Thanks for all the info, uh - I'm mean ammo:) 

 


-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 8:48 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Telecom & Data Rooms

I swear I must have this conversation about once a week if not more
sometimes with those who have the perception of sprinkler systems as
drippy, false tripping deluge systems of destruction.   So any room with
anything electronic in it is cause for omission of sprinklers in their
eyes.   When you explain the difference between a sprinkler discharging
15-20 gpm and the average being maybe 2 or 3 on the high end for an
occupancy like this (so 30-60 gpm) versus 250+ gpm from a hose stream and
the outcome from relying on that for your fire suppression they sometimes
see the advantages of the sprinkler.  They can dry out a wetted computer but
you can't put it back together after it's a melted
blob of plastic.   False trips of heads is like 1 in 6 million.  If they
are concerned with tampering, install institutional style in those areas.
But if they think they can leave them out they need to prove in the
applicable codes where it says they can.  They also need to comprehend that
smoke detectors are not fire Protection, they are just Detection.  That's
another misconception.

One other thing is #4 in the list below.  If you've ever been in a school
any room or space is a candidate for doubling as a storage closet.  I've
even seen the riser rooms loaded with junk to the point you couldn't get to
the riser.  

Also be sure they totally understand #3.  Often they'll say they've got 2hr
walls but fail to complete the envelope with a 2hr ceiling/floor system
including sealing all openings in and out with a U.L. approved method and
material equal to the rating of the wall/floor/ceiling, plus they'll leave
out the fire dampers in the ductwork.  

What they fail to understand is like I said above, if there is a short in a
piece of equipment which would start a fire, smoke detectors won't put it
out, they'll call the FD and notify someone that something is happening.
There is a time delay which can result in greater damage and loss and may
hamper evacuation depending on the severity of the situation.  Then there's
the whole blob and hose issue.

In a worst case if a sprinkler did leak and dripped into a computer and
shorted it out, a breaker should trip and that's the end of the story.
If the same short happens and it escalates into something big enough to
cause a head to open, it does so automatically, and while the head is
working to extinguish/control the fire the FD is on the way.  Take a shop
vac or squeegee and clean up the water, dry things out and you're back in
business the next day.  With scenario #1, you're not going to be
back in business any time soon.   You're going to be looking at those
blobs and playing the "I wonder what that was" game.



In order to omit sprinklers from electrical rooms.
 
Note that ALL the requirements must be met.
 
NFPA 13, 2007, 8.15.10 Electrical Equipment
 
8.15.10.1 Unless the requirements of 8.15.3 are met, sprinkler protection
shall be required in electrical rooms.
 
8.15.10.3  Sprinklers shall not be required in electrical equipment rooms
where all of the following conditions are met:
 
(1) the room is dedicated to electrical equipment only.
(2) Only dry-type electrical equipment is used.
(3) Equipment is installed in a 2-hour fire-rated enclosure including
protection for penetrations.  (2-hour rating for walls, doors, ceilings,
fire dampers in ceiling, wall penetrations, etc)
(4) No combustible storage is permitted to be stored in the room 


Craig L. Prahl, CET
Fire Protection Group
Mechanical Department
CH2MHILL
Lockwood Greene
1500 International Drive
PO Box 491, Spartanburg, SC  29304-0491
Direct - 864.599.4102
Fax - 864.599.8439
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.lg.com



-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Brian Harris
Sent: Thursday, August 02, 2007 8:06 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Telecom & Data Rooms

I'm being told by an Architect we are doing a school with that I need to
remove any heads from the Telecom & Data rooms and that I'm not allowed to
run any pipe above those ceilings either. He is basing it on the provisions
for eliminating heads in and Electrical room with a 2 hour fire wall, am I
missing something? I am not aware of Telecom & Data rooms falling into the
same category as an Electrical room. I have approved plans from the AHJ with
the heads shown in those rooms and omitted from the Electrical rooms. Any
thoughts?
 

 

 

 

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