MeyerFire
  • Blog
  • Daily
  • Exam Prep
    • CFPS Tools
    • NICET Tools
    • 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*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • TOOLKIT
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About
Picture
A FORUM FOR FIRE PROTECTION QUESTIONS & PE EXAM PROBLEMS | SUBSCRIBE NOW

Sprinkler Criteria for Compact Mobile Shelves?

2/18/2021

7 Comments

 
Having trouble getting a good feel for fire sprinkler design criteria for compact, mobile storage shelves. These contain Class I-IV commodities. As I understand it, NFPA 13 only covers light hazard for compact shelving.

The metal shelves have a height of 8-feet, the ceiling height is 26-feet. The room is 3,000 sqft, and the shelves have a footprint within that space of 21 x 30 feet. Any help is appreciated. 

​​​​​​​​Sent in anonymously for discussion. Discuss This | Submit Your Question | Subscribe
7 Comments
Dan Wilder
2/18/2021 08:32:55 am

Depending on what your current adopted standard is...

13-16' Table 13.2.1 if the storage is less than 10' (unlimited ceiling height) design criteria is only OH2 (.2/1500) is one approach (but not specific to "compact mobile" storage)

I do see Section 20.6 and that allows light hazard protection schemes specific to the conditions in that section. You could go with the OH2 approach as an alternate option with approval from your AHJ.

If your situation does not fall into those two categories, the design falls outside of 13 and will require a FPE provide options/review. Possibly utilize FM standards for moveable racks (they don't have anything specific to this last I checked)

You can request the download the archived NFPA report from 2008 or google "Compact Mobile Shelving System Fire Testing Project Final Report" to read. Summary was that fires were contained, but only to the extent of the metal encasements but the fire continued to burn within the array so not considered suppressed which is understandable with how these are built.

https://www.nfpa.org/News-and-Research/Data-research-and-tools/Suppression/Archived-reports---Suppression

Reply
Brian Gerdwagen FPE
2/18/2021 09:10:17 am

I'm getting hung-up on the "mobile" part. Do you mean this type of shelving?

https://info.kardex-remstar.com/us/vertical-carousel-module

FMDS 8-34. Protection criteria for automated storage and retrieval systems.

Reply
Dan Wilder
2/18/2021 09:29:02 am

More this setup is what I'm thinking...

https://bradfordsystems.com/high-density-mobile-storage/

Reply
Franck
2/18/2021 11:04:40 am

As indicated by Dan, by considering this as an OH Gr 2 based on NFPA 13 13.2.1 (!4.3.1.7.1 in 2019 Edition ), you are fine with cl IV and all classes of storage, from pile to shelves, from single to multiple row racks.
Your configuration is less than the worst in the list because the metallic shelves will prevent the fire from spreading from one row to another, eventhough, if no manual firefighting is implemented, you may burn everythin within one row.
Note that §20.5.2 (NFPA 19) define movable racks as multiple row racks for sprinkler protection.

Reply
Franck
2/18/2021 11:20:41 am

Otherwise, you are right, if you consider the same storage arrangement with a class III commodity, this is covered under §20.6 in NFPA 13 2016 (21.12 in NFPA 2019) and is considered as a Light hazard occupancy.
It is indicated in the annex that other storage (class IV or plastic, for example) are out of the scope of NFPA 13 and not covered by the standard. A case by case approach is then to be made and the one proposed by Dan seems the most resonable one in that case.
In NFPA handbook, it is indicated that if the same storage of class III products were stored in fixed racks (library stacks) then the required density would be OH Gr 2.
In other words, the movable rack storage arrangement is less problematic than fixed record storage racks or library stacks.

Reply
Jesse
2/18/2021 11:37:09 am

A Class-IV Commodity stored to 8-ft is protected as OH-2 in any arrangement

Reply
Arnold Wilkins
2/18/2021 12:50:15 pm

The compact storage shelving I have been seeing lately is similar to this link.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbs_7jhcEa4

Here is my thought process. Please let me know if I am missing something. The following is from 2016 ed. of NFPA 13.
Section 13.1.1(5) - Storage Class I-IV.... as directed by 14.2.3.1 and 16.2.1.2.

Section 14.2.3.1 does not cover multiple-row racks.
Section 16.2.1.2 kicks you back to 13.2.1.

Section 16.2.1.2.3 is for 12 ft or less that does NOT meet definition of Miscellaneous storage. States it shall be protected with in-rack sprinklers.

If in-racks are the only option then maybe look at something like a Metraflex seismic joint.







Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Jump to: Daily Posts
    Jump to: PE Problems
    Picture
    Why Sponsor?

    Free Signup

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

    Community

    Thank You to Our Top
    ​January '21 Contributors!
    1. Franck
    2. CJ B.
    3. Dan W.
    4. Jesse
    ​5. Gleen B.
    6. Casey M.
    7. Mike
    8. Pete
    9. HJ
    10. Wayne


    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

    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
    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 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

    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
    June 2015


    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

Home - About - Blog - Contact - Exam Prep - Store
Picture
Copyright © 2020 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
  • Daily
  • Exam Prep
    • CFPS Tools
    • NICET Tools
    • 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*
    • TEST & DRAIN CALCULATOR
    • THRUST BLOCK CALCULATOR
    • TRAPEZE CALCULATOR
    • UNIT CONVERTER
    • VOLUME & COMPRESSOR CALCULATOR
    • WATER SUPPLY (US)
    • WATER SUPPLY (METRIC)
  • TOOLKIT
  • LOGIN
  • STORE
  • About