Historic Retrofit: Tricks for Concealing Pipe?

3/28/2019

I'm working on an 1880's masonry four story historic building that currently has no fire sprinkler system. We're looking to retrofit a fire sprinkler system and we're looking into any and all ideas for concealing the pipe but keeping the historic charm.

This building itself has concrete beams with 'tin' ceilings in-between. We're considering building down false beams, furring out entire walls, and potentially soffits to help conceal pipe.

For those who have complete sprinkler retrofit designs for historic buildings, what tips or methods have you used to make your projects successful?

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2 Comments

PETE

3/28/2019 10:23:12 am

Have you considered concealing pipe in crown moldings and protecting with HSWs? I know that they make a residential product that is made to do just that. Of course, you did not provide particulars of your installation. Is it non-combustible/obstructed? What is the occupancy classification?

I renovated parts of the Sears building that was built in the 30s here in Memphis. It's concrete constructed. The architects put soffits with track lighting pockets around the perimeter where we ran pipe with EC-HSW. They make those concealed also.

I've also drilled out the metal studs of new demising walls and run pipe inside the wall. 3 5/8" studs provide enough room to hit a reducing 90 and concealed sidewall.

Barry

3/28/2019 11:02:28 am

Hopefully, there's a basement or a lower level where you could run the main(s) and branches. On a 4-story state capital restoration, we could not lower the ceilings, but we could cut in the stone walls. It was barrel vault construction and we had an 1-1/2" available to run the branch lines. The sq. footage was small enough that we could consider the whole building as a single zone. We ran the branch lines vertically and offset horizontally for each room. Worked well.

Currently working on a 1905 2-story with a basement with historic ceilings. We are going vertically inside the stud walls and using sidewall sprinklers.

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