In which of the following scenarios is neither explosion protection nor suppression system required? a. Flammable paint warehouse mixing rooms where open transfer of paint occurs b. Dust ventilator equipment where the dust density can be above its lower flammability limit c. Mechanical room where service equipment is subject to explosion d. All of the above require either explosion protection or suppression systems Solution | Posted 08/27/19
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I have a warehouse with a roof 20 feet above. The designer has branch lines hanging under the ceiling joists. He has 10 foot drops of 1-1/2" sched 40 to an ACT ceiling over office spaces. We are in a "D" seismic design category building. I am unable to find any requirements for vertical restraint in the NFPA 13 or ASCE 7-10. Can anyone direct me?
Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does a hydrostatic test need to be performed for a project that just has relocated sprinklers, or just a leakage test subject to working pressure?
I'm having trouble finding where NFPA 13 gives guidance on this. Any help is appreciated. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe An warehouse facility is seeking to store cartoned Level 3 aerosol products on pallets. If the storage height is 10 feet in height with a 23 foot ceiling, what minimum k-factor must be provided for the ceiling-level sprinklers protecting this area? a. K-8.0 b. K-11.2 c. K-14.0 d. K-16.8 Solution | Posted 08/23/19
In NFPA 13 under "Location of Hangers on Branch Lines", Section 9.2.3.6 (2016 Edition) states that "wall-mounted sidewall sprinklers shall be restrained to prevent movement."
This section does not relate to seismic restraint, and annex material clarifies as much. How is this sidewall-restraint typically achieved? Many sidewall sprinkler installations have an armover and a drop that goes down the wall before a reducing elbow serves the sprinkler in the wall, and I don't recall ever seeing a means to restrain the pipe (or sprinkler) for steel jobs. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Hydrogen gas will combust at which of the following percent volumetric concentrations in air? i. 2.5% ii. 35% iii. 65% iv. 85% a. ii and iii b. iii and iv c. ii, iii, and iv d. i, ii, iii, and iv Solution | Posted 08/22/19
Do you have any thoughts or input on the interior exit stair penetration limitations of Section 1023.5 of the IBC?
I have someone contending that you aren’t allowed to run a “bulk feed” main into a stairtower and then back out again on a different level. They claim that 1023.5 limits penetrations only to MEP equipment that serves the stairwell itself. I contend that, especially as clarified in the 2018 edition (although I contend that it was always the intent), any fire protection system is allowed to penetrate such a stairtower as needed, as long as the penetrations are correctly firestopped etc… The confusion comes from the 2015 edition, which reads (emphasis added to indicate the confusion that I think this person is having): “Penetrations into or through interior exit stairways and ramps are prohibited except for equipment and ductwork necessary for independent ventilation or pressurization, sprinkler piping, standpipes, electrical raceway for fire department communication systems and electrical race-way serving the interior exit stairway and ramp and terminating at a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches. Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance with Section 714. There shall not be penetrations or communication openings, whether protected or not, between adjacent interior exit stairways and ramps.” I believe that that person is seeing that “serving the interior exit stairway and ramp” portion of that snippet, and they are applying it to everything. However, I contend that that is actually applying specifically to “…and electrical race-way serving the interior exit stairway and ramp and terminating at a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches”. I think that the person is cherry picking what they want it to say, although it is somewhat confusing the way it’s all written on one line. I believe that if that person really wanted to apply this verbatim, then you would not even be allowed to have combined standpipes that feed sprinkler systems outside the stairwell, or even dedicated sprinkler risers in the stairwell wouldn’t be allowed to serve any floor area outside the stairwell. Basically any sprinkler riser in a stairwell would only be allowed to feed that specific stairwell… I think it’s clear that this is not the intent of the code. Read More Here Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe An open, unobstructed space connects an entry level lobby with a balcony on the level above in a fully sprinklered residential building while separated from the remainder of the building with a smoke barrier. If the space only has low hazard contents and meets egress requirements, what type of space does it qualify as? a. Atrium b. Communicating Space c. Convenience Opening d. Two-Story Opening with Partial Enclosure Solution | Posted 08/21/19
NFPA 13 Section 8.15.4 (2013 Edition) requires certain types of unenclosed floor openings to be protected with closely spaced sprinklers where sprinklers serve as an alternative to the enclosure of the vertical opening.
What method do you use to determine if the opening requires enclosure, and thus closely-spaced sprinklers? As a sprinkler designer, I may overlook something in the Building Code that allows the unprotected opening, or vice versa. A pre-bid RFI to the architect seems to be the best course, but it would be nice to have something to hang the hat on before the bid is submitted. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe 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 Correction on the Week 11 Exam: Question #8 asked for the carbon dioxide quantity in kilograms but the solution was in pounds. The correct answer is 156 lb, or 71 kg. This has now been updated in the series for future users.
