggestions, I've now incorporated some visuals that might help. As always, thanks for the feedback! You can download the updated cheatsheet here: A New, Free, Fire Protection App In case you missed it last week - there's a new free fire protection app on the market. It's free and was developed by Michael Swahn and the helpful engineers over at Sebench Engineering out of Atlanta. It's now live on both Google Play Store and the Apple App Store. Here's links to get it: Apple: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sebench-engineering/id1506207375 Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=al.pragmatic.sebench.android The app has quick-calculations for Fire Pump Tests, Hydrant Flows, Equivalent K-Factors, Flow/K-Factor/Pressure Calculations, and Friction Loss. Download it today with the links above. NFSA Expert of the Day Handbook Coming Summer 2020
One of the major projects I've been working on since last fall is development of the National Fire Sprinkler Association's Expert of the Day Handbook. It is a two-volume hardcover compilation of thousands of informal interpretations by NFSA's Experts, spanning 2004 through 2018. The set will be available through NFSA later this summer (likely by July). I'm thrilled to be a part of compiling these in a searchable, organized manner that could very well be the go-to resource for suppression design, inspection & testing outside of the standards themselves. There will be plenty more on this as the book becomes available for sale, but wanted to share a little of the good news on this exciting undertaking. Thanks & I hope you have a safe and great rest of your week!
There are a handful of rules in NFPA 13 covering how sprinkler protection works in and around obstructions. It's for good reason; we don't want objects getting between a growing fire and our best method of suppressing it.
The PDF cheatsheet this week covers options for throwing water below obstructions, where the top of the obstruction is at or above the sprinkler deflector, for standard pendent and upright sprinklers. If the sprinkler deflector has the ability to throw over the top of an obstruction - different rules apply - which we'll get to in the coming weeks. To get your free PDF download, enter your email below and you'll immediately have the PDF sent right to you. If you're already subscribed to the blog, check the Recent Resources section at the very bottom of your latest April email.
​As always, any tips, ideas or feedback feel free to send my way at [email protected]. Hope you find this helpful and that you have a great & safe week! Today is a very big day for me. I am finally launching the start of an idea I've had and brainstormed and discussed and revisited for a number of years now. Finally. I could not be more excited about it. Ever since the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting the world around us I've been pressed to rethink my own operations and what I'm contributing to the world. Articles, design content, PE Prep, and trying to find ways to help the knowledgebase of the fire protection community is good, but I started the website around the idea of impacting the community in a real and tangible way. Today's new project is the start of what I hope could be a major positive impact for AHJs, designers, and installers. What is it? A Code Call Database. What is CodeCalls.org? CodeCalls.org is a free website that is bringing together local jurisdictions, fire protection designers, engineers, and installers to clarify and collaborate local code requirements. We're taking the areas of code in fire protection design that need local input, and helping jurisdictions get what they need to help first responders do their work. When we're done, we plan to have a searchable, filterable database where you can find local requirements based on a project's ZIP code, city or county name. Where to Start? Indiana! There tens of thousands of jurisdictions in the United States alone, how is all this data going to come together? First, we're starting with our test case. If you work in the State of Indiana or have contacts who do, pay close attention today. Our Goal is to gather jurisdictional requirements for 70% of Indiana's population by May 8th. That's in 30 days. Why Indiana?
Indiana has a healthy mixture of urban, suburban and rural jurisdictions, so it presents a great test case to validate the concept. If we get enough momentum for Indiana, we feel confident in pursuing the project for larger coverage. If we find that we can get enough momentum to clarify requirements for Indiana, then we feel that the project could be viable to expand to new areas beyond Indiana and beyond just the United States, too. Why a 70% Coverage Goal? In order for the database to work, the user experience has to be great. Both for jurisdictions and for designers & installers. We feel that if we can cover jurisdictions that account for at least 70% of the area's population, that we'll have enough data for a great user experience and a very helpful resource. Is it Free? Yes, the database will always be free for anyone to access. We're funding the development efforts as a joint project by MeyerFire.com and BuildingCode.Blog. Why Should I Help? If you're an engineer, designer or installer, why should you contribute? For one - this is a way to clarify local requirements that will help in more fair and consistent bidding. Second - we'll thank you by crediting your contribution with a link from the local listing directly to your company's website. If someone is looking for a local contractor or design outfit, they can search a ZIP code and immediately have contact information to you, the person who they know is already familiar with the local requirements. If you're a jurisdiction, why should you contribute? Simple - get your needs met. Are you tired of providing the same plan-review comments? Tired of answering the same basic questions in phone calls and emails? This platform is an easy way to clarify the gray areas of code and simply make your requirements more clear to those who are seeking them. I Have Some Information for Some Areas in Indiana. How Can I Help? You can contribute information for jurisdictions you're familiar with here. We'll thank you with a promotional link to your company's website and help get the information verified by