The floating ceiling question is commonly asked during live seminars... if the ceiling is floating and not attached (connected to; touching) the walls, the area above the ceiling is required to be protected regardless of the type or combustibility of construction.
Bob Caputo ---- [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: > The presence of a return air plenum doesn't automatically necessitate > sprinklers. Sprinklers are going to be required in the space if combustibles > with ratings equal to or above that which is allowed for a concealed space > are present as defined in NFPA 13. > > If it is a plenum it may actually be beneficial from a fire protection > standpoint in that the utilities within that plenum have to be specifically > rated for such use, thus minimizing their risk for fire and smoke spread. > This may result in no need for sprinklers in the plenum space. > > You could put in 2x2 or 4x4 free return (without ductwork) grilles into the > ceiling for that matter and it wouldn't change the combustible nature of the > space above the ceiling. Also the HVAC units will or should have smoke > detection to sense any smoke present from the return air. Unit smoke > detection of course will depend on the size of the air handlers. > > > > > > > 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.ch2m.com > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fletcher, Ron > Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 9:59 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Floating Ceilings > > You can have an unlimited number 2'x4' return air grills in the ceiling > without adding sprinklers above but put a 4" wide slot around edge of the > room and sprinklers are required. Go figure. > > Where do you get "a plenum thus requiring sprinklers"? > > Ron Fletcher > Aero Automatic Sprinkler > Phoenix, AZ > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Maag, Barry > Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 6:08 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Floating Ceilings > > I have seen these types in the past and the "space" around the floating > ceiling was used for the return air for HVAC. This made the area above the > ceiling a plenum thus requiring sprinklers > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Rick Green > Sent: Tuesday, August 05, 2008 7:59 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) > > _______________________________________________ > 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)
