MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • UNIVERSITY
    • JOIN
    • CATALOG
    • CONTENT LIBRARY
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT
Picture

Fire Sprinkler Hazard for Cannabis Grow Facility?

6/3/2020

11 Comments

 
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?

​​​Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
11 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

Reply
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.

Reply
NK
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
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.

Reply
Andre link
11/17/2021 02:02:50 pm

Hi Jesse, I would love to pick your brain. What is the best contact info for you?
Thanks,
Andre

Reply
Jesse
11/17/2021 02:06:41 pm

Andre, feel free to email me jesse@firekingllc.com

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?

Reply
David
5/26/2021 08:23:57 am

I have done about a dozen of these and I feel you. I was brought into a meeting with the higher ups at my job (MEPFP Engineering) and even after presenting my 20+ hours of research into it, was told that since it is an F-1 Hazard Class, that in-rack sprinklers should not be required. I strongly disagree with them, but its not my call in the end, unfortunately. The Cannabis grow facilities are using compact storage racks for a purpose other than storage, and until 2021 NFPA 13, this is not addressed. So the debate hinges on only doing what is required by current code (only sprinklers at the ceiling needed) vs treating the plants and trays as a class IV commodity and providing in-racks because if it was S-1, that would absolutely happen. The code changes ARE coming, so don't give up the fight! I'm just glad to see that I'm not the only one who thinks not providing in-racks is stupid too!

Reply
James
5/26/2021 08:29:03 am

Timely David - just yesterday I had a conversation with a '13 committee member who explained that in a handful of cases the Engineer of Record had been sued and had lost when they followed the adopted code at that time and did not follow a more stringent (newer) requirement that had just not been adopted.

His premise is that codes and standards won't protect engineers if there has since been a clarification or new requirement that improves the level of life safety.

Until then I'm not sure I've ever encountered that stance.

Is the likelihood high of something happening here, and the only difference between major and minor loss this one difference? Probably not. But it has happened, and in court at least several Engineers have not faired well with the repercussions.

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.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    ALL-ACCESS

    Picture
    GET ALL OUR TOOLS

    SUBSCRIBE

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

    COMMUNITY

    Top ​May 2023 Contributors
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    Picture
    SEE LEADERBOARD

    YOUR POST

    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    PE EXAM

    Get 100 Days of Free Sample Questions right to you!
    SIGN ME UP!

    FILTERS

    All
    A1171
    Aba
    Ada
    Asce-7
    Asme-a171
    Astm-e1354
    Daily Discussion
    Design-documents
    En-12845
    Explosion-protection-prevention
    Fire-detection-and-alarm-systems
    Fire-dynamics
    Flammable-combustible-liquids
    Fm-global
    Human-behavior
    IBC
    Icc500
    IFC
    Imc
    Ipc
    Irc
    Iso
    Means Of Egress
    Nbc
    Nfpa-1
    Nfpa-10
    NFPA 101
    Nfpa-101
    Nfpa-11
    Nfpa-110
    Nfpa-1142
    Nfpa-1221
    NFPA 13
    Nfpa-13
    NFPA 13D
    Nfpa-13r
    NFPA 14
    Nfpa-15
    Nfpa-16
    Nfpa-17a
    Nfpa-20
    Nfpa-2001
    Nfpa-214
    Nfpa 22
    Nfpa-220
    Nfpa 24
    Nfpa-241
    Nfpa-25
    Nfpa-25
    Nfpa-291
    Nfpa-291
    Nfpa-30
    Nfpa-30b
    Nfpa-33
    Nfpa-400
    Nfpa-409
    NFPA 415
    NFPA 495
    NFPA 497
    NFPA 5000
    NFPA 502
    NFPA 54
    NFPA 55
    NFPA 654
    NFPA 68
    NFPA 70
    NFPA 701
    NFPA 72
    NFPA 75
    NFPA 770
    NFPA 82
    NFPA 855
    NFPA 90A
    NFPA 92
    NFPA 96
    NICET
    OBC
    Passive Building Systems
    PE Prep Guide
    PE Prep Series
    PE Sample Problems
    Poll
    Smoke Management
    Special Hazard Systems
    UFC 3 600 01
    UFC 3-600-01
    UFC 4-021-01
    UPC
    Updates
    Water Based Fire Suppression
    Weekly Exams


    ARCHIVES

    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    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


    PE PREP SERIES

    Fire Protection PE Exam Prep
    SEE LEADERBOARD

    RSS Feed

Picture
​Home
Our Cause
The Blog
The Forum
PE Exam Prep
The Toolkit

MeyerFire University
​Pricing
Login
​Support
Contact Us
Picture

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 © 2023 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.

  • Blog
  • Forum
  • THE TOOLKIT
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER*
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR*
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'22)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER*
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER STORAGE*
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • UNIVERSITY
    • JOIN
    • CATALOG
    • CONTENT LIBRARY
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
    • PE 100-Day Marathon
  • LOGIN
  • PRICING
    • SOFTWARE & TRAINING
    • STORE
  • OUR CAUSE
    • ABOUT MEYERFIRE
    • BECOME AN INSTRUCTOR
    • HELP/SUPPORT