Fire Sprinkler Hazard for Cannabis Grow Facility?

6/3/2020

We're determining fire sprinkler hazard classification for a cannabis grow facility. It is under International Fire Code occupancy F-1 and I would lean to Ordinary Hazard Group II as an Agricultural facility. However, I'm concerned with 23' high racks with three level of ABS plastic pans containing the plants in the flower rooms.

Would this are be considered storage and more specifically rack storage exceeding the OH II classification?

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7 Comments

Wayne Ammons

6/3/2020 08:22:43 am

I don't want to provide too much opinion on this topic as I have not had to work on a project involving cannabis, but I did copy a couple links below that I think might be of use, particularly the second link:

https://www.nfpa.org/Codes-and-Standards/Resources/Standards-in-action/Marijuana-grow-and-extraction-facilities

https://community.nfpa.org/community/nfpa-today/blog/2018/04/06/nfpa-1-occupancy-classification-of-a-building-containing-marijuana-growing-or-extraction-operations-firecodefridays

Jesse

6/3/2020 10:08:07 am

You'll need to protect much of it as OH-2. However, your rack storage area will drive your design. In this case you have Group A Plastic to 23'.

I've done a ton of cannabis facilities and I've not seen that array yet. I've seen typical nursery grows, greenhouses, PODS, etc, but not that yet.

Keep in mind the process hazards as well. Is this just a grow or is there processing as well? If there is a butane extraction process you may have a pocket of EH-2 you need to protect.

6/3/2020 10:08:17 am

There have been a few other threads about this topic in the past. I would recommend going back to see if any of them are helpful.

Mike

6/3/2020 10:10:11 am

Definitely would explore rack protection requirements since this excceds the height of Miscellaneous Storage.

There are very good decision trees in the Storage chapters.

Jesse

6/3/2020 11:25:36 am

Additionally, the version of NFPA 13 your AHJ is working with will be a factor.

2016 NFPA 13 changed a lot in how we identify commodity class. Previous versions may have let you look at the primary commodity, and increase it one class for the plastic containers. While your AHJ may be on 2013, I can absolutely guarantee that the insurer is operating under the most recent edition of 13. So, while you may be get away protecting the storage array as Class III or Class IV, the insurer's engineer may call it Group A and call AS inadequate resulting in an enormous premium.

Laurie

2/9/2021 01:43:38 pm

I have a grow and processing facility in my jurisdiction that has a two tiered moving carriage style grow racks. They are 15 racks deep and 4 racks wide. The individual pans are 4x8 and 3 inches deep. So, each pan holds about 60 gallons of water. These are open top containers that keep water from getting to the storage and prevent heat from reaching the sprinklers delaying activation. When they are rolled closed there is barely an inch between racks. The trays are ABS plastic (Group A) and only have a small hole in one corner for drainage. I am being told these are being used all around the country in sprinkled buildings. How are these not obstructing the system? They exceed the 20ft area rule and they are open top containers. Anyone?

peterboyce link

2/16/2021 07:02:51 am

I simply wanted to write down a quick word to say thanks to you for those wonderful tips and hints you are showing on this site.

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