Shelves in a Changing Room Considered Storage?

5/22/2025

We have a room that will be used to store clothes within a changing room. The facility is a place of worship.

The owner is planning on 4' wide by 8' long free-standing storage shelves. We just discovered that the unit top will be only 4" below the ceiling. The room was planned for light-hazard concealed sprinkler protection.

So, would you consider this storage?

Or would you look at the shelving unit as an obstruction?

In retail, we would limit the height of the unit to be 18" below the ceiling. But I'm not sure how to protect this build.

Thanks in advance.

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4 Comments

Pete H

5/22/2025 06:29:09 am

You can't have storage and a deflector that close in NFPA 13 (2016).

8.6.6. Clearance to storage (standard pendent and upright sprinklers)

8.6.6.1 The clearance between the deflector shall be 18 in. or greater

8.6.6.2 The 18 in. dimension shall not limit the height of shelving on a wall or shelving against a wall in accordance with 8.7.6, 8.8.6, and 8.9

8.6.6.2.1 Where shelving is installed on a wall and is not directly below sprinklers, the shelves, including storage theron shall be permitted to extend above the level of a plane located 18 in. below sprinkler deflectors.

8.6.6.2.2 Shelving, and any storage thereon, directly below the sprinklers shall not extend above a plane located 18 in. below the ceiling sprinkler deflectors.

8.6.6.3 Where other standards specify greater storage to clearance, they shall be followed.

-

Unless it's against a wall, you need an 18" minimum clearance between the deflector and a floor mounted obstruction or shelving/storage with standard pendent or upright sprinklers.

Chad

5/22/2025 07:36:20 am

Its an obstruction if within 18" of ceiling (unless against wall) like pete said.

Is it storage now? Meh, there is an argument both ways but its a place of worship so I say no.

Dan Wilder

5/22/2025 08:22:52 am

This is really no different than a tall bookcase, a modular storage, or other floor mounted obstruction within a library. Provide protection around the units keeping both the 18" clear below (aisleways) and minimum 6' between SSP (no sprinklers above the shelving)

Best to space the sprinklers in the aisles at max spacing 14'(assuming center tile and looks to be plan left/right) and pickup the ends at 8' on center (plan up/down). About where the left hand side of the rack aligns with the tile above as the starting row. It's loosely following a couple items like spacing on opposite sides of the obstruction (assuming where the light hazard ask is coming from), keeps 18" clear below the deflector, and also reduces spacing.

As for the classification, yes storage IMO (ordinary hazard 1) however this is a grey area within the standard that you can only provide a "best approach" to allow the layout of the sprinklers to discharge without significant spray pattern disruption. If you go 8x12 that is a 7PSI starting pressure, 8x14 increases this a little to 9PSI (OH1) and should not be a large impact to the overall hydraulic design.

I will say, kuddos to the designer for looking at a furniture plan, it would easily be overlooked as just a room without the added obstructions.

Glenn Berger

5/22/2025 08:26:25 am

You got some really good answers already.

Yes - Obstruction issues are present.

Yes - I would consider the space as storage.

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Shelves in a Changing Room Considered Storage?

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