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We have encountered a situation not fully addressed before in our jurisdiction.
Scenario: Existing fully sprinklered hospital having renovation work done in multiple areas and floors. Some phases of work take months, others take 6+ months to complete. After ICRA walls (Infection Control Risk Assessment / temporary walls to isolate construction areas) are installed, the GC will remove the existing ceilings and commence with architectural demolition. At that time, we (sprinkler contractor) came in and removed the existing pendent sprinklers and replaced them with upright heads on short 3" sprigs (without regard to obstructions or distance down from structure). This is due to existing MEP trades yet to perform their scope of work, ie: HVAC, Plumbing demo, then new install. NFPA 241 indicates that the temporary upright sprinklers need to be installed with regards to the obstructions per NFPA 13. At this phase of construction, that would necessitate installing the upright sprinklers for ductwork that is scheduled to be demolished in a few weeks along with other MEP trades. By following the sprinkler obstruction rules of NFPA 13, the net effect is that we would constantly be relocating the temporary protection at the same time each trade completes a portion of their work. This issue has just arisen recently based upon an AHCA site visit (Agency for Health Care Administration). Prior installations of the uprights without obstruction spacing rules has not been called out. How has this issue of temporary sprinkler protection for buildings under renovation been delt with by others? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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I am the third-party reviewer for an existing building that is a high-rise but does not have elevator pressurization.
If this were a new building, IBC (2021) Section 3006.3 would apply. But, this is an existing building, and the work qualifies as an Alteration Level 2. The primary engineer says that since the freight elevator is within the work area (although not being touched), per IEBC 801.3, the client will need to install either elevator curtains or a vestibule to keep smoke out per Section 3006.3. I am of the opinion that since they aren't touching the elevator, I think the IEBC 803.1 is a stretch, and the fact that per Exception 5 of the Vertical Openings Section (803.2.1), the elevator isn't even required to be enclosed. (I do think it's a good idea though, and it's not like it's every floor, only their project space would get curtained. This is purely a code required question, though. Does an existing high-rise with Level 2 Alteration trigger smoke management here, even though the elevator is not altered? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have an apartment, protected by a birdcage residential sprinkler system per NFPA 13. We need to calculate the most demanding 4 sprinklers, which end up being 3 in the room and another on the back side of one of the 3 (this apartment has the longest throw).
I need to calculate the most demanding of the two (1) flow rates per the approval chart in the sprinkler's listing, or (2) calculate based on 0.10 gpm/sqft over design area according to 8.5.2.1 or 8.6.2.1.2. Can I choose 8.5.2.1 or 8.6.2.1.2? Or is it the more demanding of 8.5.2.1 or 8.6.2.1.2, and then compare that to the flow rates per the approval chart in the sprinkler's listing? Thank you in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Haven't come across this one before - are the horizontal pipes, both suction and/or discharge from a fire pump, required to be seismically braced?
We have seismic bracing required for the building and a review comment to assess bracing for the fire pump suction and discharge. NFPA 20 and 13 both don't seem to speak to it, but perhaps I am missing something. What is code required for seismic on these two runs? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In NFPA 13 (2025), where does it show what AREA discharge is needed for the Rack Storage tables? I'm looking at Table 21.4.1.2.1 for Class II, up to 15", 8-foot aisles, and it says a density of 0.22 for ordinary temperature sprinklers, but what AREA? It happens that this is inside a cooler (44 degrees F), which is why I am not looking at the high-temperature values. Any assistance appreciated. Anything else I should know? In CA, we are just starting to use the 2025 Edition, so it is new to me! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  I have an ESFR-protected warehouse. The General Contractor is putting in offices with grid ceiling. A full-height demising wall separates the warehouse from the newly constructed office space. Heads are being dropped from the branchlines at deck height to the new grid ceiling.
Are the ESFR sprinklers above the new office ceiling required to be plugged by code, or can they remain in place? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm designing a sprinkler system for a hotel. The layout is pretty standard with hotel rooms and corridors, but on one end of the corridor is a "suite" of utility/maintenance rooms.
The rooms are labelled as "Housekeeping" (260sf), and through that, "Electrical" (70sf), and "Linen Chute" (30sf). All walls are 1-hour rated. I am calculating them as Ordinary Group 1. My question is: How do I determine the design area? Can I calculate just the Ordinary Hazard spaces like a Room Design method, or would I calculate the Ordinary Hazard spaces plus four corridor sprinklers? Or does it need to be 900 sf (1500 with QR reduction)? Thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We are the Engineer of Record (EOR) with an RFI for building in the substantial completion phase of construction. The contract documents called for delegated fire protection design. The working drawings called for upright sprinklers in the combustible concealed space above a vaulted ceiling. Instead of installing the uprights, it was agreed by the fire protection sub and general contractor that the space would be filled with insulation. The FP contractor's engineer, who prepared the working drawings, observed that the concealed space was not completely filled per NFPA 13 requirements. The architect has deemed that fire sprinklers are not required for this building due to the square footage. The rest of the entire building is fully covered. Can the combustible concealed space between the vaulted ceiling and the roof be considered a portion of the building that is not intended to be covered by sprinklers? Meaning per New York State (NYS) Fire Code (FC) 901.4.2, the building is partially furnished for protection? Or, is the combustible concealed space considered part of the open room assembly, meaning it must meet NFPA 13 requirements since the vaulted ceiling for the room space is protected by pendent sprinklers? Our initial reaction is that if sprinklers are provided and not required by the NYS Building Code, then the system would be considered required per NYS FC 901.4.1 and would need to meet the requirements of NFPA-13. What are your thoughts? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  Observation of insufficient insulation in concealed space.  We have a disagreement on a fire pump installation. Flow test shows 42 psi static, 10 psi residual at 475 gpm from an 8" municipal main.
