MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Problems
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
  • TOOLS
    • TOOLKIT (FREE TRIAL)
    • *TOOLKIT (PURCHASE)
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'19)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • ALL-ACCESS
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About
Picture
ALL THINGS FIRE PROTECTION | SUBSCRIBE NOW

Resources for New Marijuana Grow Facilities?

8/28/2019

5 Comments

 
Does anyone have good resources (articles, design guidance) for fire suppression systems protecting new marijuana grow facilities?

Posted anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
5 Comments
Jonathan Sullivan
8/28/2019 10:22:07 am

Chapter 38 - Marijuana Growing, Processing, or Extraction Facilities was added to the 2018 Edition of NFPA 1.

They also published an article on 2016 about the challenges associated with these type of spaces in the NFPA Journal. The cover of that issue was graced by marijuana leaves. I left it on my desk. It was was a great conversation starter.

Reply
Colleen
9/8/2019 05:54:25 pm

RE: "It was a great conversation starter." LOL!! I can only imagine...

Reply
DTC
8/28/2019 11:04:03 am

Good Morning,

If you are specifically talking about the grow areas then you would just treat this as:

Agricultural facility - NFPA13 A5.3.2 - Ordinary Hazard Group II.

However, look into their processes as well make sure they are not conducting extraction using flammables which would need to be evaluated separately.

Its funny I have seen a wide range of requirements for protection of this. "Because it carries the name of Marijuana It must be more dangerous."

Reply
Jared Wilkinson link
2/1/2021 12:26:02 pm

I am dealing with an F1 (OH2) Grow Facility that uses 4'x40' moveable steel racks with 4 levels up to 16ft. The racks when stored together will have a width of 16 ft. The plants are cultivated on 4x8 thin plastic catch trays on top of trellis style shelves. The Room has a 75% Humidity Control System. I doubt anything will even burn inside this State of the Art Grow Room with such a high humidity Level. We have suggested to the owner to lower the height to 3 shelves high to maintain a 12ft storage height. However, the Fire Marshal is concerned about floor coverage due to the trays. Has anyone come across similar conditions? Suggestions on where to go from here would be helpful.

Thank you in advance.

Reply
D F
2/25/2021 10:42:35 am

From NFSA article - Feb 2020

“In Good Health” a medical/recreational marijuana grow facility occupies approximately 60,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing, office and retail space in a one-story masonry and steel structure.

When the business first occupied the property, it was sub-divided into several tenant spaces and only half the building had fire sprinkler coverage. As the business has expanded and grown, the fire sprinkler system has been extended to fully protect the building and occupants.

The Brockton Fire Department’s Fire Prevention Division worked with local Building Officials and the business partners to review the plans and proposed use, as well as the existing structure, to assure compliance with the State Building Code and NFPA 13.

One of the areas that concerned Deputy Chief Ed Williams, Fire Inspector with Brockton Fire, were the grow tables which had the ability to slide back and forth creating a ‘barrier’ or ‘obstruction’ for the fire sprinkler discharge and an ‘unprotected’ space beneath the tables.

After discussion with code officials and the fire sprinkler contractor, the solution was to install sprinkler heads under the table surfaces, thus fully protecting the area. The installation was performed by Yankee Fire Sprinkler of East Bridgewater, Massachusetts.

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jump to: Daily Posts
    Jump to: PE Problems
    Picture
    FREE 30-DAY TRIAL
    GET THE TOOLKIT

    Free Signup

    Subscribe and learn something new each day:
    I'm Interested In:

    Community

    Thank You to Our Top
    ​February '21 Contributors!
    1. Dan W.
    2. Franck
    3. Jesse
    4. CJ B.
    ​5. Brian G.
    6. Mike
    7. Matt
    8. Casey M.
    9. Jay R.
    10. Glenn B.