the jurisdiction. See The New Site! Click here or the link below to check out the new project. Let us know what you think by commenting or emailing me at [email protected]. Would love to hear feedback on how we can make this helpful and accessible. First - last week I put together a draft PDF cheatsheet for fire alarm design in elevators. Lots of great response to that tool. One major flub on my part - I didn't actually link to it. Here's an actual working hyperlink (fingers crossed). K-Factor & Pressure Versus Area & Density One of the hand calculations I do frequently when laying out sprinkler systems is comparing the k-factor, minimum pressures, and resulting flow for the sprinkler. It comes up all the time with residential-style, extended coverage, special application, and storage sprinklers. Many hydraulic calculation programs do this comparison automatically. That being said, it is important to understand and compare the minimum flow from sprinklers for a hydraulic calculation. Reducing unnecessary flow from a sprinkler reduces the total calculated flow from a system, which has major impacts on pipe sizing for some branch lines, cross mains, feed mains, and even the underground service size. Driver #1: K-Factor and Minimum Pressure There are two drivers for the actual minimum flow that must come from a fire sprinkler. The first driver is the K-Factor and Minimum Pressure. This equation is Q = k√P
While it is a basic question, the code path is somewhat complex. When does an elevator require fire sprinkler protection? Today I'm exploring the code requirements for elevator sprinkler protection under the International Building Code (IBC) and NFPA 13. Here's a free PDF cheatsheet for navigating these requirements. To download, just hover over the image and click print or export. A special thanks to Philip Valdez who sent over the suggestion to put this one together. I hope you find it helpful! If you don't already get these free tools to your inbox, subscribe here. If you're having trouble viewing the image below, view it in your browser here. If you've found this helpful, consider sharing it with a friend or colleague. As always you can subscribe and get more free tools like this at www.meyerfire.com/subscribe.
Thanks & have a great rest of your week! Last spring I created a beta test tool for soffit obstructions to sprinklers. It was fairly basic using the dimensional rules for a soffit against a wall for a standard-spray pendent or upright sprinkler. Thanks to some feedback and more input on this tool, I'm happy to debut it with new features. I've added code references from the 2007 to 2019 editions of NFPA 13, the different style sprinklers, and an updated visual diagram. This tool is useful when there's a dropped soffit against a wall to determine whether the sprinkler will throw sufficiently underneath the soffit. In the coming weeks I'll break out a code path for determining when each of these tools are used. For now, if you're familiar with the NFPA 13 Sections for Obstructions Against Walls then you'll recognize this tool's quick usefulness. This tool stems from the Figures (b) and (c) for Obstructions Against Walls found in NFPA 13 Section 8.6.5.1.2 for Standard Spray Sprinklers, 8.8.5.1.2 and 8.9.5.1.4 for Extended Coverage Sidewall and Pendent/Uprights, and Sections 8.10.6.1.2 and 8.10.7.1.4 for Residential Sidewalls and Pendent/Uprights. Interested in getting access to every tool? Get the Toolkit here. Know someone that might be interested in this tool? Send them a link! It's greatly appreciated. Have a great week! While being located geographically in the middle of the United States, it may not seem like seismic bracing would be a major concern. After all, we don’t have the frequency of intense earthquake movement that covers news headlines like the west coast experiences. Despite the (fortunately) absent frequency, the New Madrid fault line runs near Memphis, Tennessee up to the bootheel of Missouri. [Note: Yes, we Missouri-folk actually describe a portion of the state as a “bootheel”. When you say it aloud, though, you have to add a little twang.] Back to seismic – this fault line has the potential for very strong seismic activity just as much as portions of California and the Pacific Northwest. As a result, seismic bracing is common for us in southeastern Missouri, in St. Louis, and even into central Missouri and southwestern Illinois. As we move away from the fault line, at some point, seismic movement would be less severe – even to the extent that bracing isn’t necessary. Where is that point? How do we determine when seismic bracing is necessary for fire suppression systems? Today’s article is covering just that. It’s an exercise I practice commonly as I essentially live on the boundary of where seismic is and is not required by code. International Building Code References ASCE 7 Seismic bracing has roots in NFPA 13. As is the case between a “code” and a “standard”, however, NFPA 13 as a standard only tells us how to design and install the system. Code tells us when and where systems and components are required. The International Building Code Section 1613 for Earthquake Loads requires that “every structure… including nonstructural components that are permanently attached to structures and their supports… shall be designed and constructed to resist the effects of earthquake motions in accordance with ASCE 7”. [2015 Edition 1613.1] There are a few exceptions, most notably detached one- and two-family dwellings in some areas. ASCE 7 Requirements Based on Seismic Design Category ASCE 7, Chapter 13 (2010 Edition), for Seismic Design Requirements for Nonstructural Components, states: ASCE 7 Chapter 13 addresses Seismic Design Requirements for Non-Structural Components. Its scope covers the minimum design criteria for nonstructural components (like fire suppression systems) that are attached to the structure. ASCE 7 Chapter 13 suggests that seismic bracing is required for all structures, unless they meet an exemption. Section 13.1.4 specifically lists exemptions from seismic design requirements. These Exemptions include:
