Why is a Stage Considered Ordinary Hazard II?

9/25/2019

I understand per guidance in the annex of NFPA 13 (2016 edition, A.5.3.2(25)) stages are an example of an OH2 hazard, but would this apply in an auditorium/theater with a platform (no curtains)?

5.3.2.1 Ordinary hazard (Group 2) occupancies shall be defined as occupancies or portions of other occupancies where the quantity and combustibility of contents are moderate to high, stockpiles of contents with moderate rates of heat release do not exceed 12 ft (3.7 m), and stockpiles of contents with high rates of heat release do not exceed 8 ft (2.4 m).

A.5.3.2 Ordinary hazard (Group 2) occupancies include occupancies having uses and conditions similar to the following: (25) Stages

I'm not quite clear why a stage is considered an ordinary hazard instead of a light hazard.

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6 Comments

Randy

9/25/2019 10:14:55 am

My interpretation is that it accounts for all manner of stage props and sets.

Chris Nickelatti link

9/25/2019 10:30:26 am

I agree with Randy in that the stage itself is not the issue but rather the use of the stage will create the ordinary hazard with the placement of items that now make it a Group 2 setting.

Mike

9/25/2019 10:32:20 am

Stage sets - paper, wood , etc.

Hanging curtains

Stage effects - pyrotechnics

High temperature lighting

Sound and rigging

Dave

9/25/2019 11:10:47 am

Ditto all the above. OH2: "where the quantity and combustibility of contents are moderate to high"...
While there may be a wide range of scale between, say, an elementary school stage off to the side of a gymnasium, and a high school performing arts center that may also host community theater for large stage productions, one can find many articles on-line of how theater stage fire remain fairly common, and historically, theater fires in general being among the most deadly.
(Maybe in another installment we can untangle the hose connection requirements, options, and calculations for stages over 1,000 s.f. in area.)

John Frank

9/26/2019 08:54:01 am

I actually thought you were going the other way, that is why is it not extra hazard. I work as a volunteer at a historic theater and that stage can be loaded with foamed plastic props, small house mock ups with lots of shielding, etc. The ceiling is probably 50 feet high.

I think that it really depends on the stage. Elementary school stage vs Broadway productions

Katie link

9/30/2019 09:53:23 am

That's a good point I hadn't put much thought into! A black box theatre could be limited to a single actor and a single metal folding chair. The seating around the stage would provide more fuel. NFPA 140 looks like some fun airplane reading ahead of AFSA 38 this week.

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