Rick, I agree with you, you no longer have a noncombustible "concealed" space above the ceiling. When we see architects attempt this at the design stage we usually steer them away from the cloud ceiling; when we cannot, we sprinkler above and below the ceiling (obstruction).
Paul J. Pinigis, P.E. Chief Life Safety Engineer -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Green Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 8:59 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Floating Ceilings I am in the design phase installing wet pipe sprinkler systems protecting new schools. I have noticed that in several of the rooms in the schools(cafeteria, band room, main corridor that runs the length of the school), architect has designed lay-in ceiling systems with gaps ranging from 4" to 12" along the walls and between sections of ceiling within the rooms (floating ceiling sections). I do not believe my non-combustible concealed space above the ceilings is concealed anymore and may require protection. Has anyone dealt with this? I have heard some discussion that if the total square feet of the openings is below a certain percent of the total square foot of a space, sprinkler protection above the space may not be required? Interesting thing is that the school is being built as a "Green" project and seems like the designed openings would make the schools less energy efficient. Anyone's help would be most appreciated... Rick E. Green District Manager East Coast Fire Protection, Inc. 1113 Cavalier Boulevard Chesapeake, Virginia 23323 757/485-7486(p), 757/295-0956(direct), 757/328-0131(cell) [EMAIL PROTECTED] _______________________________________________ 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)
