Regrettably, this section of NFPA 13 is poorly written. The word "occupancy" here is not preceded by the word "human". The term "occupancy" is defined by the NFPA in their Glossary of Terms, found at: http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/GlossaryA2004.pdf
Occupancy is simply the purpose or use of a building or part thereof. The section also uses the words "portable" and "attached to the finished structure" in nearly the same breath. This is doublespeak and leads to confusion, which allows the reader to make any of multiple interpretations. Not a good direction to go and it needs to be fixed. A cooler such as the one discussed is really a substructure, very similar to an ordinary hard wall/hard ceiling room. The fact that it might be preassembled and use insulated core walls and ceiling does not make it "furniture" under this section. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Fairchild, Jack Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 1:52 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Walk-in cooler You are correct, industrial ovens where pre-heated, high pressure oil is present requires sprinklers as do some flammable liquid storage cabinets. This is neither of those. >From NFPA 13, 2007: (7) Furniture, such as portable wardrobe units, cabinets, trophy cases, and similar features not intended for occupancy, does not require sprinklers to be installed in them. This type of feature shall be permitted to be attached to the finished structure. Jack Fairchild, CFPS | Fire Protection Designer | Ballinger | v 215.446.0596 | f 215.446.0597 | 833 Chestnut Street Suite 1400 Philadelphia, PA 19107 | www.ballinger-ae.com<http://www.ballinger-ae.com> larryshulman larryshulman at earthlink.net <mailto:sprinklerforum%40firesprinkler.org?Subject=Walk-in%20cooler&In-Reply -To=44587969A9EB6A458C2664D74F80F9FB3D57B6D1%40mail-3> Fri Apr 24 15:10:01 CDT 2009 I'm confused how if the space is inhabitable should be a criterion for installing sprinklers. After all, sprinklers are installed inside industrial ovens and flammable liquid storage cabinets all the time. Nobody in this discussion thread has asked if the cooler construction warrants the installation of sprinklers. Although the surface of the cooler walls and ceiling may be metal lined, what happens if it is exposed to heat, warps, and exposes the foam insulation beneath? That's why UL Listed or FM Approved panels need to be used, to ensure the construction materials don't contribute to the fire load. -----Original Message----- From: sprinklerforum-bounces at firesprinkler.org<http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerf orum> [mailto:sprinklerforum-bounces at firesprinkler.org<http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerf orum>] On Behalf Of Fairchild, Jack Sent: Friday, April 24, 2009 11:13 AM To: sprinklerforum at firesprinkler.org<http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerf orum> Subject: RE: Walk-in cooler I don't see how a 10' deep box could not be a walk-in style. There's two main problems. The required slope of the shelves would drive the height of the box beyond 7' and loading the box from the front would very difficult to manage. It's too much weight to push. It could be front loading from all 4 sides of the box. Personally if you can walk inside, you need a sprinkler, otherwise it's really large furniture. Also at 7' high it's likely the required 18" clearance isn't going to be met. Jack Fairchild, CFPS | Fire Protection Designer | Ballinger | v 215.446.0596 | f 215.446.0597 | 833 Chestnut Street Suite 1400 Philadelphia, PA 19107 | www.ballinger-ae.com George, I don't recall it being described as "big insulated panel box.' In fact I think Tony said he hadn't seen it. Go back a post or two. My thought is that if this thing is a factory manufactured device that is brought out on a truck, dropped off and plugged-in (even if it comes in large sub-assemblies that just plug into each other) then it's a big reefer and not a room or space. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: techsupport at firesprinkler.org<http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerf orum> To Unsubscribe, send an email to:Sprinklerforum-request at firesprinkler.org<http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerf orum> (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) ________________________________ _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
