We are inspecting an old (+- 70 years) power generating facility. There are 
seven or so preaction
systems protecting machinery ( ie gas service feeding  industrial boilers). The 
sprinklers are Rasco
F-1 @ 286 and are "aimed" at specific hazards. Ceilings are way up. 
What are we looking at?
What standard was used to design and install them/
Can/should we inspect and test under current NFPA 25 and certify?


C. Burton Ford
Designer- NICET Certified: Fire Alarm, 
Special Hazards, Sprinkler Design 
&Sprinkler Inspections
NFPA CFPS
Cintas Fire Protection-D-47
Warminster, PA 18974
Phone 267-487-1000
Fax 267-487-1010
-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Damien Shannon
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 1:36 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Room design method - Technical information

I would agree with Thom in that I think I would be looking for the system to
be classified as 13D system as otherwise it could open up other
considerations not required by 13D. However, depending on where the project
stands, and the available system infrastructure, there may be costs and
schedule consequences to changing the beam configuration (lighting roughed
in?). Maybe the architect is doing a design that works with certain beam
spacing to create a certain effect. Since the contractor has said he doesn't
want to move them it would seem George needs to give him a costing to change
sprinkler design instead. 

It would seem there is a gap in 13D as far as what to do where you run into
situations outside listing. 13D, 8.1.3.2 allows non residential sprinklers
to be used in a 13D system. A.8.1.3.1.2 allows for the AHJ to make a call as
to what would be considered 'acceptable'. It would seem that being able to
justify the area by a 13 calculation with quick response sprinklers just for
this area would help everyone feel ok with the decision. When I originally
posted about this I was thinking the adjoining room had 1-2 sprinklers and
George seemed ok with adding the communicating sprinklers that would have
been involved with a room design style calc (though that does seem like more
cushion than most 13D systems have).

Damien Shannon.
QED Sprinkler Designs. 
 

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thom McMahon
Sent: Friday, July 17, 2009 11:37 AM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Room design method - Technical information

If these beams are not structural in nature, move them to meet the
requirements of TFP 490 pages 16 thru 18.
If they are structural and the building is not built yet, have the
structural engineer Move them to meet the above.

To change from a 13D to a 13 is really not advantageous. Changes from 0.05
Gpm/Sf to 0.10 Gpm/Sf (Doubles water demand, Change from 2 head to 4 head
design. (Doubles water demand again) If you can't meet the beam spacing
rules I'll bet you don't meet the requirements for room design either. If
this room is so small that you wouldn't design to 4 heads as a room design
what about HSW LFII up to 12" down from ceiling? This house have a mech.
room? If so your room design may be the OH mech.room, garage or storage @
0.15 or 0.20 per AHJ. You could even run into a 3000Sf design area if it has
concealed combustible TJI type construction.

Find a way to stay in 13D even if that involves a head in every pocket. You
won't have increased flow or demand or pipe size, just more heads.

Thom McMahon, SET
Firetech, Inc.
2560 Copper Ridge Dr
P.O. Box 882136
Steamboat Springs, CO 80488
Tel:  970-879-7952
Fax: 970-879-7926


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of George Medina
Jr
Sent: Thursday, July 16, 2009 9:26 PM
To: [email protected]
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: Room design method - Technical information

?I am trying to help a contractor friend with a residential fire sprinkler
system originally designed per NFPA-13D using Tyco 'LF-II' 4.9K.
His client has areas where the beams are spaced less than 3'-6" and are 8"
in Depth . He can not ( or does not) want to change the beam depth or
spacing if possible so I inquired with the local AHJ about changing it to a
regular NFPA-13 system and using the room design method (so as to use quick
response heads near the bottom of the beams). I got the ok for that part,
but the room configuration doesn't quite fit the code configuration. The
most remote and demanding area is a third floor room (loft?) which has two
compartments one being opened to the 2nd floor below. By reading the section
on 'Room Design Method' it appears the main concern is keeping the heat in 1
room long enough to activate all the heads in it and possibly 1 or 2 heads
near the unprotected opening. It appears that it would meet all other
aspects of the code but the only difference being that the high room area
has a 12' wide opening on the 2nd floor to an adjoin room (10' below the
high ceiling). Is there a  ny research data on the 'Room Design Method'
where the mathematics and science required the 8" lintel and/or 8' maximum
width of unprotected opening? Any suggestions? (besides walking away from
it).
 


George Medina Jr.
Sr. Fire Sprinkler Designer
95-1015 Ka'apeha Pl.
Mililani, HI 96819


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