Greetings -
Just following along on the thread about positioning heads and 13D systems so I figured I'd throw another two cents in the mix here . Section 8.6.5 13D -2007 added a section that sprinklers are not required in elevator machine rooms and concealed spaces including elevator shafts. The supporting information is based on the premise of 13D protecting 'principal occupancy areas' and NFIRS data showing origins and residential fires. Agreed that fires could originate anywhere .. Statistically they aren't originating in the elevator areas of single family or two family dwellings and resulting in fatalities. The actual code section has a lot more example locations but for our thread it covers on point. On a local AHJ note .. I have run into some issues when sprinklers were 'voluntarily' shown or installed in the top of shaft and machine room. The designer was looking out and called for protection in these areas presumably based on commercial experience also and as the AHJ I didn't object since it met the minimum requirements. The problems began when the private elevator inspection agency showed up towards the end of the job and saw sprinklers in the machine room and shaft and started spouting about recall and shunt. I don't pretend to understand elevators beyond preferring to always take the stairs. It was my contention that the elevator inspector was reverting to 'commercial public' elevator rules and A17.1 type stuff with sprinklers. I didn't think that private elevators within single family homes were so covered in A17.1 but in the end it became such a windstorm that the original designer came to me and asked my feeling on removing top of shaft head and I consented. The base of shaft head was low enough that it met the rules we follow anyway for height above pit floor and the machine room head was a 'compromise' according to the elevator inspector since the closet would no doubt become accessory storage. But as 13D lays it out, none of them would have been required ... IMHO So proceed however you feel most comfortable but sometimes I agree that you just can't win. Best to all Dave P. An AHJ in NJ _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.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)
