MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Problems
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
  • TOOLS
    • TOOLKIT (FREE TRIAL)
    • *TOOLKIT (PURCHASE)
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'19)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • TOOLKIT
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About
Picture
ALL THINGS FIRE PROTECTION | SUBSCRIBE NOW

Design Criteria for Stacked Boat Storage Facility?

3/11/2020

6 Comments

 
We are looking at a boat storage facility in the northeast. The facility is 42-ft high storing fiberglass boats. It's unheated. The owner doesn't want in rack sprinklers, nor does he want a fire pump.

What would be the fire sprinkler design criteria for this type of facility?

​​​​​​​​Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
6 Comments
Wayne Ammons
3/11/2020 08:12:50 am

You should get a fire protection engineer involved with this if you have not already. Check out NFPA 303, Fire Protection Standard for Marinas and Boatyards for additional section references:

https://www.nfpa.org/codes-and-standards/all-codes-and-standards/free-access

NFPA 303, 2016 Edition:
6.2.4 Indoor Rack Storage.
6.2.4.1* Where boats are stored on multilevel racks in buildings, an approved automatic fire-extinguishing system shall be installed throughout the building unless otherwise permitted by 6.2.4.2 or 6.2.4.3.

A.6.2.4.1 Compliance with the requirements of Chapter 17 of NFPA 13 for the protection of Group A plastics stored on solid shelves should be considered for the design and installation of automatic sprinkler systems provided for the protection of buildings housing boats stored on multilevel racks. The combustibility of the boats in storage should be considered in determining hazard classifications. Plan view configuration of the boats in storage should be reviewed to determine whether in-rack sprinklers are needed and to aid in the proper design of the in-rack portion of the sprinkler system. Sound engineering judgment is necessary in selecting sprinkler spacing, placement, and design criteria.

Also to note from NFPA 13, 2019 Edition, Table A.20.4(a), boat storage is listed as a commodity not addressed by commodity classification.

Reply
Jon Sullivan
3/11/2020 10:10:56 am

I'd also recommend a review of your applicable Building and Fire Codes to see if you require sprinklers based on building construction, area, and occupancy. IFC considers indoor dry boat storage as S-1.

Reply
Jesse Cecil
3/11/2020 11:12:33 am

At best it will be protecting Group-A. I think the owner's desire to avoid a pump is right up there with my niece's desire to get a rainbow unicorn for her birthday unless your extant water supply is outstanding

Reply
Michael
3/11/2020 12:15:06 pm

This sounds like insurance underwriting responsibility.

Would you like to store a boat and take a total loss because the building owner wanted to cut costs?

Reply
Jesse Cecil
3/12/2020 11:44:31 am

I spent 13 years as an insurance loss control engineer. The building owner may want to query his / her insurer to see what their underwriting requirements are. If their loss control guy deems the system inadequate, the owner's premiums will be astronomical.

Reply
Bruce Verhei
3/16/2020 12:45:17 pm

It is appropriate to communicate directly with the fire department to. This site needs a preplan. A base document (.pdf) is often of great assistance.

In addition to all fire concerns boats are deep open top containers. Weight gain during fire can exceed rack strength. Preplan should include WARNING for potential rack collapse as boats fill.

Best.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jump to: Daily Posts
    Jump to: PE Problems
    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    Free Signup

    Subscribe and learn something new each day:
    I'm Interested In:

    Community

    Thank You to Our Top
    ​February '21 Contributors!
    1. Dan W.
    2. Franck
    3. Jesse
    4. CJ B.
    ​5. Brian G.
    6. Mike
    7. Matt
    8. Casey M.
    9. Jay R.
    10. Glenn B.

    Your Post

    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    The Toolkit

    Sprinkler Designer or Engineer?
    ​
    ​Get all of our tools, including the Sprinkler Database, Friction Loss Calculator, Fire Pump Analyzer and more:
    Picture
    FREE 30-DAY TRIAL
    GET THE TOOLKIT

    Filters

    All
    ABA
    ADA
    ASCE 7
    ASME A17.1
    Daily Discussion
    Design Documents
    Explosion Protection & Prevention
    Fire Detection And Alarm Systems
    Fire Dynamics
    Flammable & Combustible LIquids
    FM Global
    Human Behavior
    IBC
    IFC
    Information Sources For Analysis
    IRC
    Means Of Egress
    NFPA 1
    NFPA 10
    NFPA 101
    NFPA 11
    NFPA 110
    NFPA 12
    NFPA 13
    NFPA 13D
    NFPA 13R
    NFPA 14
    NFPA 15
    NFPA 17A
    NFPA 20
    NFPA 2001
    NFPA 214
    NFPA 22
    NFPA 24
    NFPA 25
    NFPA 291
    NFPA 30
    NFPA 33
    NFPA 400
    NFPA 415
    NFPA 497
    NFPA 5000
    NFPA 502
    NFPA 54
    NFPA 55
    NFPA 654
    NFPA 68
    NFPA 70
    NFPA 72
    NFPA 92
    NICET
    Passive Building Systems
    PE Prep Guide
    PE Prep Series
    PE Sample Problems
    Poll
    Smoke Management Systems
    Special Hazard Systems
    Types Of Analysis
    UFC 3 600 01
    UFC 3-600-01
    Updates
    Water Based Fire Suppression
    Weekly Exams


    Archives

    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016


    Daily
    Daily discussions are open-ended fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety questions submitted anonymously for the benefit of sharing expertise and learning from other perspectives. Anyone can submit a question here:
    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    Exam Prep

    Picture
    2020 PE Prep Guide​
    ​(Available Now!)
    Picture
    PE Prep Series
    ​(Available Now!)
    2020 PE Prep Series
    Current Leaderboard
    ​(Click to enlarge)
    Fire Protection PE Exam Prep

    PE Problems
    ​Visit July-October for daily Fire Protection PE Exam sample questions.

    Solutions are posted the day after posting.

    Comment with your solutions, questions or clarifications.

    Please note that questions posted are unofficial and in accordance with NCEES rules are intended to be similar to actual exam questions, not actual exam questions themselves.

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home - About - Blog - Contact - Exam Prep - Store

​Copyright © 2021 MeyerFire, LLC

The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author shown 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. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a commission for orders placed elsewhere.
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Problems
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
  • TOOLS
    • TOOLKIT (FREE TRIAL)
    • *TOOLKIT (PURCHASE)
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'19)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • TOOLKIT
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About