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We have an project serving the textile manufacturing industry. We are looking to install a fire hydrant (500 gpm minimum) in proximity to the building.
What is the minimum and maximum distance these hydrant(s) should be located from the building? The project is not under IBC / IFC criteria, only subject to the NFPA series of standards. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
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Have you ran into issues where you get cited from the AHJ because movable X-Ray equipment can potentially end up right in the location below one of the sprinklers in the room (just 3 to 4 inches below)?
I have two rooms with a sprinkler at each end of the table, and the AHJ surveyor is citing it as a potential obstruction. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I've been looking for a manual way of calculating a gridded pipe system.
Grid systems used to be calculated by hand before software came about, but now, everyone I can find just says they're "too complicated" and to let the software do them. They require multiple iterations, but using Excel, those iterations can be done automatically. Doe anyone have resources or a good reference to calculate a gridded systems manually? I'm thinking manuals or textbooks. Thanks! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
Below is a poll we're generating to gather feedback on what makes for a successful designer. Obviously this is subjective and there is no one right answer, but we wanted to ask the industry so that we can better understand and train those who are new to the industry.
If you don't see the poll below, click "view in browser" in this email or click the title above. You can view the results after submitting your vote. Select all the options you think apply. We are having problems getting a flowmeter to accurately read the flow rate that matches what we are measuring downstream out through a test header. A reading using calibrated pitot gauges outside at 1,500 gpm, for instance, is showing 1,900 gpm on the flowmeter inside.
Military specifications for the project require that the flowmeter read accurately, and that the system be piped such that flow must go through the flow meter out through the pump test header. The flowmeter manufacturer has recommended using a stream straightener upstream of the flowmeter to better streamline the flow through the meter and get more accurate readings. Does anyone know of a stream straightener that could be used in a fire pump test loop arrangement? I would think it would have to be listed, but that's just a gut feeling. I don't currently know of any listed stream straighteners. We generally need to meet the black and white code and specifications mandates spot-on without any code alternatives, if possible, being that it's a military project. Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have two structures that each are sprinkler-protected and require sprinklers. The first is a parking garage, and the second is a combination parking garage and office building.
There is a pedestrian bridge between the two built as an open structure. Are sprinklers required on the pedestrian bridge? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am new to the fire engineering fraternity and I'm currently working with a small office building. It's a single-story, 5,800 sqft office use with a small battery room and small server room.
IBC (2021) Section 906 and IFC start with "where required". I cannot find where extinguishers are required for business occupancy. What is the code path to determine if fire extinguishers are required? Does the IBC/IFC not address where extinguishers are required? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Can I use a horizontal sidewall fire sprinkler (not a dry horizontal sidewall) in cold rooms where there is risk of freezing?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'd like to ask a question especially to other specifiers out there. Interested in galvanized pipe, particularly on dry systems.
We all know the valid arguments, reasons, and ever-growing evidence against the use galvanized pipe on dry systems. I always find it curious FM Global is still hanging on to it (although it says galvanizing must be applied after roll-grooving). While the case for nitrogen systems is becoming stronger, and even more cost-effective, I have not seen it going there yet except on military applications, and generally-speaking, owners are not warming up to it yet (maybe I should be a better salesperson). Owner learning-curve is a factor. At the time of this writing (mid-2021) are other specifiers requiring nitrogen systems across-the board? Are you requiring schedule 40 pipe on dry systems? Galvanized? (See also: https://www.meyerfire.com/blog/why-are-dry-pipe-sprinkler-systems-so-difficult ) Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Are we permitted to use the control valve on the backflow preventer as the system control valve?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Does anyone know of a fire department connection manufacturer that produces a fire department connection rated for higher than 300 psi?
Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe In NFPA 13R, sprinklers may be omitted from bathrooms and closets provided they meet the area and size requirements, and are constructed with limited or non-combustible materials (gypsum/drywall).
Should sprinklers be installed in bathrooms and closets on the top floor regardless of area/size and construction to prevent a fire on the top floor from getting into the ceiling space and spreading? I have seen other designers do this but I can't find any formal requirements for this approach. Has anyone else ever done this? Would it matter if the ceiling and roof assembly were fire rated? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a fire sprinkler system with a 550 gpm total sprinkler demand (including hose allowances). The supply duration is 60 minutes. There is no city water supply and we are only utilizing a storage tank.
Is the tank required to have a minimum capacity of 33,000 gallons? Or, could we rely on fire department response, potentially reduce the tank size, and have a manual fire department connection for tank refill? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We're all about improving fire protection worldwide with quality resources and shared knowledge. Thanks to those who topped our leaderboards for July:
Is there anything in NFPA 13 that forbids multiple pipes (two, in this case) being supported by a single trapeze?
