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Is a wet-pipe sprinkler system allowed to be used to circulate water for heating and cooling purposes?
I am designing a wet-pipe sprinkler system under NFPA 13-2019 Edition. The building owner would like to use the sprinkler system as part of the building's heating system. I can find this described as "allowed" in NFPA 13-2016, but not in the 2019 Edition. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Section 903.3.5.2 (IBC 2012)/Section 403.3.3 (IBC 2015) requires and automatic secondary water supply. I am an FPE and I work in a jurisdiction (Hawaii) that has never required this secondary water supply due to local code amendments to IBC. Recent code revisions now require this secondary supply, and I now have my first project subject to this requirement. I'm planning to meet this requirement as as follows;
Am I on the right track here? Is this primary/secondary supply arrangement viable? Does anyone foresee any code or other issues that may be a problem with this arrangement? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a fire barrier, with a fire-resistance rating of 1-hour, that has conduit passing through.
The conduit is not continuous from device to device, only used as a sleeve for the penetration. How long (continuous) does the conduit need to be past the edge of the fire barrier to maintain a 1-hour rating? My concern (however minor) is that the inside of the conduit is not firestopped, only the outside penetration. Smoke could pass through the inside of the conduit and effectively circumvent the fire barrier. Thanks in advance, big fan of the forum. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a specification for a project that required calibrated smoke testing for a project that only has two new smoke detectors.
Is there a code basis for this test, rather than just a can of smoke? This project is under UFC 3-600-01 / UFGS spec 283176. The smoke detectors are new from the factory, clean, and I find this to be a relatively useless and expensive test. Would welcome any input/insight here. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project where we're using a vertical turbine fire pump.
NFPA 20 makes reference to a 'water level' at 150% of pump rated capacity. What exactly does this 'water level' mean? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project with exposed sprinklers and pipe in a washdown area that is for full sterilization with 100+ degree water.
What are the best practices used to prevent accidental sprinkler from the hot washdown water, if any? We also have a space with waterproof (sealed) walls and ceilings using pendents and sidewalls - any tips on good practices for a room like this? On the fire alarm side, we've found plastic cover/guards that will provide a reasonable level of protection from the washdown. I appreciate any design suggestions, thanks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a pump house that is 250-ft away from primary building. I was told that we have to maintain a 42-degree temperature inside the pump house.
Although we are in Jacksonville Florida it still gets down to the mid twenty's here and there. The doors are in really bad shape and need replaced to hold in the heat. What are the requirements for replacement doors on a pump house? Do they need to be vented? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is your take on Firemen Access panels to provide on the exterior side of a building, for firefighter access into the building?
The code reference from NFPA is stating required clearances from the interior of the building, or in a room having these panels. I'm just not sure about their utility and why they're required. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What are time delay intervals associated with a fire pump's energy source transfer?
Is a 2-minute wait time long enough before notating an impairment when the pump doesn't start operating at peak again after shutting down the main power on an annual pump test? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 13 (2022) states; "Sprinklers shall be installed under all exterior projections greater than 4 feet where combustibles are stored."
I have a retail building and the occupant desires to sell (combustible) merchandise outside their store, under the canopy. The projection greater than 4 feet. My question is related to the term "stored." Is this defined anywhere? The combustible materials are under the canopy during business hours, but brought inside the store when the store is closed. Is the display of products under the canopy considering "storing" them? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What is the minimum design area for a deluge system?
NFPA 13 only specifies the design area for wet-pipe and dry-pipe systems. Is the design area the entire system? Many thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I was wondering what systems others have found that will work for smoke detection in a challenging environment (e.g. large high bay environment with a test stand/dynamometer)?
We currently have an OSID dual-beam detector system but it has had many unwanted alarms that despite troubleshooting with the manufacturer, we cannot determine the cause. I know more detail might be needed but just seeing what systems others have found that will work. A conventional beam detector will not work in this environment. A forklift and crane can be operated in the space with a large overhead door open. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We're designing an 8,000sf gymnasium addition to an existing fully wet sprinkled single story 100,000 sqft elementary school.
I'm putting together the design build criteria for the fire suppression system for the addition. What determines if I can tie into the existing system to feed the addition? There are 2-1/2" and 3" lines nearby serving the existing gymnasiums. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a water storage tank that is leaking but cannot find the leak.
They have scoped the pipes, used dye to try to track with no luck. Does anyone know if ground penetrating radar or some other thing that we can try to locate this leak? Any help is appreciated! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Do hot boxes and sales coolers in a (beef) slaughter house require sprinkler protection?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Hi Everyone, I have now designed multiple buildings/tenant improvements where there are free standing phone booths (think London style) throughout the project. I’ve heard mixed requirements when it comes to protecting them:
Does anyone know what section of code drives this protection? What has everyone else done before in the past? Thank you in advance! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe The UL Listing for plastic CPVC pipe - states that the plastic is approved to be used for Light Hazard occupancies.
NFPA 13 does allow Light Hazard, but in a small Ordinary Hazard room with limited conditions. Will the NFPA 13 appllication void the UL Listing, since its listing does not mention Ordinary Hazard? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can I use the small room rule out of NFPA 13 in an office with varying ceiling heights?
The room has a partial 8'-0" ceiling and a partial 8'-6" ceiling with the vertical section closed in. We're under NFPA 13-2016. The sprinklers meet the obstruction rules out of Chapter 8 and the spray pattern develops to protect the entire floor space without being obstructed by the change in ceiling elevation. Based on the definitions below, it looks like the ceiling doesn't need to be flat, but I want to make sure I'm applying the rule correctly and I can use a 9'-0" dimension for the small room rule in this situation. NFPA 13-2016 Section A3.3.2.2 defines a small room rule as a compartment of light hazard occupancy classification having unobstructed construction and a floor area not exceeding 800 sqft. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a project for an NFPA 11 foam system. The foam system is used to protect oil storage tanks at different terminal facilities.
Under Chapter 12 of NFPA 11 (2021 Edition), who is the party that inspects and signs off on these systems as the AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction)? Is it the local jurisdiction's fire marshal, the facility's insurance company, or the facility itself? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Our project includes a warehouse ESFR fire sprinkler system.
We specified minimum Schedule 10 for all pipe. The contractor has proposed Schedule 7 for use in the 2-1/2" and 4" diameter pipe. Any pros or cons to using Schedule 7 that you'd recommend from experience? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Somewhat easy and hard to believe we're getting to the end of 2021 already. What a year in so many ways. Here's a thanks to our Top Forum Contributors of October 2021 - you all are the best.
If an existing building has a pipe schedule system that is determined to be "extra-hazard", without any design information, would that system be equivalent to an Extra Hazard Group 1 hydraulically-calculated design curve of 0.30 at 2,500 sqft?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can a drum drip be used as a remote inspector's test for a sprinkler system?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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