Are wet sprinklers required in a woodworking dust collection system with a spark detection and arrest?
Are there any limitations or hazards to installing wet heads in this system such as heads struck by small debris? Do dust collection system fall under industrial exhaust? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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We design fire protection systems for large industrial plants with a large area network running in the kilometers.
In such case there could be chances of surge due do sudden closure of a deluge valve, check valve, or fire pump. We do not have time/expertise to carry on surge analysis on software. I have heard about using tanks for surge. How would we go about sizing an anti-surge tank? Is there any basic guidelines based on fire water flow rate/pump discharge pressure to get first cut sizing of a surge protection tank? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm reviewing a apartment building that meets the requirements for an NFPA 13R system.
My questions: A pump is going to be required for this project and they are proposing to use a booster pump on the incoming waterline at the property line to reach the required pressure for domestic and fire demands. Is a combined domestic/fire pump like this allowed? It would be a private pump. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am building mid-rise wood framed multi-family buildings and am looking into some of the concealed space options available in NFPA 13.
8.15.1.2.17 permits the omission of sprinklers in the concealed space between the underside of wood joists and top of a limited combustible suspended ceiling as long as the joist space is filled with noncombustible insulation within 2 inches of subfloor above. It is 8.15.1.2.17.1 that I am looking for insight on. It requires that the exposed bottom chord of the joists that would be exposed to the concealed space is faced with a noncombustible product installed as per manufacturers specifications. Is there a product that has been recognized to satisfy this requirement? I was thinking about overlaying the fiberglass insulation used to fill the joist cavities to cover the bottom of joist. While it would be full depth in the 2x6 joist, I would compress it and mechanically fasten it so that the joists would not be exposed to the concealed space below. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm reviewing a single-family home NFPA 13D system.
What is the proper way to calculate a 13D system? Is this a 2- or 4-sprinkler calculation? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am looking at a project that shows 6-inch underground lead-in to a riser room. The specs however call out the install of a 1,000 gpm pump. NFPA 20 shows that for a 1,000 gpm pump suction sizing should be no less than 8-inch diameter.
Is a 6-inch even allowed for this application? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is the proper hazard classification for an enclosed loading dock?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a water storage tank and a diesel fire pump on our project.
Is there any requirement for the pressure relief valve discharge pipe, when connected to a supply tank, to be extended below the lowest possible water level? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are working on a project where the site engineer is asking if tapping into the underground fire line is acceptable to supply a water cooling line to a water source heat pump unit with a 3-inch line. I'm having trouble finding where it is not acceptable and thought I'd reach out to the knowledgeable members here. This site has a combination potable/fire line as shown in the picture below. Should we require them to tie into the 8-inch tap from the potable water line upstream of the fire protection vault (blue line in the drawing)? Or is it OK that they tap into the fire supply line downstream of the fire protection vault (red line below)? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
Working on a new resort hotel and it is necessary to have buried pipe before and after a sprinkler control valve.
Is it allowable by code to substitute C900 PVC pipe with Tyco Blazemaster pipe? According to the installation guide of Tyco Blazemaster it could be installed underground. If not, which material can be installed instead of C900 because 4-inch is the smallest size for this pipe? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm working on an NFPA 13 three-story hotel.
Code permits residential sprinklers or quick-response sprinklers in the dwelling units and adjoining corridors. Is there any advantage to using one type of sprinkler over the other? Thanks in advance for your comments. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have five, two-car-high stacking units in a basement area. We have a smoke exhaust system but also need an active protection system. NFPA 13 categorizes such arrangements as Extra Hazard (Group 2). Does anyone have experience of what would be an acceptable layout around these areas as the NFPA 13 guidance is not extensive? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
I'm designing a school that has overhead doors that are 8'-0" x 7'-0" that run up above a 10'-0" or 10'-6" ceiling. The structure is non-combustible (steel beam & steel bar joist) and the walls go deck.
The opening for the door in the drop tile ceiling is an 8'-6" x 1'-0" opening. This opening does not meet the 70% open ceiling requirement and I'm not sure it meets cloud ceiling requirements. The plan reviewer is asking me to place upright sprinkler heads above the ceiling. My interpretation is that I don't need sprinklers above the ceiling. Are sprinklers required above the ceiling? Thank you in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am reviewing a parking garage that is 5-stories in height fully equipped with an NFPA 13 sprinkler system.
The calculations provided for floors 4 and 5 indicate an elevation of 0 at the 3rd floor riser, with the elevations going in the negative values back to the hydrant. Floor 3 calculations indicate an elevation of 0 at the Floor 2 riser. Floor 2 and 1 calculations show an elevation of 0 at the hydrant where the flow test was conducted. Does the location of the "0" elevation affect the calculations demand, if the total change in elevation is still accounted for? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe There always seems to be controversy about residential sprinklers in the garage.