Assumption here would be that the trapeze has been accurately calculated to support the combined weight of the two pipes (per NFPA 13 Chapter 9, 2016 Edition). Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm being asked to provide sprinkler protection for emergency electrical feeders for a highrise hotel. NFPA 70 (2014 Edition) Article 700.10.D.1 states:
"Feeder Circuit wiring shall meet one of the following conditions: 1) Be installed in spaces or areas that are fully protected by an approved automatic fire suppression system." The conduit runs exposed tight to deck, and also through non-sprinklered, non-combustible ceiling cavities. I'm worried that we'll be required to sprinkler the entire concealed space where there is unprotected conduit installed - or would it be acceptable to provide localized coverage? Does anyone have experience with this or know of any guidelines for this application? This is a first for me in my 20-years, historically I've always seen this type of conduit be encased in concrete or handled by one of the other (4) options listed in the NEC. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 409, 2016 Edition, Sections 6.2.10 and 7.8 discuss the addition of a 500-gpm allowance for exterior hose.
The standard does not specify a duration, only to fall back on NFPA 13 for calculation purposes. Without any firm guidance, am I looking at a duration of 90-minutes for Extra Hazard occupancy? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe NFPA 30 Figure 16.2.5 is used to determine if a material is viscous liquid or not. I am having an issue with a interpretation of the "Weight (percent flammable or combustible liquid)". Is this weight for the liquid only or the liquid plus the container? Example: Total package / container weight = 2.48 grams. The liquid inside is a Class III-A mixture that is 0.78 grams (31.5%).  If I go with the entire package Figure 16.2.5 is applicable (less than 50%), but if I am just looking at percent of combustible liquids, all the liquid is combustible.
Thanks in advance. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a medical marijuana facility with an extraction room that does not story any butane.
The room itself is 750 sqft, and it does not store flammable materials that are used for extraction within the same room. Those will be outside in a locked metal storage shed. Would the room remain an Ordinary Hazard Group II / Agricultural, or be considered Extra Hazard? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I'm working with a warehouse owner who has equipment that is on skids, stored onto racks. Each skid is less than 20 square-feet in plan view. This warehouse is only using single-row racks, not particularly high.
I understand 20 sqft to be the maximum threshold for an "open-rack" storage arrangement versus "solid shelves", by the definition of NFPA 13 for solid shelving. If we maintain flue spaces all around of 6-inches, could the owner theoretically just store each skid at least 6-inches apart, and still not have solid shelf situation? My gut says that 100-ft long, single row of racks with only this equipment on skids would act more like solid shelves, but if the flues are maintained, then it appears as if NFPA 13 still allows treatment like an open rack. This specific project may be more of a theoretical as the owner has plenty of floor space to limit the overall height of the racks, but I'd appreciate any feedback for future scenarios that come up like this. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I am designing a sprinkler system for an underground parking garage (Ordinary Hazard, Group I) with NFPA 13 (2013 Edition). The concrete ceiling has slab bands that drop 12-inches (300mm) down from the underside of the ceiling.
I am using extended coverage uprights on a dry system. Can I use Section 8.8.4.1.2 (1) to show sprinklers 1- to 6-inches below the slab band, which would make them 13- to 18-inches below the underside of the ceiling? This would make them less than 22-inches below the ceiling. I'm asking because I don't know if a slab band counts as a "structural member" as far as this is concerned. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe Is Unistrut allowed to be used for trapeze braces on sprinkler systems?
There are two issues at hand - one is making sure the section modulus allows for Unistrut to be used. In this case we have a 16-inch span with only a 2-1/2" main on the trapeze, so we're good there. The other issue is the listing and approval of components. Any tips here? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe We have a two story apartment building, and we are installing an NFPA 13R wet pipe sprinkler system.
Is an outside hose demand required to be included within the calculations? There are no inside hose stations. If outside hose demand is required, is the demand the same as light hazard? 100 gpm? We couldn't find a reference to this in NFPA 13R. Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe What methods do people use to drain a riser that is located in a basement?
We have a four-story building with the sprinkler riser in the basement. The basement consists of a small mechanical room and the rest is earth-filled. Would it be permitted to run a drain pipe up to the surface, which would drain the majority of the system until the water finds its level, and then provide a secondary 1" drain which would run to a sump pit? In this particular situation, the remaining water adds up to roughly 20 US gallons. The sump pit is 42 US gallons, and the sump pump is rated for 50 GPM. Thank you very much! Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe I have a building being renovated into a (A-2) restaurant for a total of three floors with a basement level. All levels are classified an A-2 occupancy. The building is going to be sprinklered and have a fire alarm system.
Now that the project is about 75% to completion, the owner has resubmitted plans to have the roof top used as a A-2 also with an occupant load of about 30 people. The ground floor to the roof is 29-ft. The building is not over 30-ft to require a standpipes, but can it be required now due to the rooftop being used as a occupied floor? Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe |
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