Sprinklers Required for Large, Accessible Chase?

4/9/2026

In a four-story educational building, we have a large pipe chase that wraps around the men’s and women’s restrooms on each floor. The highlighted area in the attached sketch is the pipe chase area.

The wall on the left (with the red arrows pointing at it) is a 1 hour rated shaft wall. All the other walls around the pipe chase are non-rated wall assemblies. There are doors (blue boxes) giving access to this area in three different locations. There isn’t any equipment or sources of ignition located inside the chase, just plumbing pipe.

While the area is not to be used for storage, we are concerned that the presence of the doors will allow people to do so. The Architect/Engineer has directed us not to protect this area with sprinklers.

Are sprinklers required inside this chase or can they be omitted as directed by the A/E?

Sent in anonymously for discussion. Click Title to View | Submit Your Question | Subscribe

16 Comments

Peter Howard

4/9/2026 06:11:04 am

There's a door. It will inevitably get used for storage, official designation or not.

If you can get the client to agree to post "FOR MAINTENANCE PURPOSES ONLY - NOT FOR OCCUPANCY OR STORAGE" at that door, you might get the AHJ to agree that it won't be and go with the architect/engineer's plan to omit protection.

But without that signage, I see the AHJ requiring protection due to accessibility.

Dan Wilder

4/9/2026 07:42:41 am

Yep...not just a single door, 3 doors and a lot of wall space available. I don't see an AHJ letting this one go. Maybe if those were only access panels it would be a better argument for omission.

Paul Pinigis link

4/9/2026 08:11:37 am

Why on earth do they need doors into this chase in the first place? Why not simply have the architect. Change these from doors to hatches and eliminate the whole concern.

KARLIN ROBERT JON

4/11/2026 12:56:32 am

this! raising the threshold of the door. eliminating a doorknobs. as well as limiting its size will help you win this argument that the access is prevents occupied use or storage - there are exemptions for pipe chases.

Glenn Berger

4/9/2026 08:11:54 am

What a waste of floor space. Sprinkler protection will be required.

Water closets and urinals require space behind them for their supports and "larger" waste and vent piping. Sinks do not require chase space behind them.

Kevin

4/9/2026 12:48:55 pm

Hi Glenn,

I read this every morning to develop my knowledge. That said, I don't understand what you mean by, "Water closets and urinals require space behind them for their supports and "larger" waste and vent piping. Sinks do not require chase space behind them."

But I would like to learn what you mean. I'm probably missing the obvious but appreciate you teaching me what you are referring to.

Take care and thank you - Kevin

Brett

4/9/2026 01:21:57 pm

Hi Kevin,

I am not Glenn (obviously) but if you search for pictures of water closet carriers then you'll see what he means. These are used for wall hung water closets.

Glenn

4/9/2026 03:32:44 pm

Kevin is spot on - The wall hung units have a sizeable support carrier associated with them. Waste piping is a minimum of 3 inches and sloped.

Arthur Gould

4/9/2026 08:38:01 am

I agree with Glenn that sprinkler protection will be required.

Gary Sims

4/9/2026 09:02:26 am

Is this project being designed to meet NFPA 13 criteria? If so, that is for a "fully sprinklered" building... not a partially sprinklered building. They are calling it a 'chase', so why does it have doors? "for maintenance"... so then it's a maintenance space. They're trying to use naming convention in an attempt to avoid fire protection. I suggest you request the A/E obtain a formal variance/ authorization from the AHJ to omit fire protection. Make them do the work and provide copy to you. It protects them, you, and the owner. They are putting you in a bad position where you can't win. You could also size your pipe accordingly (to supply that area) and hit 'em with a nice change order when the AHJ makes you add fire protection.

Jack G

4/9/2026 09:41:12 am

Access panels will let them slip by but doors not.
The more important thing is wraps, paper towels, cardboard accumulating “ by the maitanance “ man/ plumber. And of course smoking and a smoldering cigarette or cigar—— fire.
So better protect the space.

Jose R Figueroa

4/9/2026 10:41:19 am

A.S. are not necessary. If those areas are ever used for storage, the principal should be reprimanded and a Housekeeping policy should be put in place. I have seen storage of cables, cardboard boxes, and old PCs in electrical rooms. That would not justify installing sprinklers. Without a proper Housekeeping policy, sprinklers may become ineffective, such as storing idle pallets in the aisles of rack storage.

Wes

4/9/2026 10:55:26 am

What's the code basis for this?

If the space is considered accessible, which in my opinion this would be since there are three doors, there would be no provision in NFPA 13 to allow omission of sprinklers.

The allowance to omit sprinklers in noncombustible and limited-combustible spaces are for "concealed" spaces, not for accessible spaces like this, per Section 9.2.1 (2025 Edition).

I'm with the other responders about a small access panel could still qualify as a concealed space, under NFPA 13.

Justin

4/9/2026 04:13:33 pm

I agree with the other comments that in this current configuration, sprinklers are required in the space. However, the primary contributing factor is the doors accessing the space. If the doors could be replaced with hatches (or similar), I would classify this space as "Normally Unoccupied Building Service Equipment Support Area" per NFPA 101 and then see reason to qualify as a concealed space per NFPA 13 to omit sprinklers.

Jon N

4/9/2026 07:04:08 pm

In my former life as an AHJ, I supervised a state public school fire inspection program. Schools never have enough storage, and I can almost guarantee that eventually this space will be used for storage (especially convenient for paper products). Signage doesn't typically work well in schools or at least it isn't followed. Doors make it a room and storage is highly probable. Sprinklers should be installed.

Donnie

4/9/2026 07:34:08 pm

No doubt sprinkler protection would be required in accordance with NFPA 13 for the accessible space.

Sprinklers Required for Large, Accessible Chase?

Leave a Reply.

ALL-ACCESS

SUBSCRIBE

COMMUNITY

YOUR POST

PE EXAM

FILTERS

ARCHIVES

PE PREP SERIES