I have a high-piled storage project that falls under both the International Fire Code and FM Global. We are using FM Storage Sprinklers.
Are smoke and heat vents required? Under the International Fire Code Chapter 32, I am directed to Section 910 for smoke and heat vents. Section 910 states that if ESFR sprinklers are used then smoke and heat vents are not required. I have read several definitions for ESFR, and they appear to be essentially the same as FM Storage Sprinklers. My problem is that per the interpretation, if I follow FM Global Data Sheet 8-0 and use Storage Sprinklers, then per IFC Section 910.3 I must have the architect add smoke and heat vents for every 50,000 sqft of the buliding. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Is a wet-pipe sprinkler system allowed to be used to circulate water for heating and cooling purposes?
I am designing a wet-pipe sprinkler system under NFPA 13-2019 Edition. The building owner would like to use the sprinkler system as part of the building's heating system. I can find this described as "allowed" in NFPA 13-2016, but not in the 2019 Edition. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Section 903.3.5.2 (IBC 2012)/Section 403.3.3 (IBC 2015) requires and automatic secondary water supply. I am an FPE and I work in a jurisdiction (Hawaii) that has never required this secondary water supply due to local code amendments to IBC. Recent code revisions now require this secondary supply, and I now have my first project subject to this requirement. I'm planning to meet this requirement as as follows;
Am I on the right track here? Is this primary/secondary supply arrangement viable? Does anyone foresee any code or other issues that may be a problem with this arrangement? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project where we're using a vertical turbine fire pump.
NFPA 20 makes reference to a 'water level' at 150% of pump rated capacity. What exactly does this 'water level' mean? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project with exposed sprinklers and pipe in a washdown area that is for full sterilization with 100+ degree water.
What are the best practices used to prevent accidental sprinkler from the hot washdown water, if any? We also have a space with waterproof (sealed) walls and ceilings using pendents and sidewalls - any tips on good practices for a room like this? On the fire alarm side, we've found plastic cover/guards that will provide a reasonable level of protection from the washdown. I appreciate any design suggestions, thanks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a pump house that is 250-ft away from primary building. I was told that we have to maintain a 42-degree temperature inside the pump house.
Although we are in Jacksonville Florida it still gets down to the mid twenty's here and there. The doors are in really bad shape and need replaced to hold in the heat. What are the requirements for replacement doors on a pump house? Do they need to be vented? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is your take on Firemen Access panels to provide on the exterior side of a building, for firefighter access into the building?
The code reference from NFPA is stating required clearances from the interior of the building, or in a room having these panels. I'm just not sure about their utility and why they're required. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are time delay intervals associated with a fire pump's energy source transfer?
Is a 2-minute wait time long enough before notating an impairment when the pump doesn't start operating at peak again after shutting down the main power on an annual pump test? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 13 (2022) states; "Sprinklers shall be installed under all exterior projections greater than 4 feet where combustibles are stored."
I have a retail building and the occupant desires to sell (combustible) merchandise outside their store, under the canopy. The projection greater than 4 feet. My question is related to the term "stored." Is this defined anywhere? The combustible materials are under the canopy during business hours, but brought inside the store when the store is closed. Is the display of products under the canopy considering "storing" them? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is the minimum design area for a deluge system?
NFPA 13 only specifies the design area for wet-pipe and dry-pipe systems. Is the design area the entire system? Many thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We're designing an 8,000sf gymnasium addition to an existing fully wet sprinkled single story 100,000 sqft elementary school.
I'm putting together the design build criteria for the fire suppression system for the addition. What determines if I can tie into the existing system to feed the addition? There are 2-1/2" and 3" lines nearby serving the existing gymnasiums. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a water storage tank that is leaking but cannot find the leak.
They have scoped the pipes, used dye to try to track with no luck. Does anyone know if ground penetrating radar or some other thing that we can try to locate this leak? Any help is appreciated! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Do hot boxes and sales coolers in a (beef) slaughter house require sprinkler protection?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Hi Everyone, I have now designed multiple buildings/tenant improvements where there are free standing phone booths (think London style) throughout the project. I’ve heard mixed requirements when it comes to protecting them:
Does anyone know what section of code drives this protection? What has everyone else done before in the past? Thank you in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The UL Listing for plastic CPVC pipe - states that the plastic is approved to be used for Light Hazard occupancies.