Additionally, ASCE 7 Section 11.7 states that Seismic Design Category A need only comply with Section 1.4 (not Chapter 13). So What is a Seismic Design Category? A Seismic Design Category is a “classification assigned to a structure based on its Risk Category and the severity of the design earthquake ground motion at the site.” (ASCE 7 Chapter 11 Definitions) In short, it’s a classification on the entire structure, ranging from A (least risk) to F (greatest severity). Seismic Design Category A structures encompass buildings of ordinary occupancy located on sites with stiff soils and have little risk of experiencing earthquakes. Seismic Design Category F, on the contrary, are required to remain functional following a strong earthquake, such as hospitals and emergency communication centers, and are located very close to major active faults. What Impacts Seismic Design Category? Several contributing factors are combined to give the seismic design category. They principally include:
Structures that are of high importance following an earthquake, such as a hospital, are of greater importance and carry a higher risk category. Soil conditions greatly impact the ability of the building to response to motion. Stiff soil or rock conditions generally allow the building to better respond to an earthquake. Loose soil, or soft clay don’t give buildings the ability to move with the ground, and therefore create worse seismic reaction forces within the building. Lastly, and probably the most obvious, the building’s proximity to a major fault line. The closer to a fault line, the greater the seismic forces from an earthquake event for the same earthquake. How to Determine Seismic Design Category? The International Building Code Section 1613 allows the Seismic Design Category to be determined either by IBC 1613 or ASCE 7. The International Building Code Section 1613 details the step-by-step process to determine the Seismic Design Category. This involves using data from site soil testing, the Risk Category, and earthquake severity parameters from provided maps. ASCE 7 has similar provisions in Chapter 11, detailing similar inputs of Risk Category, Mapped Response Parameters, and site conditions. In practice, however, there are third-party tools that help make this process much easier. Here are a few available, for free online:
With the Risk Category, Address, and Site Information, a Seismic Design Category can be quickly determined for a building. These reports also give important design parameters that will be used for Seismic Calculations for the design of the system. What if I Don’t Know The Site Class? With new construction, structural foundation design requires geotechnical testing and reports which give these values. The structural engineer will assess the report, and typically place the building’s Seismic Design Category in their front-sheet notes or in structural specifications. This isn’t the case with interior remodels or work within existing buildings. No soil testing is done and sometimes no structural work is done. When this is the case, the International Building Code requires a Site Class D to be used (IBC 1613.3.2). This could be made more conservative by the building official if geotechnical data determines that Site Class E or F soils are present at the site. So Does My Building Require Seismic Design? Back to the original question – once we know the Seismic Design Category, it’s easy to determine where fire suppression systems require seismic design. If the Seismic Design Category is A or B, then Seismic Design Criteria does not apply. If the Seismic Deign Category is C, D, E, or F – then Seismic Design Criteria applies. Under this later scenario, all the requirements of NFPA 13 for Seismic Design now become an enforceable requirement for the system design. Here’s a summary of the code path: Summary
Seismic Design Criteria for Fire Suppression Systems depends upon the Seismic Design Category for the Building. This Seismic Design Category incorporates the importance of the building, it’s proximity to seismic fault lines, and soil conditions at the site. While the determination path through codes & standards might not be as clear as other system requirements, seismic design is nonetheless a crucial component for the performance of a fire suppression system and an important consideration in the design of the system. Like this article? Consider subscribing here. Already subscribed? Consider sharing with a colleague who might benefit from this. Design-specifications have had a tradition and sometimes contemptuous past in the world of fire protection design. Sometimes called “design-build spec”, “performance-specification”, “delegated design”, “deferred submittal documents”, “scope drawings”, or “design-spec”, these all mean relatively the same thing; the engineer is not providing a working submittal of how a fire suppression system should end up in the field. Back in 2008 advocacy groups from the Society of Fire Protection Engineers (SFPE), National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), and National Institute for Certification of Engineering Technologies (NICET) adopted a joint position on the role of the Engineer and the Engineering Technician as they relate to fire protection systems. A summary and full-length document are here. The position statement does a good job of identifying the relationship between engineering documents and a working shop drawing submittal. It maintains that the role of the Engineer is to support the proper protection of the public’s health and safety. A licensed Engineer is required to understand a broad sense of fire protection beyond just suppression, and also has specific state requirements for licensing and authorization. While the position statement does a good job of identifying roles and defining the relationship between an engineer and a technician, real-world experience says that many “design-build specifications” fall short on good practice. I’ll save my frustrations on the lack of quality engineering documents for another day (it is not a regional issue). There is a ton to explore on that topic. I will however offer up what I like to use as a practical checklist for design-build specifications. Not all owners want to pay consultants to flush out all the details of a system. I get it. But if an owner is paying for anything at all, then the documents should address basic requirements and cost-impacting elements of design. If a set of plans just outlines an area and says “per NFPA 13”, then someone isn’t doing it right.
