|
Does a correctional occupancy type imply secure ceilings are required?
NFPA 5000 could be interpreted as such, but as we know, it's more about the construction of the building. There is a ceilings section though so I'm unsure. If plans called for an institutional sprinkler and secure ceilings but the owner/government changes their mind and installs standard sprinklers, is there any issue or repercussion? Look forward to your interpretations. Thanks. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
10 Comments
Pete H
3/28/2023 06:43:46 am
I think there could be a repercussion if the plans remove secure ceilings and institutional heads inside cells, but there are still a large amount of areas in the building that I'd venture to guess (so take with a grain of salt) would not require institutional heads and secure ceilings (employee offices).
Dan Wilder
3/28/2023 08:00:43 am
I've been asked to install institutional sprinklers into non-secure ceilings and walls in the past (lights & HVAC were not any sort of institutional rated). Typically, these were not official correctional facilities, rather more local health care/mental health type occupancies.
Jesse
3/28/2023 08:09:46 am
Often times the operating entity of the correctional facility is also the AHJ. Think a county jail and a county AHJ, or a city police booking facility and city fire department. Having been on the AJ side as a fire marshal for a long time, it can be very convoluted. Its not the right hand not talking to the left - Its 5 fingers on the right hand telling the left hand what to do with different instructions. I highly recommend meeting with all of them, and get the path forward in writing.
Glenn Berger
3/28/2023 08:13:53 am
Standard sprinklers should not be used in institutional (correctional-type) occupancy.
Anonymous
3/28/2023 11:38:29 am
Glenn, what are your thoughts on "inmate-accessible" areas? Cells seem to be very clear, but that term is in question for me.
Glenn Berger
3/29/2023 08:10:46 am
Inmate accessible areas should use the same type of sprinklers as the cells themselves.
SCHULMAN
3/28/2023 09:32:15 am
Have you considered some people in captivity kill themselves, that's why Institutional Sprinklers are considered and designed to be ligature resistant and I would not want that liability.
Johnnie Johnson
3/28/2023 09:33:46 am
Institutional sprinklers are designed to break away if someone tries to hang themself. For this reason alone, I would not recommend installing standard sprinklers in institutional occupancies as the liability most certainly would fall upon the sprinkler company.
Anonymous
3/28/2023 11:40:24 am
The interesting part here is the term "inmate-accessible." The cells are obvious - institutional sprinklers no ifs, ands, or buts. The term is a little confusing. There is no permanent occupation in these areas by inmates, but they can be in there. Inmates who are behaving well enough to have some duties could be in these spaces unoccupied though.
sean
3/31/2023 11:35:44 am
this is an issue to the authority that regulates the jail on a state or federal level there are regulations on the design that most owner would not have the authority to overrule. Leave a Reply. |
ALL-ACCESS
SUBSCRIBESubscribe and learn something new each day:
COMMUNITYTop April '26 Contributors
YOUR POSTPE EXAMGet 100 Days of Free Sample Questions right to you!
FILTERS
All
ARCHIVES
April 2026
PE PREP SERIES |
RSS Feed
