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Does an In-Building Riser require a thrust block?
I commonly see either mechanically-restrained pipe and fittings, or, an In-Building Riser (IBR) used when a fire service stubs into a building. Is a thrust block required for the IBR? https://www.watts.com/products/plumbing-flow-control-solutions/risers/ibr2 I can't seem to find any verbiage on the product data for Ames' IBR one way or another. Thanks for clarifying my confusion here. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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How is it determined whether a steel structure will have spray-applied fire resistant materials?
I'm creating performance specification for a bid-set on a project, so I don't yet have input from a structural engineer. The project is a warehouse with large fire loads and exposed steel. Recently, a project out for bid is a low-rise office building, 100% sprinklered with a wet-pipe system that is concealed by a suspended ceiling. On that project, all of the structural steel has spray-applied fire resistant materials. What drives the issue of spray-applied fire resistive materials? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have an existing business that is approximately 4,000 sqft. It's a single-story building being renovated into an infusion center with (14) IV patient rooms.
I would consider this type of occupancy to be an Ambulatory Care occupancy because of (4) or more care recipients to be incapable of self preservation at any time. Under Ambulatory Care, this building would need to be sprinkler protected under the International Fire Code. Are these type of centers considered to fall under Ambulatory Care, or just a doctor's out patient Business occupancy? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a house (single family home) that will require an NFPA 13D system, but it is not going to be connected to city water.
There is a well onsite. The well completion report does not provide a pressure or flow output. Can the well be used as part of the hydraulic calculations? What data would be necessary to incorporate it? If not, I'm assuming that both a pump and tank would be needed here for the 13D system? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project in an old building (historic city) that has 3/4-inch branch pipe in their sprinkler system. We've recommended, based on good practice, to change these out for minimum 1-inch due to the potential of obstructions, and that NFPA 13 has not recognized 3/4-inch branch pipe for over 50 years now.
The client is pushing back asking for a reference stating that 3/4-inch lines need to be replaced. I cannot find anything in NFPA standards which would "require" it. Do you have any helpful references on this that would help educate the client here? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe When would a parking garage require an occupant notification system?
NFPA 101 has some fairly clear guidelines but isn't applicable in my project, the 2015 ICC codes are. I can't find anything in Section 907 for S occupancies and Section 406 doesn't really give much direction either. Open, enclosed, above or below grade, and above or below other occupancies; It doesn't seem super straight-forward. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is there a specific code requirement to keep the flow switch cover installed on the device?
It is good practice to keep it on, but is there a code requirement especially when running a 110V horn-strobe from the flow switch? As always thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The 2019 Edition of NFPA 1221 (Standard for the Installation, Maintenance, and Use of Emergency Services Communications Systems) Section 4.5.2 requires that communication centers "be provided with an automatic fire detection, alarm and notification system in accordance with NFPA 72."
But what constitutes "automatic fire detection?" I'm thinking this is alluding to wanting full smoke coverage of the area/space but the language of "fire detection" seems intentionally vague. A supervised automatic suppression system would meet this definition I think; its seems excessive to think a constantly attended room with fully sprinkler coverage would also require full smoke detection. Is there some other guidance I need to consider here? Is this defined elsewhere? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a rather basic question about fire flow . I'm a site/civil engineer working to validate a municipality's capacity for fire flow demand at a townhome development.
According to the New York State Building Code, townhomes do not required sprinkler systems. My next approach was to use the ISO Guide to determine Needed Fire Flow which is based on a few different architectural components. What I'm confused about is where is ISO used versus the NFPA 1142 standard? Are both of the standards meant to consider the large individual unit or building's area? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project with Lithium-Ion Batteries stored in racks, not to be confused with Energy Storage Systems (ESS).
This will be for an electric vehicle assembly facility. NFPA 13 to my knowledge is silent, despite some joint testing/assessment by FM Global and NFPA. The storage height of the test array was only 15-ft if memory serves which could be a significant limiting factor (link below) https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Hazardous-Materials/Lithium-ion-batteries-hazard-and-use-assessment My initial thought is to have a risk assessment completed by an Engineer, and have them set some design considerations based on the applicable storage parameters. I believe we're looking at single and double-row racks in excess of 15-ft in height. Has anybody else protected a similar storage array with sprinklers? Would you have any suggestions on how best to approach this hazard? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have an existing, single-story building. It's existing Ordinary Hazard Group II that is going to change from acoustical ceiling tile throughout to have no ceiling and be open to structure. The space will essentially be wide open (like a furniture store).
