Residential-Style Sprinkler Outside of Dwelling?

3/11/2019

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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6 Comments

PETE

3/11/2019 01:17:15 pm

A building can be designated 13R with portions of the building sprinklered per NFPA 13. An example would be a commercial kitchen within a hotel that is otherwise13R sprinklered, done as an Ordinary Hazard. The laundry should be light hazard sprinklered per NFPA 13 as well as offices, but the corridors should be 13R if the rooms are 13R.

I am assuming we're talking about a hotel?? Be careful about asking for a NFPA 13 designation in wood construction, i.e. combustible concealed space above the ceiling. A 13 designation would mean that the builder would have to completely insulate the interstitial space with fire retardant insulation, or you would need to install sprinklers both above and below those ceilings. That said, if the AHJ favors an NFPA 13 installation in the corridors and it is wood framed, there is a considerable cost associated with doing it that way in wood-framed construction.

James

3/12/2019 08:41:49 am

I just want to clarify how Pete answered. He isn't wrong, but he makes it seem you can use both NFPA 13 and 13R in a building, which is not the case.

I think he meant to just talk about just using residential type sprinkler heads in residential occupancy's, while using non-residential heads in mechanical rooms, laundry rooms, etc.

Look at section 6.7.7.2 Outside the Dwelling Units in NFPA 13R. This answers what OP is looking for.

James

3/12/2019 08:43:25 am

To clarify, this is the section in the 2007 NFPA 13R. Might be a little dated, so just check which NFPA year the local code adopted.

James

3/12/2019 09:13:04 am

I may have been mistaken. NFPA 13R allows you to design using NFPA 13 in areas outside the dwelling units. Section 6.8.2.

PETE

3/12/2019 01:47:21 pm

JAMES, It is confusing, but to clear it up..13R is a permutation of 13. NFPA shouldn't re-write everything in 13 on density-area and pipe schedule calculations,etc. And 13 is more a more stringent standard than 13R. It stands to reason that in most cases 13 can replace 13R, but the devil is in the details. I would certainly get the standard that is current for the jurisdiction and double check everything. I'm looking at the 2013 13R, and there are several areas that point the designer back to 13 for various situations outside of the dwelling units.

JAL

3/20/2019 09:18:36 am

Check the code review drawings, and check your state (and/or city) building code.
It depends on which residential occupancy use group, number of stories, etc.

Most likely, there is language there re: application of residential sprinklers in public use areas.

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