Fire Sprinkler Protection Required for Column?

6/7/2022

When is sprinkler protection required for a building column?

We have a New York City project with cast iron columns, and we're not sure of any code requirement that would address sprinkler requirements for protection of a cast iron column.

Any help is much appreciated.

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16 Comments

Alex

6/7/2022 05:53:54 am

Hi,

Are you trying to achieve additional fire rating for the column using the sprinklers? Or are you wondering when additional heads are required for shadow areas?

I've never heard and do not believe you can use sprinklers to achieve a fire rating for a column. If its for shadow areas, refer to NFPA 13 (2016) Figure 8.6.5.2.1.3(a).

Sorry if I completely misread your question here.

Alex

Alex

6/7/2022 08:04:08 am

Update: I’m on the road now and thinking of this more. I have heard of rating the columns in storage applications but have never done so myself.

JI link

6/7/2022 08:13:52 am

There are a couple examples of using side wall sprinklers to protect columns within fire protection standards. Some examples are NFPA 13 2013 16.1.4.1, NFPA 15 2017 7.4.3.4, and FM DS 7-32 2.2.1.4.6.

Hopefully these examples can help lead you to an answer as I am not sure of your buildings occupancy.

6/7/2022 08:19:21 am

Only time I've ever come across using sprinklers on columns was for rubber tire storage. NFPA-13 2016 18.2 deals with it and requires it for steel columns not provided with fireproofing in certain storage arrangements.

My understanding is that if a tire fire gets going you want that sprinkler on the column to keep it cool and prevent it from collapsing.

Not sure about cast iron columns...

Anthony

6/7/2022 08:29:45 am

Iron is considered non-combustible. It shouldn't require extra protection in any non-storage applications.

Franck

6/7/2022 10:40:48 am

It may be required to protect the columns when they are exposed to a combustible/flammable liquid fire, for example and could lead to a collapse of a roof or upper floors.
This is the case in some power plants (3 dimensional lube oil fire hazard, for example).
So not only limited to storage.

Todd E Wyatt

6/7/2022 08:41:40 am

The fire-resistance rating (FRR) protection of building elements (e.g. columns, beams, floor const, roof const) are required to have a FRR based on the building's Type of Construction. The FRR of assemblies (e.g. Fire Walls, Fire Barriers, Smoke Barriers, Smoke Partitions) are required to have a FRR based on the type of assemby it is.

The method of determining the FRR is per "703.2.1 or 703.2.2 without the use of automatic sprinklers or any other fire suppression system being incorporated" or by "703.2.3 Approved Alternate Method." The AHJ would need to evaluate and approved an alternate protection method of the building elements (e.g. column) with an active solution (e.g. automatic sprinkler system). As an AHJ, I would not typically approve this substitution of a passive FRR system with an active FRR system.

REFERENCES
2021 IBC
Section 703 Fire-Resistance Ratings and Fire Tests
703.1 Scope
Materials prescribed herein for fire resistance shall conform to the requirements of this chapter.
703.2 Fire Resistance
The fire-resistance rating of building elements, components or assemblies shall be determined in accordance with Section 703.2.1 or 703.2.2 without the use of automatic sprinklers or any other fire suppression system being incorporated, or in accordance with Section 703.2.3.

703.2.3 Approved Alternate Method
The fire resistance of building elements, components or assemblies not complying with Section 703.2.1 or 703.2.2 shall be permitted to be established by an alternative protection method in accordance with Section 104.11.

104.11 Alternative Materials, Design and Methods of Construction and Equipment
The provisions of this code are not intended to prevent the installation of any material or to prohibit any design or method of construction not specifically prescribed by this code, provided that any such alternative has been approved. An alternative material, design or method of construction shall be approved where the building official finds that the proposed alternative meets all of the following:
The alternative material, design or method of construction is satisfactory and complies with the intent of the provisions of this code,
The material, method or work offered is, for the purpose intended, not less than the equivalent of that prescribed in this code as it pertains to the following:
2.1. Quality.
2.2. Strength.
2.3. Effectiveness.
2.4. Fire resistance.
2.5. Durability.

Zackery Geddies

6/7/2022 08:46:25 am

NFPA 409 Standard on Aircraft Hangars requires column protection in some instances. There also may be a local code requirement.

Rusty Scott

6/7/2022 09:41:02 am

The new-ish Savannah Ga JW Marriott Savannah Plant Riverside District Hotel has it's exposed columns in the museum atrium space protected with side wall sprinklers spaced approx. 10ft vertically. Have always meant to look up the codes behind it.

