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Would it be permitted by code to place a pre-action valve on top of a roof of a two-story building?
It would be protected from mechanical damage, and there's no regular man movement at the roof. The roof area is warm, but there would be no covering as it currently stands. I'm looking for code requirements pertaining to this situation that would allow or disallow such an arrangement. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Which of the following types of pipe would require the most hangers for the same length of 1-1/2" pipe? a. CPVC b. Copper Tube c. Steel other than Threaded Lightwall d. Threaded Lightwall Steel Solution | Posted 09/01/20
This week is the thirteen of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here.  The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here.  Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
What is the residual pressure and flow require for both public and private fire hydrants?
Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A fire department connection may be installed by any of the following arrangements except: a. Between the supply control valve and the system control valves for multiple sprinkler systems b. Attached to underground system piping, between the supply control valve (at the main tap) and the system control valves (inside the building) c. Attached to main pipe on a system (on the system side of the system control valve) for a single wet system d. Attached to the main service between the utility tap and the entry into a fire pump room Solution | Posted 08/31/20
At what point does it become better to buy a plotter for the office? I'm a design outfit and only rarely send out drawings, but when I do they're pricey and I just bill it to the client out of a local print shop or the neighborhood Office Depot.
Any tips on what you made the decision to buy or not buy a plotter for your office, and any advice on models or brands to look into? Just curious, love the commentary on here and the wide range of opinions. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What length of 6-inch Schedule 40 black steel pipe would provide the same friction loss as 24 feet of 4-inch schedule 10 black steel pipe if both are serving a wet sprinkler system at the same flow rate? a. 4 ft b. 34 ft c. 135 ft d. 173 ft Solution | Posted 08/28/20
We are working on an 8-unit, 4-story apartment building in the City of Chicago. It's an NFPA 13R system, with two units on each floor level. The entire building (all floor levels combined) is about 14,000 sqft.
Are floor-level control valves required? Under NFPA 13R there doesn't appear to be a requirement for floor-level control valves like there is in an NFPA 13 system (NFPA 13-2016 8.2.4.3). Even still, in NFPA 13 still allows a single control valve and flow switch when the entire building is less than the system limits of 8.2.1 (52,000 sqft for a Light Hazard system). Chicago has a Chicago Fire Prevention Code that requires "each floor and level of a building" with a separate control valve (15-16-400), but this and several other sections within the Fire Prevention Code apply only to NFPA 13 systems, not 13R systems. Might be a shot in the dark but was curious if anyone has ran into this before. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Where otherwise provided in accordance with code, which of the following is not an acceptable water supply for a fire sprinkler system? a. grade-level water storage tank b. lake reservoir c. reclaimed water collection d. all of the above are acceptable Solution | Posted 08/27/20
Working on an elementary school fire sprinkler retrofit with an old kiln. I don't have any specific product information on the kiln itself. It's in a room thats about 8-ft x 8-ft with gypsum walls and acoustical ceiling tile.
What is an appropriate sprinkler temperature to use at the ceiling level? Hoping someone has worked with a room like this before and might know expected ceiling temperatures when the kiln is in operation. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe An open, unobstructed space connects an entry level lobby with a balcony on the level above in a fully sprinklered residential building while separated from the remainder of the building with a smoke barrier. If the space only has low hazard contents and meets egress requirements, what type of space does it qualify as? a. Atrium b. Communicating Space c. Convenience Opening d. Two-Story Opening with Partial Enclosure Solution | Posted 08/26/20
See this link for garage storage units on a project we're working on: https://www.wirecrafters.com/products/storage-lockers/garage-storage/ .
These are intended to be used for an enclosed parking structure in a mid-rise multi-family rental building. As indicated in the photos (and photos from similar manufacturers) there are no sprinklers underneath the cages. Will sprinkler heads be required? Would appreciate code verbiage as well. We hope to not have to install sprinklers underneath due to cost reasons. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Which of the following agents has the highest required extinguishing concentration for a UL Class A design fire? a. HFC-125 b. HFC-227ea c. FK-5-1-12 d. All agents require the same density Solution | Posted 08/25/20
This week is the twelve of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Just a fair warning - many start to get a little comfortable in their scores only to hit a couple tougher weeks with Week 13 and 14... Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here.  The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here.  Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
An existing F1 occupancy with no high-piled storage is getting an addition, resulting in the total square footage for the entire F-1 area (all open) being over 50,000 ft sq, thus requiring smoke and heat vents per the 2012 IBC and IFC.
