From Joe: I haven't had as many questions posted recently by members, so if you have a question you'd like to see posted on the Daily forum, email them to me at jdmeyer@meyerfire.com. Thanks & I look forward to hearing from you!

We occasionally have inadvertent fire alarm activations that we can't get to stop until a fire alarm company arrives to correct the issue at the facility where I work. Are we permitted to turn off the alarm and conduct a fire watch during this time instead?

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A security wall (under standard ICD/ICS 705) details the technical specifications for a SCIF wall (sensitive compartmented information facility). As part of the specifications, there must be a dielectric break when penetrating the wall (this helps break up any electronic transmission along the pipe). This can be done using a dielectric union, flange or coupling, but it must be listed for UFC 4-010-05 (section 3-5.8.2) for military applications. 

Is there a product that acts as a dielectric break that meets this specification?

If this can't be accomplished with a dielectric break, the standard calls for grounding but does not detail how to ground the pipe. Can this just be done with grounding a single point? Has anyone used this method before?

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Our first Daily question of the day that includes a photo. Here goes - 

I was surveying/inspecting a facility and came across a riser component that I am not familiar with, at least in the way this one appears.  

The riser room is located in a basement, and the white drain goes to a sump, then is connected to drain pipe.  I have never seen this arrangement before.  

The question is what is the stainless steel hose going to that says “spring loaded”? 

...one of these days I gotta find time to hang out with a sprinkler contractor or FPE….

From Joe Meyer:

Are you an expert in NFPA 22 and water storage tanks for fire protection systems? Are you interested in beta testing a new tool under development?

I'm working on a new water storage tank tool and I'm seeking input and feedback from those who are familiar with and regularly work on water storage tanks.

If you're knowledgeable, interested, and willing to provide feedback on this new tool, please email me at jdmeyer@meyerfire.com. Thanks in advance!

I have a healthcare building owner (five story building) who is doing a small remodel to about a third of a single floor. The existing sprinkler system is being modified (relocated and demo/new sprinklers) to accommodate the wall and ceiling changes.

The existing building is Seismic Design Category D, requiring seismic bracing, but the existing system has none. My recommendation to the owner (which aligns with their insurer's recommendation) is for retrofit of the whole floor if not the whole building. 

The owner is looking to provide seismic bracing on only the system being modified. 

Does this provide any benefit at all?

My concern is that without adequate bracing what is provided could possibly provide zero benefit or even make the system worse if part is fixed and another is not.

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A fire sprinkler system for a single building requires a tank for water storage as there is only a well at this project's remote site. We're considering using a diesel pump with a pump house adjacent to an aboveground water storage tank.

What type of fire pump would you recommend for this scenario?

The building is only Ordinary Hazard Group 1, so I'm expecting an approximate pump size of 500 gpm, 75 psi, 50 HP. There will not be much suction pressure since the water storage tank will not be pressurized.

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This retail project has a series of fabric awnings that are fairly large. Have you come across fabric awnings that qualify as non-combustible or limited combustible to the extent that sprinkler protection is not required beneath? Looking for guidance to provide to an architect client.

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Do laundries within residential buildings require a standard-spray sprinkler, or can they also use residential-style sprinklers? What about corridors?

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Can I determine a room capacity for a classroom or lab by just walking in and measuring the room's square footage and using a load factor?

Some of our classrooms have so many desks it looks like a cattle car going to slaughter. I'd like to be able to go room to room and say, "This is the maximum allowable seats...". Appreciate any simple tips for a simple guy. Thanks. 

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For straight pipe couplings, are thrust blocks required, or is it only at any change of direction in the piping? It seems as though restrained joints seem to be common now, but the question came up when using thrust blocks instead of the restrained joints.

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Despite a shorter month we had a record number of comments on the site this past month. Thank you to all those who share your take on the questions posted here. Your collaboration not only helps those who asked the question but the rest of us learn about different approaches to fire protection challenges. Here's the top ten for February 2019:

There's a fully-sprinklered jail renovation that is using 18-foot long (13-foot wide) four-man pre-engineered steel jail cells.

Typically we would use sidewall institutional-style sprinklers which can throw up to 16-feet in length. The goal is typically to conceal the piping behind the cell so that it is inaccessible to those within the cell.