NFPA 13 does allow Light Hazard, but in a small Ordinary Hazard room with limited conditions. Will the NFPA 13 appllication void the UL Listing, since its listing does not mention Ordinary Hazard? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can I use the small room rule out of NFPA 13 in an office with varying ceiling heights?
The room has a partial 8'-0" ceiling and a partial 8'-6" ceiling with the vertical section closed in. We're under NFPA 13-2016. The sprinklers meet the obstruction rules out of Chapter 8 and the spray pattern develops to protect the entire floor space without being obstructed by the change in ceiling elevation. Based on the definitions below, it looks like the ceiling doesn't need to be flat, but I want to make sure I'm applying the rule correctly and I can use a 9'-0" dimension for the small room rule in this situation. NFPA 13-2016 Section A3.3.2.2 defines a small room rule as a compartment of light hazard occupancy classification having unobstructed construction and a floor area not exceeding 800 sqft. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project for an NFPA 11 foam system. The foam system is used to protect oil storage tanks at different terminal facilities.
Under Chapter 12 of NFPA 11 (2021 Edition), who is the party that inspects and signs off on these systems as the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)? Is it the local jurisdiction's fire marshal, the facility's insurance company, or the facility itself? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our project includes a warehouse ESFR fire sprinkler system.
We specified minimum Schedule 10 for all pipe. The contractor has proposed Schedule 7 for use in the 2-1/2" and 4" diameter pipe. Any pros or cons to using Schedule 7 that you'd recommend from experience? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe If an existing building has a pipe schedule system that is determined to be "extra-hazard", without any design information, would that system be equivalent to an Extra Hazard Group 1 hydraulically-calculated design curve of 0.30 at 2,500 sqft?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can a drum drip be used as a remote inspector's test for a sprinkler system?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are completing the build of a 95,000 sqft, 2-story facility. The sprinkler installers are using two manufacturers of fittings and couplings.
Our construction specifications require the fittings, couplings, and gaskets to be from the same manufacturer. They have installed fittings (elbows, tees, etc) from one manufacturer with couplings from another, and vice versa, in multiple areas. I am concerned that any issue later on with that condition could be problematic with liability. I understand there are specifications and tolerances the manufacturers must meet - but is this an issue? I am the AHJ as well as the owner (this is a state building). Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Hello lovely forum. Recently there was a question on taking the FDC off the fire pump bypass as long as it was downstream of any control valves on the pump bypass.
[Moderator Note: link to that question is here: https://www.meyerfire.com/daily/allowed-to-tap-fdc-into-fire-pump-bypass] Building off that question, I have seen freestanding fire department connections being feed into an exterior hotbox that has the backflow preventer. This setup is before the feeds enter the building, and before going to a fire pump inside the building (and control valves before the pump). Is this a violation of code, for having control valves on the FDC line before the valve header? Thanks for your time. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a combustible attic framed with standard wood truss framing. There are dormers that are framed on top of the roof sheathing, that have small 2-ft x 2-ft openings in the sheathing to access the dormer and provide ventilation for the dormers. Both the attic and the dormers are fully protected by the dry system.
My hydraulic calculation area is 2,535 sqft, which is increased for slope and for it being dry. A dormer falls within my remote area. My understanding is that the dormer is considered a combustible concealed space per NFPA 13-2019. The small opening of 2-ft x 2-ft is allowed under NFPA 13 Section 3.3.195. Therefore, the dormer space should not be included in the hydraulic calculations, under NFPA 13-2019 Section 23.4.4.6.5. I am being instructed by an engineer that this area is not qualifying as a concealed space and the additional sprinklers in the dormer need to be included in the hydraulic calculations. Adding the additional 8 sprinkler for the dormer to the already-calculated 34 sprinklers in the attic is causing the possibility of now needing a fire pump. Am I wrong here? Do the dormers need to be included in the remote area for this hydraulic calculation? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 101 has commentary that states that kitchen hood suppression systems are not required to activate public mode alarm for fire alarm systems.
Our Authority Having Jurisdiction stated that since the kitchen hood systems are provided in lieu of required sprinkler systems, then they are required to activate public mode alarm. What is the generally accepted practice for kitchen hood suppression monitoring? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is an access panel or access door required for sprinklers that are installed in a concealed space?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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