I understand that Chapter 7 of NFPA 101 applies to stairs on the means of egress.

However, in the case of a feature stair, does the same dimensional requirements and handrails on both sides still apply?

In theory, should a person be on the feature stair when the fire alarm activates, they would need to traverse the stair to escape and it therefore forms part of the means of egress?

Thanks in advance.

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Section 5.3.2.1 of NFPA 25, Gauges shall be replaced or tested every five years by comparison with a calibrated gauge.

Is it required for us to provide a sticker on the gauge to indicate it has been re-calibrated by the 3rd party, or will a sharpie inscription on the glass of the gauge be sufficient to meet this requirement?

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I have a building with FM Approved doors, but I can’t identify the fire resistance rating.

We have a fire label but nothing else (see the image). Is there a minimum fire rating for any FM Approved door?

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What is the required duration for a Secondary Water Supply within Seismic Zone?

IBC Section 403.3.3:
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"The secondary water supply shall have a duration of not less than 30 minutes as determined by the occupancy hazard classification in accordance with NFPA 13."

Does this mean minimum 30 minutes, with the gpm/demand determined by NFPA 13?

Or the minimum duration is also determined by NFPA 13, such that the secondary water supply could require an even longer duration, like 60 minutes?

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I have a plan reviewer that is not accepting our proposed design for a manual standpipe calculation.

The calculation shows a required pressure on the fire department pumper truck to be a minimum of 217 PSI.

It has been confirmed that the pumper truck can reach and/or exceed 250 PSI.

The AHJ is requesting that we increase the standpipe from 4-inch to 6-inch, which is not alleviating the higher pressures as we are still above 175 PSI.

This would be a first for me to have to install pressure reducing hose valves on a manual wet standpipe.

My understanding per NFPA-14 (2016) 7.2.3.2 is that this is only an issue when the static pressures on the systems exceed 175 PSI (city static is 113 PSI).

So in essence, we are advising the fire department pumper truck operator to dial his pump up to 217, but this wouldn't be static, as they would be flowing out of the hose valve(s), correct?

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Has anyone dealt with the robotic parking garages?

The 2021 IFC/IBC Section 903.2.10.2:
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Mechanical-access enclosed parking garages. An approved automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings used for the storage of motor vehicles in a mechanical-access enclosed parking garage. The portion of the building that contains the mechanical-access enclosed parking garage shall be protected with a specially engineered automatic sprinkler system.

Some of the articles I read indicated a water mist with foam. Completely new thought processes to go through for these since there is very little access for fire personnel.

Any thoughts on where to begin or what to read would be appreciated. Thanks.

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In the introduction (Origin and Development) to the 2023 Ed. of NFPA 25, it mentions that several changes have been made to Chapter 5, "such as additional requirements to remove concealed sprinkler cover plates and inspect the sprinklers". I have scoured the text of Chapter 5, and cannot find this requirement anywhere.

Was this discussed but not implemented?

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For determining the capacity of a water storage tank, is the tank capacity calculated by the max flow extension of a pump curve or by 140% rated capacity? Or could it even be 120% of the pump rated capacity?

Looking for guidance on how the pump size and water storage tank size would be directly related.

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I am working on a 4-story multifamily building that's above a 1-level parking garage on the ground floor.

The exterior wall is less than 10-ft fire separation distance to the property line, requiring the exterior wall it to be 1-hour fire-resistance-rated.

Since it is an open parking garage, I need a lot of openings within this wall to provide ventilation. Denver has an amendment that allows 50% allowable openings with water curtains per NFPA 13.

Since the parking garage will have a dry system, is this even possible?

It seems like a very odd condition but again I need over 25% opening within the wall to comply as an open parking garage.

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For exposed copper piping in Ordinary Hazard occupancies, can the joints be soldered (sweat) together or must they be brazed?

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The maximum allowable protection area for a sprinkler listed is in Table 8.6.2.2.1(a) of NFPA 13 (2016 Edition).

Section 8.5.2.1.1(1)(b) says to choose the larger of twice the distance to the wall, or the distance to the next sprinkler.

Do we use the protection areas in Table 8.6.2.2.1(a) when applying this code section, or do you use the maximum allowable protection area for a sprinkler that's listed in the manufacturer's data?

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There was a warehouse that was struck by a tornado in 2021 which is in my jurisdiction, and we are now seeing some warehouses wanting to place pre-built tornado shelters within their buildings (which is great).

My question is: do the pre-built shelters need to have sprinkler protection?

My feelings are that the shelters are non-combustible, the only fuel-load would be from the 5-gallon bucket-style water closet and a privacy drape.

Obviously, a fire in this unit while occupied would not be tenable long before a sprinkler head would activate. I also understand that if a portion of a building that would normally be sprinklered (a school hallway) and is "hardened" to make it qualify as a shelter would still require sprinklers.

Thanks in advance for any help or guidance.

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I’ve been reviewing standards to determine the equivalency between fireproofing thickness and the fire resistance rating.

This is for an industrial plant structure. I realize there are many factors but at some point I need a reference to determine what the rating is required to be.

What is the process to determine what the required fire-resistance-rating of a component needs to be?