Franck

6/7/2022 10:44:03 am

If columns are already located in an adequately protected area, thyere is normally no need to protect them individually in addition.
But sometimes, it might be advisable when they could be exposed by a fire and the area is not well covered (obstructions, as outlined by Alex).
Normally a fireproofing material (encapsulation, intumescent paint) is preferred as this would be an independent protection from the sprinkler protection if it fails (or ig you have a large water supply impairment).

Franck

6/7/2022 10:49:47 am

You can check, for example, FM data sheet 7.101 (free access on internet):

2.2.2 Protection of Structural Steel
2.2.2.1 Protect critical steel elements that can potentially be immersed in a liquid pool and/or three
dimensional spill fire (e.g., structural building columns, supports for turbine pedestals and elevated lube-oil
reservoirs, supports for equipment mezzanines, and overhead crane rails) using one of the methods below.

Determine the need for structural steel protection based on an Oil Fire Hazards Assessment (OFHA), including
consideration of containment, drainage, and oil-release scenarios.
A. Provide fireproofing rated for two hours. Provide fireproofing that is rated for a hydrocarbon fire exposure
for the full height of the column. (See Data Sheet 1-21, Fire Resistance of Building Assemblies.) general,
the fire rating of a structural element provided with an ordinary fire-resistive covering will be the stated
fire rating (h) minus 1 hour (h-1 = fire resistance of a steel column exposed to a hydrocarbon pool fire).
B. Provide automatic (fusible link) sidewall sprinklers or water spray protection for the full height of the
column, as shown in Figures 1a and 1b.

Provide a minimum 0.3 gpm/ft2 (12 mm/min) over the wetted area of the columns (“wetted area” is the
surface area on the three sides of the reentrant space formed by the column web and flanges). The wetted
area protected by a sprinkler extends from the sprinkler down to the next sprinkler on the same side of
the column.
Include flow from all nozzles on columns subject to simultaneous flame impingement in the design flow
rate when determining total water demand. Use information from an OFHA to determine which columns
could be subject to simultaneous flame impingement. Consider simultaneous operation of structural steel
protection and turbine lube-oil fire protection to determine total water demand (refer to Section 2.4.1.1).

Franck

6/7/2022 10:50:35 am

Unfortunately, I can't add the sketch from the data sheet...

Colin Lusher

6/7/2022 11:24:24 am

Generally, protection of steel columns is required under certain storage arrangements. For instance, steel columns located in the middle of rack storage require some type of protection, either fire proofing or sprinklers. Likewise certain rubber tire storage arrangements require this. In bother cases, NFPA 13 allows for fireproofing in lieu of sprinklers.

TLDR: If your building is a high density storage occupancy, then you'll likely need to at least consider column protection where required by NFPA 13. Otherwise, if this is NOT a storage occupancy, fire protection of columns is likely NOT required.

Jack G

6/7/2022 11:42:48 am

IBC—- any year. Please review chapters 5 and 6 for its requirements of area/ building height and types of construction with“A”:being protected steel and columns and “ B “ being unprotected.

Paul Pinigis

6/8/2022 10:20:43 am

This refers to fireproofing of structural steel, not sprinkler protection.

Todd Wyatt

6/9/2022 08:57:27 am

Per IBC 2021, "TABLE 601 FIRE-RESISTANCE RATING REQUIREMENTS FOR BUILDING ELEMENTS (HOURS)" identifies the minimum fire-resistive rated (FRR) protection for "BUILDING ELEMENTS" including "Primary structural frame" which includes columns. The "A" and "B" in this table does not represent "protected" vs "unprotected" columns.

Types I-A, I-B, II-A, and II-B "are those types of construction in which the building elements specified in Table 601 are of noncombustible materials."

Type III-A & III-B "is that type of construction in which the exterior walls are of noncombustible materials and the interior building elements are of any material permitted by this code."

Type IV-A, IV-B, IV-C, and IV-HT "is that type of construction in which the building elements are mass timber or noncombustible materials and have fire-resistance ratings in accordance with Table 601."

Type V-A and V-B "is is that type of construction in which the structural elements, exterior walls and interior walls are of any materials permitted by this code." Essentially, if a Type of Construction is not Types I-IV, it is Type V.

The (3) "allowables" as identified in "Chapter 5 General Building Heights and Areas" limit a building's Area, Number of Stories, and Building Height based on its Type of Construction (Type I-V), its Occupancy Classification (e.g. Group S-1 Moderate-Hazard Storage), and whether it is protected by an automatic sprinkler or not.

NS = Buildings not equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system;
S = Buildings equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system;
S1 = Buildings a maximum of one story above grade plane equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system;
SM = Buildings two or more stories above grade plane equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system.

These "allowables" will aid in determining the minimum required Type of Construction.

Fire Sprinkler Protection Required for Column?

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