The fire sprinkler contractor plotted the water supply curve and says it cannot support the specified 1,000 gpm @ 100 psi pump; they're refusing to certify the fire pump without a suction tank or another resolution. The mechanical engineer argues the 8" main at 42 psi static should theoretically deliver way more than 1,000 gpm and questions whether the flow test results accurately represent what the pump will actually see at its suction connection. The steep pressure drop (42 psi to 10 psi in only 475 gpm) seems abnormal for an 8" main. The area has aging infrastructure and known low-pressure issues. Looking for the community's input on: (1) Is the fire sprinkler contractor correct to base their analysis on residual pressure under flow conditions, or should we be looking at static pressure as the mechanical engineer suggests? (2) What's the correct NFPA 20 methodology for evaluating water supply adequacy for a fire pump? (3) When you see such a steep pressure drop in a flow test, what are the typical causes and how would you approach resolving this? What solutions have worked for others dealing with marginal municipal water supplies? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a minimum aisle width for racks using ESFR sprinklers?
I see there are a couple of areas where they mention min aisle widths, but they are not common situations. I also see in the manufacturer's data sheets, but those are only for the larger sprinklers K25 & above. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Anyone know of an economical way to store 30,000 gallons of Fire Sprinkler water above ground in (2) 15k or (3) 10k poly tanks stored outside in area that can get below 0 degrees in the winter?
1) Can these tanks be insulated? 2) Can these tanks be equipped with immersion heaters? 3) Do these tanks degrade when exposed to the sun? Ideally, we are pushing the client to consider building a structure or Lean-To with some heat to solve all of these questions. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can electric valves be used to replace deluge valves in foam systems?
NFPA 11 does not seem to prohibit this practice. Other than their relatively slow actuation time, electric valves have no significant drawbacks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 20 (2019) Figure A.4.22.1.3(b) provides a typical diagram indicating pipe for fire pump test connections. In this detail the flow meter loop is shown to return to the suction side of the pump and connect between the fire pump and the suction side OS&Y control valve.
I have seen installations over the years where this connection is placed on the inlet or city side of the OS&Y. This seems to simplify the loop arrangement. Functionally, it would seem to be similar as you would need the OS&Y open to allow some cooling water to reach the circulation relief valve. Is there anything in NFPA 20 that would prohibit this arrangement? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In order to use pipe and fittings, they need to be "listed for fire protection service."
Do fire pump sensing lines need to meet this listing? What about compressed air lines coming from the air compressor to the air maintenance device, do they need to meet this listing? What about air on the downstream side of the maintenance device? We're curious on different methods to install these components where some fittings & pipe combinations are listed and some aren't (such as copper pro-press for sensing lines). Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Thank you for rounding out the year with all of your expertise! Here are our top December 2025 contributors.
IBC 3008.1 states that when elevators are used for occupant self‑evacuation, all passenger elevators for general public use must comply with Sections 3008.1–3008.10.
The language is unclear: does this require full 3008 compliance for every passenger elevator in the building, or only for the elevators specifically designated for occupant self‑evacuation (e.g., those serving levels above 420 ft / 128 m)? How is this typically interpreted in super high‑rise buildings where adding an additional exit stair is not feasible? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Has anyone encountered situations where a dry sprinkler system had incorrect repairs or installations, but still passed inspection because NFPA 25 allows portions of the inspection to be done from ground level—even though the piping is actually located in an attic?
Is this actually acceptable under NFPA 25? What recourse did you have? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What commodity classification would boxed flatscreen TVs fall under?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In the absence of a code-mandated requirement, what safety factor should we apply when evaluating fire flow, if you apply one at all? I am currently working on a building that has a code-required fire flow of 2,000 gpm at 20 psi. Using the MeyerFire Toolkit to evaluate the water supply, I found that the available fire flow is 2,004 gpm at 20 psi. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  For multiple systems with an FDC, is it still necessary to install a check valve downstream of the control valve on the water supply feed? If no check valve is installed, will the water flow back to the main water supply pipe instead of flowing to the sprinklers or hose connections when the FDC is in use? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  I have a 115,ooo sq ft warehouse with a monitored sprinkler system. There is a pump room 200 feet away that has the FACP. The main water supply enters the building, then has three separate risers labeled as system 1, system 2, and system 3. Is there a fire code that requires the building to have signage on the exterior of the structure indicating where Zone 1, 2, or 3 is? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe  I'm having trouble finding code citations for this, but if a single-owner site with multiple buildings (like a transportation authority property that has multiple separate buildings) has a dedicated fire water loop serving the sprinkler and hydrant water for the site, can they provide FDCs where the fire water ties into the municipal water, and not provide FDCs for the individual building sprinklers?
Or is each sprinkler system required to have its own FDC? I would imagine that each building with a sprinkler system would still require an FDC, but I can't really find code language about this specific topic. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe [from Joe] Happy New Year!
I'm thankful for the community we have here. Just wanted to start off a slow day with a question for you - What tools or resources could we be thinking about constructing in 2026? What do you want to see more of from us? Cheatsheets? Tools? Topics? Let's hear it. Cheers! - Joe Meyer |
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