The existing automatic sprinkler system has a 4 inch main that runs the length of the building with branch pipe for the sprinklers. Would it make more sense to remove and replace the branch pipe for the open structure layout with upright sprinklers, or keep the branch pipe and armover as needed for upright sprinkler spacing? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe My understanding is that when using residential concealed sprinklers in a single-family (residential) home, there is an exception to beams - that we space as if they are not present. This is in the living room (image below). I think the plan reviewer is looking for sprinklers within each bay. My reading of the code was that concealed sprinklers cannot be lowered, so I disregarded the beams.  Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am working on a mixed-occupancy project using NFPA 13 (2013 Edition). The ground floor is commercial space and Levels 2-6 are residential.
The residential areas use residential-type sprinklers with two hydraulic calculations; one in a suite on Level 6 (4 sprinklers), and the other in the Level 6 Corridor. How many sprinklers should be included in the corridor calculation? Section 11.2.3.4.2 suggests it should be 7 sprinklers since they form a line down the corridor. Section 11.3.1.1 suggests that it should only be 4 sprinklers since they are residential-type. What section is correct here? Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe CPVC has compatibility issues with various sealants.
As an architect, I can specify, review submittals, and keep an eye open during site visits, but there's a lot to keep track of. That goes for our engineers, who frequently cross-specify products. Throwing "compatibility" language in the spec is ultimately lazy, lame, and functionally unenforceable. Does the sprinkler industry have a way to control what comes in contact with CPVC? Is there a better way to prevent other products from being in contact with the pipe (ie: actual adherence)? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Galvanized standoff hangers are used all the time for CPVC - are they allowed to be used with steel pipe also?
Product data that I'm looking at doesn't say that they cannot be used for steel, but they say "rated for use with CPVC". If they're capable with a weaker product (CPVC), then wouldn't that be more conservative than steel? I haven't come across this before, but we have a unique structure situation where we'll be routing pipe slightly above a structural frame in a lab-type setting, and the standoffs would provide a clean/strong way to support the pipe. Thanks in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a hospital that has two "double hose valves" at the top of two different standpipes on the roof. One is on a helipad and the other is below on a different roof. Both are the most remote locations.
Per NFPA 25, for the 5-year test, I'm supposed to flow 500 gpm at the most remote then an additional 250 gpm at a different standpipe until I reach 1,000 gpm for the fully-sprinklered building. Can I just flow 500 gpm out of both double-hose valves (2 standpipes), or do I have to flow 500 gpm, then 250 gpm, then 250 gpm using three different standpipes? Thanks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Under the "Protection of piping against damage where subject to earthquakes" NFPA 13 requires "listed flexible pipe couplings" to be installed where pipe passes over seismic joints or building expansion joints.
Is there any similar requirement when the building is not subject to earthquakes? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Sprigs that are over 4-feet in length are required to be restrained under NFPA 13.
What options do we have to achieve this? I'd like to hear some different methods used to do this to expand my own knowledge here. Different situations like construction type and if the structural members are above or below the sprig. Thanks so much. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a project where we are discussing what code year of NFPA 13 will be applicable for the project.
Is the edition of NFPA 13 determined by the AHJ, the I-code year of adoption, or the state? Some of our cities spell it out, but others do not specify NFPA years of adoption, on the I-Code series. Curious to your thoughts, since this could impact exterior projection interpretation for the project. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Not all of you get to read the positive posts we receive about this Forum, but I'd like to throw a thank you out to everyone in the way of sharing some of the positive notes that have been sent in with questions. Here are a few recents: "First - I really appreciate this forum. The discussion here are great - sometimes quick & easy and sometimes with a lot of depth. Also appreciate the variety of perspectives we each see in the same industry, so thank you." "Hello lovely forum." "Thank you for your continued FP design information it is quite helpful, especially as an independent." Now onto our Top 10 Contributors for March 2022 - thanks for all your input and expertise!
Do any of your projects with dry manual standpipes hold supervisory air?
I understand NFPA 14 Section 6.1.1 to have a requirement for supervision of the standpipe system: 6.1.1 Location of Dry Standpipes. Dry standpipes shall be monitored in accordance with NFPA 72 with supervisory air pressure. Are all dry manual standpipe systems provided with supervisory air? Or is this section meant to pertain only to automatic or semi-automatic dry systems? I don't think holding supervisory air under pressure in a dry manual standpipe is feasible, being that there would be multiple points of leakage: www.aspe.org/pipeline/is-supervisory-air-monitoring-feasible-for-manual-dry-standpipes/ Just wondering if I'm completely missing the boat here, or if there's something about this portion of NFPA 14 that I'm misinterpreting. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The state of Vermont uses NFPA 101 as their code for renovation existing buildings. There is a building with two dwelling units above a mercantile drinking establishment of less than 50 persons.
I am being told that the building occupancy is existing apartment building, but there are only two dwelling units, not three as required by definition of apartment building. Anyone have any suggestion for building occupancy and use from NFPA 101? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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