The question was asked if smoke and heat vents can just be added to the new addition and install a draft curtain to separate the existing from new, so smoke and heat vents will not be required in the existing space. My question is, would a draft curtain be sufficient for creating a divided area in this regard? There is no true definition of a divided area in either the building or fire codes. I wouldn’t think it would necessarily need to have a fire barrier or partition. I would assume a properly sized trap curtain would be sufficient? Does anybody have any experience with this unique type of issue, or have any comments or suggestions? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A remote camp facility is being planned which intends to operate seasonally. Due to the remote nature of the site and lack of easy access to nearby mains, a water storage tank is being considered to supply the site fire sprinkler systems. It is intended to have atmospheric pressure, water temperature, water level, and heating system which are all supervised by a central station. During the offseason in the winter, what is the most frequent that these components must be inspected? a. Weekly b. Monthly c. Quarterly d. Semiannually Solution | Posted 08/24/2020
Is sprinkler protection required for laundry rooms with electric dryers?
This project is in New York City specifically. Thanks in advance. Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A forensic study is being prepared using a fire model to attempt to verify whether arson could be a cause. If the fire's origin room ceiling ceiling (3.3 m) has an initial temperature of approximately 22 deg C and is exposed to a plume along the ceiling at approximately 85 deg C traveling around 1.2 m/s, what is the activation time (in seconds) for a quick response (RTI of 40), Ordinary Temperature (75 deg C) sprinkler? a. 61 s b. 67 s c. 210 s d. 230 s Solution | Posted 08/21/20
About Pressure Reducing Valves for high pressure water supplies - I understand these need to be "indicating".
How can a PRV be an indicating type? What should I be looking for in inspections? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe If Element A is a 45-minute interior door, B is a corridor, C is a 2-hour rated stair, and D is a non-rated exterior door, which element identified would be considered an exit?  a. 45-minute Interior Door A b. Corridor B c. 2-hour Rated Stair d. Non-Rated Exterior Door Solution | Posted 08/20/20
Is there a code requirement that states sprinkler pipe must maintain a certain distance from fireproofing sprayed onto structural steel?
Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe A project site is connected to a water tank through an equivalent 650 feet of 6-inch schedule 10 pipe (c-factor of 140). If the water tank is 165 feet above the project site, the fire flow available at the project site is most nearly: a. 1,300 gpm b. 2,100 gpm c. 2,400 gpm d. 8,700 gpm Solution | Posted 08/19/20
NFPA 13 requires dry pipe and preaction system branch piping to be pitched at least ½” per 10 ft, and mains pitched at least ¼” per 10 ft in non-refrigerated areas.
Should an exception be considered (less pitch or no pitch) for systems utilizing nitrogen to maintain system pressure? Submitted anonymously and posted for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe For a performance-based design, a fire protection consultant makes an assumption that the production rate of carbon monoxide for a modeled fire package is equal to the highest production rate of each of the component fuels. This assumption would be considered: a. explicit safety factor b. implied safety factor c. total safety factor d. no safety factor Solution | Posted 08/18/20
This week is the eleven of our 2020 PE Prep Series - it's 20-weeks worth of mini Fire Protection PE Exams. Each week we'll post the leaderboard here with the results of that week's exams. To see full leadership board and more details, visit the PE Prep Series page here.  The Leaderboard lists the top total scores for the most recent three weekly exams for PE Prep Series participants. See the entire scoreboard here.  Want to join in? It's not too late - the PE Prep Series is the ultimate PE Prep tool. It's a series of 1-hour, 10-question simulated PE Exams offered weekly with solutions immediately following each exam. Learn more here. Every week of the series is retroactive so you can still test yourself with past week exams.
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