Sprinkler Design Criteria for Stacked Hay Bales?

11/6/2019

Does anyone have any experience with determining an appropriate design criteria for protecting rectangular hay bales stacked to about 20 ft. in a 25-30 ft. metal purlin building?

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6 Comments

David J. Branson

11/6/2019 10:25:49 am

We have dealt with similar high piled storage of baled cotton motes, compressed cotton bales, wood, etc. The required sprinkler system measures depend heavily on AHJ, codes & ordinances, warehouse location & configuration, pile spacing and other criteria.

Paul Pinigis

11/6/2019 10:27:27 am

Well, they would be a class III commodity in a solid pile to 20 ft. , so table 22.2 in the 2019 edition gives you some options.

Jessica L.

11/6/2019 10:28:26 am

About 10 years ago I designed a system for a hay barn. I discussed it with NFPA because there weren't any design guidelines for that storage commodity. They "unofficially" advised me to use Ordinary Hazard Group 2 density. The building was standalone, unoccupied, and used only for hay bale storage.
Sorry, I know this is not the concrete information you're looking for...

Kevin Pelton link

11/6/2019 10:41:01 am

NFPA 13, A 5.3.2, Ordinary Hazard Group 2, Barns & Stables,

Jesse Cecil link

11/6/2019 11:04:16 am

With 20-ft high storage it would not be OH2. OH2 is for Class I-III to no higher than 12-ft, and Class IV no higher than 10-ft. I think Class III is your driving commodity, so finding the design curve for protection of high-piled Class II Commodity will govern. See 2016 NFPA 13 Chapter 14.2 for a design curve, and remember your combined hose allowance is 500-gpm

Jesse Cecil link

11/6/2019 11:47:59 am

Design curve for Class III Commodity. Sorry. silly keyboard

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Sprinkler Design Criteria for Stacked Hay Bales?

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