I recently came across a section in the 2018 IRC under Section 309.5 and it states that private garages shall be protected by fire sprinklers (must be residential or quick response, designed to 0.05 gpm/sqft density) where the exterior wall has been designed based on Table 302.1(2) Note A. This table addresses minimum fire resistance ratings for exterior walls. Note (a) allows fire separation distance for non-rated exterior walls and projections to be reduced to 0-feet, unlimited openings and penetrations, with a setback, where residential subdivisions are all sprinklered. While looking at that table, I am not sure how to verify on the sprinkler plans if the garage meets that design method. I have started asking the contractor to add a note on the plans regarding the design method and if they use this table and note to design the wall then sprinklers are required in the garage. How would you interpret this section for compliance? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am working on a project that is manufacturing lithium-metal batteries (not lithium-ion). There are multiple areas throughout the manufacturing process where there is a risk of exposed lithium metal.
With lithium being water reactive, any water based system is not an option. Are there any known alternative fire suppression systems listed and approved for use on a lithium fire? I know that per a couple of different NFPA codes that clean agent and dry-chemical systems are not recommended for use on lithium fires. From what I can find there are just manual fire extinguishers (such and ANSUL's lith-x) for use on lithium fires. Any input would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm laying out the fire sprinklers for a building where the architect has used the IBC exception in Section 403.2.1.2 that requires sprinklers to be installed at the top and alternating floor levels of a vertical shaft. This reduces the required shaft enclosure to be 1-hour for highrises up to 420 feet.
NFPA 13 doesn't seem to address this specific arrangement. I've looked and I'm not finding any installation requirements. I have concerns with just putting sprinklers in the shaft. What's the best type of sprinkler for this? Should they have water shields? Should I have concerns for obstructions? Any guidance would be greatly appreciated, thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an project serving the textile manufacturing industry. We are looking to install a fire hydrant (500 gpm minimum) in proximity to the building.
What is the minimum and maximum distance these hydrant(s) should be located from the building? The project is not under IBC / IFC criteria, only subject to the NFPA series of standards. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Have you ran into issues where you get cited from the AHJ because movable X-Ray equipment can potentially end up right in the location below one of the sprinklers in the room (just 3 to 4 inches below)?
I have two rooms with a sprinkler at each end of the table, and the AHJ surveyor is citing it as a potential obstruction. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I've been looking for a manual way of calculating a gridded pipe system.
Grid systems used to be calculated by hand before software came about, but now, everyone I can find just says they're "too complicated" and to let the software do them. They require multiple iterations, but using Excel, those iterations can be done automatically. Doe anyone have resources or a good reference to calculate a gridded systems manually? I'm thinking manuals or textbooks. Thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
Below is a poll we're generating to gather feedback on what makes for a successful designer. Obviously this is subjective and there is no one right answer, but we wanted to ask the industry so that we can better understand and train those who are new to the industry.
​If you don't see the poll below, click "view in browser" in this email or click the title above. You can view the results after submitting your vote. Select all the options you think apply. We are having problems getting a flowmeter to accurately read the flow rate that matches what we are measuring downstream out through a test header. A reading using calibrated pitot gauges outside at 1,500 gpm, for instance, is showing 1,900 gpm on the flowmeter inside.
Military specifications for the project require that the flowmeter read accurately, and that the system be piped such that flow must go through the flow meter out through the pump test header. The flowmeter manufacturer has recommended using a stream straightener upstream of the flowmeter to better streamline the flow through the meter and get more accurate readings. Does anyone know of a stream straightener that could be used in a fire pump test loop arrangement? I would think it would have to be listed, but that's just a gut feeling. I don't currently know of any listed stream straighteners. We generally need to meet the black and white code and specifications mandates spot-on without any code alternatives, if possible, being that it's a military project. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have two structures that each are sprinkler-protected and require sprinklers. The first is a parking garage, and the second is a combination parking garage and office building.
There is a pedestrian bridge between the two built as an open structure. Are sprinklers required on the pedestrian bridge? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can I use a horizontal sidewall fire sprinkler (not a dry horizontal sidewall) in cold rooms where there is risk of freezing?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'd like to ask a question especially to other specifiers out there. Interested in galvanized pipe, particularly on dry systems.
We all know the valid arguments, reasons, and ever-growing evidence against the use galvanized pipe on dry systems. I always find it curious FM Global is still hanging on to it (although it says galvanizing must be applied after roll-grooving). While the case for nitrogen systems is becoming stronger, and even more cost-effective, I have not seen it going there yet except on military applications, and generally-speaking, owners are not warming up to it yet (maybe I should be a better salesperson). Owner learning-curve is a factor. At the time of this writing (mid-2021) are other specifiers requiring nitrogen systems across-the board? Are you requiring schedule 40 pipe on dry systems? Galvanized? (See also: https://www.meyerfire.com/blog/why-are-dry-pipe-sprinkler-systems-so-difficult ) Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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