I've heard from several installers that small diameter schedule 10 pipe (such as 1-1/4") will warp if there's more than two welded outlets made onto it.
Would any installer/contractors weigh in on how you best combat this problem? I could see larger diameter (1-1/2" or more) schedule 10 as a possible solution, which also helps hydraulics. I could also see voluntarily going to schedule 40 as a possible solution. Cutting the pipe into shorter segments and adding couplings would also help, but I could see the cost adding up for the labor, couplings, and additional hangers. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The International Building Code requires identification of fire partitions, barriers, or fire walls with 3" letters identifying the wall itself.
I've seen (especially in hospitals) labels for each through-penetration with a UL Listing sticker right below each penetration. Is this a requirement by code, or just a hospital standard? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe My son has purchased a condo, (prior apt conversion). They removed the closet doors in the living room related to an air flow vent return on one side when the central air was added.
There is a sprinkler in the center of the former closet. I was told I can not enclose the sprinkler in a closet when I wanted to build the closet doors 3/4 of the way, (leaving 35 inches for the air flow vent). So, now the closet would be only 40" wide. Do you know in MN if I can enclose the sprinkler? Thank you. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Which of the following arrangements is not permitted for a new prison, under NFPA standards? a. Sprinkler Protected, Type II (222) Construction, High-Rise Building b. Sprinkler Protected, Type II (000) Construction, 3-Story Building c. Sprinkler Protected, Type IV (2HH) Construction, 2-Story Building d. Sprinkler Protected, Type V (000) Construction, 1-Story Building Solution | Posted 08/16/19
Once again great info/insight. Though it made me think.
What if you have a type II hood without wet chem protection? Are sprinklers required? I think yes (following obstruction rules). To take it a step further, what if you have a type I hood with protection over the required appliances including the plenum but not below the plenum in areas where there are ovens/non-cooking equipment? As an AHJ, I have never required additional protection here. But now I question myself. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Determine the required thrust block volume (in cubic feet) for a 45-degree elbow serving a wet 6-inch schedule 10 pipe in sandy silt with a 50% safety factor added. The water within the pipe has a maximum pressure of 140 psi and the block material has a density of 150 pounds per cubic foot. a. 28 cubic feet b. 31 cubic feet c. 44 cubic feet d. 63 cubic feet Solution | Posted 08/14/19
I'm considering testing for NICET fire alarm certification. What I don't yet know and would be very interested in is who typically prepares fire alarm shop drawings?
Do freelance fire alarm designers/engineers make up a large portion of shop drawing preparation, or is it mostly all completed by a fire alarm company's designer? Do large manufacturers (Simplex/JCI) complete all of their own shop drawing work with in-house designers? Thanks in advance - I'm trying to get a better perspective for my career. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe White Oak wood having a density of 450, moisture-content of 25% is exposed to a standard fire (ASTM E119) test for 2 hours. What is the expected char depth most nearly? a. 1 mm b. 64 mm c. 72 mm d. 224 mm Solution | Posted 08/13/19
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NFPA 20 permits the demand for a suppression system to be between 90% and 140% of a fire pump's rated capacity (NFPA 20-2019 4.10.1 and Annex A.4.10.1). The pressure demand must always be less than the pressure supplied by the pump's performance curve along this range.
Does this concept apply to standpipes? For instance, could a 750 gpm pump provide 1,000 gpm demand for standpipes since it would be running at 133% of its rated flow? If it can be done, is it good practice? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When doing thrust block calculations NFPA 13 gives an angle that is the bend off the centerline of the original pipe.
What angle should be used for a tee or a dead end? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does anyone know which calculation can be applied (or if there is a calculator available) to determine if an insulated pipe will freeze (or how long it will take to freeze)?
We have a scenario where we specified a heat trace system to be used on branch lines extending from the building to an exposed exterior soffit that is subject to freezing conditions. Due to cost concerns, the school/contractor want to remove the heat trace and just insulate the pipe. Thanks. Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe An opening within a smoke partition for air transfer requires what type of protective device? a. fire/smoke damper, minimum 45 minute rating b. fire/smoke damper, minimum 1.5 hour rating c. smoke damper, minimum 250 F rated d. smoke damper, minimum 350 F rated Solution | Posted 08/08/19
Where can I find a contractor the performs internal Water Storage tank inspections per NFPA 25?
The customer is have difficulty as the local contractors do not perform these inspections because of the age of tank and liability. The contractors I have spoken with say that the tank is not large enough to put divers in. The dimensions are approximately 25 -30 foot diameter, and approximately 25-30 feet in height. Then the contractors say due to the age of the tank there is a liability they are not willing to take on. One contractor suggested finding a company that uses drones. Any suggestions on how to proceed? Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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