Is there a standard spacing for private fire hydrants?
No applicable code for this project, but looking for guidance in what would be common under NFPA 24, NFPA 1 / 101, and/or the IBC. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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A building owner has an existing mixed-use building which has approximately 6,000 sqft of storage space (S-1 Occupancy) and offices (larger than 6,000 sqft). The offices and storage appear to have a rated separation (steel studs, 2x gypsum on at least one side of the wall) in-between them.
The owner is looking to store new product in the warehouse, but would like for it to be sprinkler protected. This building, if new, would be under the 2015 International Building Code. As the building currently stands, it is a code-compliant mixed-use separated, non-sprinklered occupancy. Can the owner voluntarily provide a sprinkler system above code, but only for the warehouse portion? If so, does anything with the fire barrier between the warehouse and office need to change? As this is only a voluntary improvement to the property and life safety systems, I could see it being an alternative design method and seek approval from the AHJ under IBC Section 104.11 as a partially-protected building - I just wasn't sure if it even needed to come to that. Would be interested in other opinions, thank you in advance! Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a residential sprinkler calculation out of NFPA 13R 2016.
Do you need to calculate a minimum of 4 residential sprinklers within the dwelling unit? I have a two-bedroom apartment unit and my most demanding area would be the two that are in the bedrooms and the two that are in the kitchen/living area. Can I consider the kitchen/living area a compartment separate from the bedrooms and calculate only these two sprinklers? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This forum is nothing without you - thanks to all of our contributors over August. Here are the top ten contributors for this last month:
Would it be permitted by code to place a pre-action valve on top of a roof of a two-story building?
It would be protected from mechanical damage, and there's no regular man movement at the roof. The roof area is warm, but there would be no covering as it currently stands. I'm looking for code requirements pertaining to this situation that would allow or disallow such an arrangement. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This week is the thirteen of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here. The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here. Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
What is the residual pressure and flow require for both public and private fire hydrants?
Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe At what point does it become better to buy a plotter for the office? I'm a design outfit and only rarely send out drawings, but when I do they're pricey and I just bill it to the client out of a local print shop or the neighborhood Office Depot.
Any tips on what you made the decision to buy or not buy a plotter for your office, and any advice on models or brands to look into? Just curious, love the commentary on here and the wide range of opinions. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are working on an 8-unit, 4-story apartment building in the City of Chicago. It's an NFPA 13R system, with two units on each floor level. The entire building (all floor levels combined) is about 14,000 sqft.
Are floor-level control valves required? Under NFPA 13R there doesn't appear to be a requirement for floor-level control valves like there is in an NFPA 13 system (NFPA 13-2016 8.2.4.3). Even still, in NFPA 13 still allows a single control valve and flow switch when the entire building is less than the system limits of 8.2.1 (52,000 sqft for a Light Hazard system). Chicago has a Chicago Fire Prevention Code that requires "each floor and level of a building" with a separate control valve (15-16-400), but this and several other sections within the Fire Prevention Code apply only to NFPA 13 systems, not 13R systems. Might be a shot in the dark but was curious if anyone has ran into this before. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Working on an elementary school fire sprinkler retrofit with an old kiln. I don't have any specific product information on the kiln itself. It's in a room thats about 8-ft x 8-ft with gypsum walls and acoustical ceiling tile.
What is an appropriate sprinkler temperature to use at the ceiling level? Hoping someone has worked with a room like this before and might know expected ceiling temperatures when the kiln is in operation. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe See this link for garage storage units on a project we're working on: https://www.wirecrafters.com/products/storage-lockers/garage-storage/ .
These are intended to be used for an enclosed parking structure in a mid-rise multi-family rental building. As indicated in the photos (and photos from similar manufacturers) there are no sprinklers underneath the cages. Will sprinkler heads be required? Would appreciate code verbiage as well. We hope to not have to install sprinklers underneath due to cost reasons. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This week is the twelve of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Just a fair warning - many start to get a little comfortable in their scores only to hit a couple tougher weeks with Week 13 and 14... Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here. The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here. Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
An existing F1 occupancy with no high-piled storage is getting an addition, resulting in the total square footage for the entire F-1 area (all open) being over 50,000 ft sq, thus requiring smoke and heat vents per the 2012 IBC and IFC.
The question was asked if smoke and heat vents can just be added to the new addition and install a draft curtain to separate the existing from new, so smoke and heat vents will not be required in the existing space. My question is, would a draft curtain be sufficient for creating a divided area in this regard? There is no true definition of a divided area in either the building or fire codes. I wouldn’t think it would necessarily need to have a fire barrier or partition. I would assume a properly sized trap curtain would be sufficient? Does anybody have any experience with this unique type of issue, or have any comments or suggestions? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is sprinkler protection required for laundry rooms with electric dryers?
This project is in New York City specifically. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe About Pressure Reducing Valves for high pressure water supplies - I understand these need to be "indicating".
How can a PRV be an indicating type? What should I be looking for in inspections? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a code requirement that states sprinkler pipe must maintain a certain distance from fireproofing sprayed onto structural steel?
Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 13 requires dry pipe and preaction system branch piping to be pitched at least ½” per 10 ft, and mains pitched at least ¼” per 10 ft in non-refrigerated areas.
