Multipurpose sprinkler systems are an option in NFPA-13D, does that make it part of the plumbing code ?.
Likewise NFPA-72 (a standard separate from the NEC) provides the option of line voltage smoke alarms or low voltage smoke detectors in homes. To date the majority of fire warning systems in homes are line voltage smoke alarms installed by electrical contractors. Conversely low voltage smoke detectors are exclusively used in the commercial setting installed by alarm contractors, the same place we find NFPA-13 systems installed by sprinkler contractors. The FUNDAMENTAL issue is the same. John Drucker Fire Protection Subcode Official (AHJ) New Jersey -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Timothy W Goins Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 11:57 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Fire Systems and Plumbers Big difference, NFPA 72 is part of the electrical code, or it was the last time I checked. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of John Drucker Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 8:43 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Fire Systems and Plumbers No different then Electrical Contractors that install Line Voltage Interconnected Smoke/Carbon Monoxide Alarms in Homes versus Alarm contractors that install Low Voltage Fire Alarm Systems. Bottom line its about cost. The plumbing contractor who installs sprinklers as an extension of the plumbing system is no different then the electrical contractor who installs smoke alarms as an extension of the electrical system. As for the NFPA, do they really "represent" any particular trade or merely fire safety interests as a whole ? John Drucker Fire Protection Subcode Official (AHJ) New Jersey -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 7:13 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Fire Systems and Plumbers Booyah! Well put, oh great poobah of sprinkie-stuff. This is the dirty little secret (or 600-lb. gorilla in the living room, depending on your perspective) that I was alluding to in my rant a few weeks back about large plumbing contractors moving into residential sprinklers. Unless we (WE, the fire sprinkler community, inclusive) seriously ramp up our human and training resources for designers and installers, it will be impossible to deal with the flood of proposal requests that are inevitable. This has been recognized and in some cases is already being acted upon by certain plumbing firms on a regional basis. Back to Timothy's question (aren't you glad you opened THIS can of worms Tim-bo?); presuming it was a Uponor system you saw advertised, keep in mind that they're market-making right now. And the NFPA Journal is one of several publications in which they're advertising, along with Rehau who manufactures the only other PEX product approved for 13D systems at the moment. If you don't want to see fire protection ads directed at plumbers, then you'll also definitely want to avoid PM Engineer and Contractor magazine too. Steve Leyton Protection Design & Consulting -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Muncy Sent: Monday, March 24, 2008 3:01 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Fire Systems and Plumbers For multi-systems, there are currently several states that REQUIRE that a licensed plumber install the system because they are considered an extension of the domestic water supply. Fire sprinkler contractors are PROHIBITED from installing such systems, unless of course they have a plumbing license -- but the system is still being installed under the plumbing license. And when those systems are inspected, they will be inspected by Plumbing officials - not the fire marshal. Multi-purpose systems have been been recognized as acceptable in NFPA-13D for a long time but it was not until fairly recently that use use accelerated. New changes being incorporated into the International Plumbing Code offer a simplified design for multi- purpose systems that does not require hydraulic calcs but is based on distance and water pressure. My understanding is that the NFPA-13D committee has accepted the language proposed in the IPC proposal. By the way, it was the International Association of Fire Chiefs who recommended the code change to add the simplified procedure to the IPC. Bottom line is that you are going to see a lot more of these systems in the future. It is likely that most "lower-end" homes will adopt the multi-purpose approach and larger, more expensive homes will have a standalone system. When (not IF) the International Residential Code moves the requirements for sprinklers in single-family dwellings from the appendix to the body of the code, thus making it required, the number of residential systems will EXPLODE. Sure, there will be battles on the local level to remove that requirement, but it is more difficult to remove a provision from the code on a local level. Think about this - based on the number of new homes built in 2007, each and every fire sprinkler contractor in the country would have to install 375 single-family fire sprinkler systems. That is how big this market will eventually be, and most fire sprinkler contractors don't do many single-family systems when there are plenty of more lucrative commercial jobs to dedicate the limited number of employees to. If plumbers are going to do this work.... and they will.... let's just hope that they feel the need to acquire some TRAINING on the subject before they jump head-first into the fire protection business. Steve Muncy, CAE Fire Sprinklers Save Lives! American Fire Sprinkler Assn. Dallas, TX On Mar 24, 2008, at 9:58 AM, Timothy W Goins wrote: > Why would the NFPA journal, MAR/APR 2008 edition, use an advertiser > for > residential piping systems that ONLY recommends plumbers to install > their > product? I know the answer is money, but I thought they were looking > out for > our industry and it's standards, both written and installed. > > Isn't this like having an architect layout "design" fire sprinkler > systems? _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