This cheatsheet is a collection of the items I’m looking for when I help contractors bid jobs. It’s a shortcut to all of the items that have a design and cost-impact to a job. If you, as a consulting engineer, address every single one of these items clearly and within code, then pat yourself on the back my friend, you are a gift. If your documents don’t address each of these items (yes, including flow test information), consider making it a part of your regular practice. None of the items on this list are major time consumers, but by accounting for them you’ll allow better bidding from contractors and much less contention after bids are due. Please, please: don’t loft up vague project requirements to contractors and hope for the best. Invest in being a knowledgeable and quality practitioner of this great industry. It'll more than pay itself back to you. What are your thoughts? What type of bid documents are you used to seeing? Join the conversation and comment here. Awhile back I researched and built a translator for various versions of NFPA 13. It's built to quickly find where a code section has migrated between different editions of the standard. There's a free version here which connects the 2016 and the 2019 Editions of NFPA 13. Based on feedback and the positive response to that tool, I've just finished a similar edition translator for all of the published versions of the International Building Code. It covers Chapters 1 through 11, 15 and 30. Here's a quick video of how it works: If you're interested in giving this a try, you can get it as part of a 30-day trial for the MeyerFire Toolkit here. https://www.meyerfire.com/toolkit-trial.html. It's been busy around here tinkering with new tools since I went on my own in October of 2019. I am not by nature a programmer, but as the son of two accountants I'm pretty sure Microsoft Excel is just in my blood. I've gotten lots of positive feedback from users on the Toolkit and I'm happy to announce this week some major improvements aside from the new IBC translator: 1. A La Carte Tools Coming Some users aren't designers or engineers and would only use one or two tools. I get it. In the next couple weeks I'll be breaking out individual tools and pricing them for less, separately. The first one offered this way is the Water Supply Analysis tool that will be up this week. 2. Instant Activation Codes One of the biggest frustrations I've had on the development side is with quirky activation code servers. They drive me nuts. Over the past month I've dramatically simplified the process, so that new purchases automatically get clear activation codes exactly 2 minutes after their purchase. Clean and simple and it's working much better than before. 3. Toolkit Going to $195 in February With over a half-dozen new tools, the price of the Toolkit is going up to $195 starting in February. If you're interested but haven't bought yet, pick up a license now and you'll lock in your $150 subscription. 4. New Licenses Are Multi-Device & Sharable with Coworkers Lastly, based on the biggest piece of feedback I've gotten, with the $195 price-bump starting in February a single license will allow multiple installs, so that you can use on multiple devices and with members of your company. If you have a design staff with multiple users, it only makes sense that you're able to use and share files with coworkers. If you have a single-user license now and want to upgrade, shoot me an email at [email protected] and we'll get the upgrade set up. Should you want to learn more about the Toolkit, you can do so here. Hope you have a great rest of your week! Now that I live with one hand in creating shop drawings and the other in consulting, I don't come across this question quite as often as I had. In general, people don't call unless they know they need fire protection help. When I worked for MEP firms, I came across this question all the time. As in evaluating this on every single project. "Does the building code require a fire sprinkler system?" The adopted building code is the first stop in determining whether a fire sprinkler system is required or not (not standards, such as NFPA 13). In the International Building Code, this is generally Section 903.2 for fire sprinkler systems. You'd first determine your building occupancy (from Chapter 3), then go to 903.2 to see if your facility's footprint is large enough, has enough occupants, or meets the other nuanced criteria to bring in a fire sprinkler system. I have gotten caught ignoring the special applications - in my case a windowless basement that didn't have enough openings which drove sprinkler requirements. We got sprinklers in, just later in design than I would have liked. This cheatsheet below is a summary of the requirements among various occupancies and other drivers for fire sprinkler systems, according to the latest IBC (2018 Edition). It is worth noting that local code adoptions, insurance requirements, or the International Fire Code can also introduce the need for fire sprinkler systems.
As you may know I'm a fan of cheatsheets, so I hope you find this helpful. If you think it'd be beneficial to also cover other IBC editions, let me know in the comments here and I can get that moving too. Thanks & have a great week! |
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+ Unsubscribe anytime AUTHORJoe Meyer, PE, is a Fire Protection Engineer out of St. Louis, Missouri who writes & develops resources for Fire Protection Professionals. See bio here: About FILTERS
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