Has anyone encountered these longer cells, and if so is there a solution other than putting a sidewall at the front and back of the cell?

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I ask this only to satisfy my own curious nature. 

I've observed sprinkler system pipes that appear to be joined with what appears to be a two piece clamp which is itself joined by nuts and bolts.

What is this fitting style and how does this method function? 

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The table in NFPA 13 for different hazard classifications and hose allowances has a range for the water supply duration (table 11.2.3.1.2 in NFPA 13-2016). For instance, Ordinary Hazard has a required water supply duration of "60-90" minutes.

When is the lower part of the range used, and when is the higher used?

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My clients are wanting to store a small amount of Class IIIB liquid (cooking oil) in a Group S storage mezzanine that is part of a larger Group F-1 commercial cooking facility. I've done the larger FP scheme for when this product becomes a full-scaled production with its own designated processing plant, and that has a rack protection scheme for Intermediate Bulk Container storage.

This smaller-scale renovation is a mock-up of the larger scale production in an existing plant- intended to get product to the customers for test marketing. The quantity stored will be a single pallet of (60) 5 gal plastic jug in box containers. The overhead system is Ordinary Hazard Group 2, although if I source calculated I could probably get a .6 x 3000 +500. 

Because the quantity is so low, nothing in NFPA 30 seems to really pertain to the storage. The jurisdiction is on the 2012 IFC, and I think that §5704.3.4.4 applies. It basically says that flammable and combustible equipment for maintenance and the operation of equipment in excess of 10 gal shall be stored in liquid storage cabinets (the equipment of course being the searing/frying equipment in the other area of operation). 

My question arises from never having to have specified protection criteria for storage quantities so small. I want to get the client to unload the pallets into 3- cabinets, following all of the separation criteria. 

Does use of the cabinets mean that the fire-rating requirements for "control areas" do not need to be followed?

Or does the standard want the storage cabinets inside a burn-rated area?

If it is the latter, I am planning to ask the fire marshal for an exemption for the 1-hr burn rating required by NFPA 30 Table 9.7.2. 

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For projects where you have to survey and/or trace existing sprinkler systems for modifications, what tools/methods do you use? Just a 25' measuring tape and a ladder? Point and shoot laser? Laser scans? 

I generally measure locations of sprinklers and pipe off of walls or structure using a point-and-shoot laser measure and a laser plumb bob so I know I'm right beneath my measurement point. That being said I'm very interested in learning about how other people do takeoffs.

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Is it allowed, by code, to have multiple buildings served by a single fire department connection?

There's an existing series of about 12 buildings (a campus) that is served by a site fire pump house (most buildings only have sprinkler, a couple have standpipes). On the discharge side of the pump house is a fire department connection. This is the only method to supplement flow and pressure for the fire department.

NFPA 13, 14, 20, and 24 would all apply here, as well as the IBC and IFC (2015). Is this permitted by code? 

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I have seen window sprinklers spaced across an entire wall of a building that has windows on the exterior and I have been told it has to do with spreading fire to a building next to it.

I have also seen window sprinklers on the exterior of a building where there is a metal fire staircase next to the building outside of windows. Any insight on either of these scenarios as to why the sprinklers would be necessary?

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What range of heights are allowed for standpipe hose connections above the landing in a stairwell?

Any advice as to arranging the hose connection (height, orientation, etc.)?

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There's clear guidance for small bathrooms and closet sprinkler protection under NFPA 13D, 13R, and NFPA 13. Do laundry rooms have any similar provisions that would either omit sprinklers or require them in small laundry rooms?

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​So the calculation for occupant load for classrooms, etc., uses an occupant load factor that is a net factor.

How do we calculate for additional students occupying corridors outside classrooms while classes are in session?

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Does NFPA 13 limit the friction loss per foot of pipe? What is good practice to follow in calculation process? 

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Is there any benefit to having the backflow preventer on the discharge side of the fire pump? We've seen several RFPs recently that are requiring the backflow to be on the discharge side of the fire pump.

To me it seems as though this arrangement unnecessarily leaves more pipe and mechanical components exposed to the public water supply, but I'd be interested in others' opinions.

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I understand there's a tradition of locating a horn/strobe or other exterior waterflow notification appliance on the exterior of the building, but where is it required and is a location stipulated?

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