Should an exception be considered (less pitch or no pitch) for systems utilizing nitrogen to maintain system pressure? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This week is the eleven of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here. The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here. Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
I have a horizontal split-case fire pump, with suction taken from the header. The distance from the flange of the tee to the pump flange maintains the minimum 10-pipe-diameters as required by NFPA 20.
However, is the 10-pipe-diameters measured from the flange of the gate valve (OS&Y vale) or from the flange of the tee? I received a comment from a consultant that stated the 10-diameters is to be measured from the OS&Y gate valve flange. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are working on a new addition to an existing high school. Part of the addition is a new auditorium with a full stage. The stage will be the highest hazard and our calculation area, Ordinary 2. The stage will also have (2) 1-1/2" hose stations with fog nozzles, one on each end, north and south, to protect the stage. They will be supplied from the same fire sprinkler system protecting the stage.
Do we need to include the hose station(s) discharge in the hydraulic calculations? If so, what would be the flow criteria from those hose connections, and is that separate from the outside hose allowance or part of it? Thanks all for your input. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe My customer is creating a storage area that is high-hazard, high-piled combustible storage (Group A Plastic) that nearly qualifies for application of NFPA Chapter 13, Miscellaneous Storage.
However, the NFPA 13-2016 definition of Miscellaneous Storage includes the qualification, "...does not exceed 1000 sq. ft. in one area or pile,..." NFPA 13 is silent on how to calculate the area. The IBC defines "High-piled Combustible Storage Area" as: "An area within a building that is designated, intended, proposed or actually used for high-piled combustible storage, including operating aisles." If I use the IBC definition it puts this area at 1650 sq ft. What is the proper calculation of area as it applies to Miscellaneous Storage? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I was searching for an answer to question that was asked about limited area fire sprinkler systems.
Is a Fire Department Connection required for a limited area fire sprinkler system? The application that we have is a single sprinkler head installed in a medical gas closet. From my code research (IFC 2015 903.3.8 with amendments), it appears that a limited area system can be run off of the domestic water supply and thus omits a need for the FDC and other devices associated with a full sprinkler installation. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Would appreciate if you guys would weigh in on this disagreement I'm having.
Applicable Codes/Standards: The project is subject to military code UFC 3-600-01 for Sprinkler Design Area and Design Density. Otherwise, NFPA 13-2016 applies to all other aspects of the system fire sprinkler design. Description of System: The system consists of a 1,000 sqft Ordinary Hazard Design area, surrounded by a larger (remainder of building) Light Hazard design area (these adjacent hazards are separated by full height walls that are capable of preventing a fire on one side from fusing sprinklers on the other side). Per UFC, the corresponding discharge densities should be 0.20 gpm/sqft over 2,500 sqft for the Ordinary Hazard design area, and 0.10 gpm/sqft over 1,500 sqft for the Light Hazard Design Area. In accordance with the example provided in NFPA 13 Section A11.1.2, the size of the operating area for hydraulic calculations is determined by the Occupancy of the larger surrounding area. In this case, the hydraulic calculation design area is 1,500 sqft based on the larger surrounding light hazard area. A 0.20 gpm/sqft density would be provided for the 1,000 ft2 Ordinary Hazard design area, with a 0.10 gpm/sqft density for the remaining area. Differing Opinions: The difference in opinions for this situation is about how to apply NFPA 13-2016 section 23.4.4.2.5 to this situation. NFPA 13-2016 23.4.4.2.5 Where the total design discharge from these operating sprinklers is less than the minimum required discharge determined by multiplying the required design density times the required minimum design area, an additional flow shall be added at the point of connection of the branch line to the cross main furthest from the source to increase the overall demand, not including hose stream allowance, to the minimum required discharge. Opinion #1: The required minimum design area as referenced in 23.4.4.2.5 should be the SAME design area that was utilized for the hydraulic calculations as determined by NFPA 13 Section 11.2.1. In this case the minimum design area would be 1,500 sqft. Opinion #2: Even though the remote area size was determined to be 1,500 sqft per section 11.2.1, the required minimum design area as referenced in 23.4.4.2.5 should be the minimum design area for the smaller, higher hazard area. In this case, the minimum design area should be 2,500 sqft based on the Ordinary Hazard design requirements. So if the flow from the 1,500 sqft hydraulic calculation is less than 500 gpm (2,500 sqft x 0.20 gpm/sqft), then an additional flow will need to be added to the remote area to bring the flow up to 500 gpm. Which of the opinions do you feel is appropriate for this scenario? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe This week is the ten of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Halfway through! Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here. The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here. Week 9 Correction: A question from Week 9 (Question 1) referred to the formula for the mean velocity of a fire plum with a coefficient of 0.77, which matches FPH but not the new NCEES Handbook. This formula should be 1.03 as identified in NCEES 3.4.7. Updates are in the 2020 PE Prep Guide Errata as well, which is explained in full here: www.meyerfire.com/errata. Solutions where updated for Week 9, so those who took the exam later in the week may have already seen the corrected feedback showing a coefficient of 1.03. Visit www.meyerfire.com/errata for more information. Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
I am looking for opinions on the effectiveness and likelihood of a timely operation of sealed sprinklers in open spaces where they are not installed below ceilings or obstructions.
For example, operation of sprinkler under open-grate platforms, or where used as pilot heads around external transformers. Many thanks. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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