In this case, it is for structural steel supporting columns of the open structure. The structure is composed of the main support columns and those supporting vessels, etc. The structure is about 5-6 levels tall.  For simplicity I wanted to address the main columns starting on floor 1 where a pool fire may start.  If I could find the standard / guidance for this then I can adapt for vessel supports, etc.  

I’ve been through calculations and information from API 2218 to determine the fireproofing thickness for a certain hour rating. However, I have yet to determine or find the hourly rating requirement.

I’m assuming it will be 1-3 hours, for example, using API 2510 (LPG) as a guide with reference to UL 1709. It does specify a 1½ hour time rating which then gives a fireproofing thickness. Further, the fire protection requirements will come from a risk assessment of the system. I have to be able to give guidance to the risk team to help them come to suitable answers.

What can I use to provide a best answer to an hourly rating, hopefully, chapter and verse?

Thank you for your help in advance.

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Is missing a coverplate for a concealed sprinkler a deficiency in NFPA 25 that would be required to be corrected?

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So I am dealing with a building who stores plastic containers, I asked for the SDS sheets to find out what they say as far as protection.

The SDS sheets only mention water fog, dry chemical, foam, and carbon dioxide as suitable extinguishing agents; no water spray. The building currently has water spray. 

In the SDS under "Unsuitable Extinguishing Media" it lists "none known". Does this mean that water spray could be suitable for use even though it is not mentioned under extinguishing media?

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The architect has specified a solid panel ceiling in an 8-ft wide corridor.

The ceiling has a 4-inch gap that extends the width of the corridor. The gap is spaced every 8-ft.

The architect would like us to locate the sprinklers in the gaps so the ceiling has a clean look. The gaps are open to above. There are no sprinklers above the ceiling.

I believe the sprinklers should be installed in the solid part of the ceiling, not the gap, so heat can collect and activation is not delayed.

Am I correct?

​Thank you in advance for your responses.

We are working on a new (750 gpm) standpipe system.

When testing and setting the field adjustable 2-1/2" PRV hose valves, do you set each one flowing 250 gpm while also flowing 500 gpm elsewhere, to account for the hydraulically calculated design (i.e. lower inlet pressure per NFPA 14-11.5.5.1)?

Or do you just set each one only flowing 250 GPM by itself?

Thanks in advance.

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We have a Type-I, non-combustible condominium building over 75-feet tall.

The existing ceiling is concrete coated with filigree, then a popcorn finish.

For the renovation (and adding lighting), a new ceiling is being dropped using a 1-1/2" steel hat track then 1/2" drywall for a total of a 2-inch drop.

Existing smoke detectors are 10-year battery, surface-mounted to the filigree ceiling. They are not linked or part of the building fire alarm system. There is one fire alarm speaker in each unit tied to the building fire alarm system.

Do the smoke detectors have to be flush with the new drywall surface, or could they be left on the filigree ceiling?

I believe the speaker can be left attached to the filigree ceiling and be in a pocket (or a void) in the new drywall ceiling with a metal speaker cover. The sound is actually amplified.

I've never heard or seen a smoke detector being installed below or even with the surface of the ceiling, though. 

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I have a situation with obstructed construction; solid 18-inch steel beams with pockets being over 320 square feet. The beams are 10-ft on center. 

The area is part of a warehouse, Ordinary Hazard Group 2. 

Can I space my branch lines 14-ft apart if I'm protecting every pocket?

Sprinklers are 5-ft (on center) from beam and 14-ft to the next branch line.

Thanks in advance!

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Looking for some back history here - why is heat sensor detection temperature 57 degrees C?

On what basis was sprinkler temperature determined to be 68 degrees C?

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When I first started this forum four or so years ago now, I had hoped that it would bring together expertise from different perspectives; different roles, opinions, locations, and more. My goal was to help craft a space that was about helping find best practices and help the industry by sharing the knowledge, not by bashing an issue or the person asking the question.

You all have made this community great. Really, really great. 

I try my best to curate good questions that we all can learn from. Sometimes I get it right, sometimes not. But I personally do learn quite a bit even on questions that I would have thought I knew all there was to know. 

So thank you for continuing to make this Forum excellent - all of you.

With that in mind, we want to do a little bit of celebrating around here with the Top Forum Contributors in 2022.

And the Top Ten Contributors are (in alphabetical order):​
​

As a thank you from our team for sharing and helping improve the industry, each Top Contributor will get a plaque like the one shown above. We'll also note the future top contributor leaderboards with a flag next to each person's name signifying their Top Contributor status.

Thanks for your continued comradery and Congratulations!!

- Joe Meyer

I am working on a NFPA 13R 3-story apartment building.

The Labor & Industries (Washington State) compliance elevator inspector is requiring sprinklers in the pit and in the machine room, because it has more than 2 occupants and it is a commercial elevator.

Can someone clarify if Labor & Industries requirements do not follow NFPA standards? If they do not, do their requirement supersede adopted NFPA standards?

Have others ran into similar situations like this?

Thanks in advance.

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When supporting pipe using trapeze hangers, is it acceptable to have the pipe resting on top of trapeze, or does it have to be hung from it?

Are there listing or approval issues associated with this?

The situation involves using trapeze to hang pipe under a duct but it needs to be as tight as possible to duct work. Having the pipe on top of trapeze would accommodate our situation.

Thanks in advance.

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