    Your Post

    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    The Toolkit

    Sprinkler Designer or Engineer?
    ​
    ​Get all of our tools, including the Sprinkler Database, Friction Loss Calculator, Fire Pump Analyzer and more:
    Picture
    FREE 30-DAY TRIAL
    GET THE TOOLKIT

    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    Filters

    All
    ABA
    ADA
    ASCE 7
    ASME A17.1
    Daily Discussion
    Design Documents
    Explosion Protection & Prevention
    Fire Detection And Alarm Systems
    Fire Dynamics
    Flammable & Combustible LIquids
    FM Global
    Human Behavior
    IBC
    IFC
    IMC
    Information Sources For Analysis
    IRC
    Means Of Egress
    NFPA 1
    NFPA 10
    NFPA 101
    NFPA 11
    NFPA 110
    NFPA 12
    NFPA 13
    NFPA 13D
    NFPA 13R
    NFPA 14
    NFPA 15
    NFPA 17A
    NFPA 20
    NFPA 2001
    NFPA 214
    NFPA 22
    NFPA 24
    NFPA 25
    NFPA 291
    NFPA 30
    NFPA 33
    NFPA 400
    NFPA 415
    NFPA 497
    NFPA 5000
    NFPA 502
    NFPA 54
    NFPA 55
    NFPA 654
    NFPA 68
    NFPA 70
    NFPA 72
    NFPA 90A
    NFPA 92
    NICET
    Passive Building Systems
    PE Prep Guide
    PE Prep Series
    PE Sample Problems
    Poll
    Smoke Management Systems
    Special Hazard Systems
    Types Of Analysis
    UFC 3 600 01
    UFC 3-600-01
    Updates
    Water Based Fire Suppression
    Weekly Exams


    Archives

    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    November 2016
    October 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016


    Daily
    Daily discussions are open-ended fire protection, fire alarm, and life safety questions submitted anonymously for the benefit of sharing expertise and learning from other perspectives. Anyone can submit a question here:
    SUBMIT A QUESTION

    Exam Prep

    Picture
    2020 PE Prep Guide​
    ​(Available Now!)
    Picture
    PE Prep Series
    ​(Available Now!)
    2020 PE Prep Series
    Current Leaderboard
    ​(Click to enlarge)
    Fire Protection PE Exam Prep

    PE Problems
    ​Visit July-October for daily Fire Protection PE Exam sample questions.

    Solutions are posted the day after posting.

    Comment with your solutions, questions or clarifications.

    Please note that questions posted are unofficial and in accordance with NCEES rules are intended to be similar to actual exam questions, not actual exam questions themselves.

    RSS Feed

Picture
Home - About - Blog - Contact - Exam Prep - Store

​Copyright © 2021 MeyerFire, LLC

The views, opinions, and information found on this site represent solely the author shown and do not represent the opinions of any other party, nor does the presented material assume responsibility for its use. Fire protection and life safety systems constitute a critical component for public health and safety and you should consult with a licensed professional for proper design and code adherence. Some (not all) outbound links on this website, such as Amazon links, are affiliate-based where we receive a commission for orders placed elsewhere.
  • Blog
  • Forum
  • PE Exam
    • PE Forum & Errata
    • PE Problems
    • PE Store
    • PE Tools
    • PE Prep Series
  • TOOLS
    • TOOLKIT (FREE TRIAL)
    • *TOOLKIT (PURCHASE)
    • SUBMIT AN IDEA
    • BACKFLOW DATABASE*
    • CLEAN AGENT ESTIMATOR*
    • CLOUD CEILING CALCULATOR
    • DOMESTIC DEMAND*
    • FIRE PUMP ANALYZER
    • FIRE PUMP DATABASE*
    • FIRE FLOW CALCULATOR*
    • FRICTION LOSS CALCULATOR
    • HANGER SPACER*
    • IBC TRANSLATOR*
    • K-FACTOR SELECTOR
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('19 ONLY)
    • NFPA 13 EDITION TRANSLATOR ('99-'19)*
    • LIQUIDS ANALYZER*
    • OBSTRUCTION CALCULATOR
    • OBSTRUCTIONS AGAINST WALL*
    • PLUMBING FIXTURE COUNTS
    • REMOTE AREA ANALYZER
    • QUICK RESPONSE AREA REDUCTION
    • SPRINKLER DATABASE*
    • SPRINKLER FLOW*
    • SYSTEM ESTIMATOR*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • ALL-ACCESS
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About