Bowling Lanes Sprinkler Hazard Classification?

6/11/2025

What is an appropriate hazard classification for bowling lanes?

The current design was originally pipe schedule in certain portions, but has been cut up with new pipe sizing.

The spacing is between 100-130 SF. Not sure if this would fall under OH1 or OH2. Thanks in advance.

Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

8 Comments

Glenn Berger

6/11/2025 08:18:07 am

I would recommend that the public area of a bowling lane establishment be classified as Ordinary Hazard Group 2. You have wooden lanes coated with some type of oil in addition to the various supporting spaces that are typically found at these establishments. The non-public machinery spaces will also need to be analysis based upon the equipment utilized and maintenance activities required.

Mike miller

5/21/2026 04:56:48 pm

Agreed

Paul Pinigis link

6/11/2025 08:20:39 am

I don't see this as any greater than Light Hazard. You have a lower combustible load than the average hotel room.

Pete H

6/11/2025 08:34:51 am

I'd lean towards OH2.

Any chance you could FOIL the old plans?

Dan Wilder

6/11/2025 08:37:59 am

Well, the back (pin machines) would definitely qualify for a "Service Area" at OH2...the lanes and guest areas, I would lean toward light hazard (really no difference than a restaurant seating area or seating area of a theater/auditorium). The shoe rental is back to OH2, any attached food prep/cooking area as well. Arcade, billiards, play areas could be light but could also be argued as OH1.

Now, the billiards halls from years ago typically just fell into a 130 spacing no matter what when a part of a larger building (general mercantile approach). Standalone structures had some additional options to space things out better.

Jon N

6/11/2025 12:04:28 pm

Fire history is always interesting; sometimes it changes for the worse while other times it changes for the better. This is one of those that used to be a huge fire safety issue that today is so much less. For those of us with some gray hair (40 years of sprinkler experience as an AHJ), we can remember when you only really sprinklered the "Bs" - basements, bowling alleys, and big buildings.

Bowling alleys required sprinklers in the "old days" because the lane and pin refinishing operations used very flammable materials and generated lots of dust. That is no longer true. Most refinishing nowadays is done with non-flammable coating materials and generates very little dust (explosion threat).

Out of the 342,000-plus building fires reported in the U.S. in 2023, only 65 were reported in bowling alleys (a far cry from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s). There were no deaths in the 2023 fires.

The lanes are thick wooden members (usually maple or ash) mounted horizontally on the floor with limited ignition sources. Far less of a fire risk or fuel load than your typical office or residential settings protected with light hazard sprinkler densities.

Light hazard should suffice for the lanes. Ordinary-2 for the pin-setting area and "back of house" (these areas can be messy).

Anthony

6/12/2025 09:55:32 am

I agree here with the LH front of house HO2 back of house code analysis.

Jack G

6/12/2025 11:20:53 am

Back in the old days, 1964 on, bowling alleys were listed in an example chart of occupancies as OH 1.
As Jon has pointed out, things “ have gotten better “ with regard to fire hazard.
I feel the OH 1 occupancy is still good enough.

Leave a Reply.

Home
Our Cause

The Blog
The Forum

PE Exam Prep
The Toolkit
MeyerFire University

Pricing
Login
Support
Contact Us

MeyerFire.com is a startup community built to help fire protection professionals shine.
Our goal is to improve fire protection practices worldwide. We promote the industry by creating helpful tools and resources, and by bringing together industry professionals to share their expertise.

MeyerFire, LLC is a NICET Recognized Training Provider and International Code Council Preferred Education Provider.
All text, images, and media Copyright © 2016-2025 MeyerFire, LLC

We respect your privacy and personal data. See our Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence.

Discussions are solely for the purpose of peer review and the exchange of ideas. All comments are reviewed. Comments which do not contribute, are not relevant, are spam, or are disrespectful in nature may be removed. Information presented and opinions expressed should not be relied upon as a replacement for consulting services. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a small commission for orders placed elsewhere.

Bowling Lanes Sprinkler Hazard Classification?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES