Greg,

Depending on the amount of flammable/combustible liquids within a single 
control area as defined by the building code and the number of control area 
within the building the lab could possibly be considered an H Use Group by the 
Building Code. Control areas are areas separated from the remainder of the 
building by one hour rated construction. 

NFPA 45 2004 Edition Chapter 6 "Fire Protection" defines the requirements for 
protection of the lab. Paragraph 6.2 defines the protection requirements for 
the lab depending upon the class of the LAB Class A and Class B labs are to be 
protected per NFPA 13 for ordinary hazard Group 2 occupancies while Class C and 
Class D labs are to protected per NFPA 13 for ordinary hazard Group 1 
occupancies.  The classification of Lab depends on the amount and type of 
liquids being stored.

Hope this helps.   

Have a fire safe day!

Regards

Jim

Jim Davidson 
 
Davidson Associates 
Fire Protection * Medical Gas * Code Consulting  
302-994-9500   Fax:302-234-1781

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Greg McGahan
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:30 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Laborotories

No on the .10 vs .20 but worth it on the head count.....

Engineer specs OH II for the entire building including offices, etc. When I 
called he said he was open for discussion in case what he did was overkill.

You are correct on the B Occupancy but it is sprinklered.

Greg McGahan
Operations Manager

Living Water Fire Protection
1160 McKenzie Road
P.O. Box 877
Cantonment, Florida 32533
(850) 937.1850 | Fax (850) 937.1852 | Cell (850) 554.3231
[email protected]


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
[email protected]
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 2:24 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Laborotories

The lab would probably be classified by building code as a B occupancy and with 
that, exempt from sprinklers under most conditions.  However depending on the 
chemicals used and specifically the quantities it could become and "H" 
occupancy.  

NFPA 13 would be appropriate in most cases but you cold be driven to NFPA 30 
depending on quantities of materials.  Someone needs to look at the quantities 
of materials used and stored within the building and do a Hazards/Code 
analysis.  

The only thing about mixing up design criteria for small spaces like restrooms 
is, are you really going to be able to get 0.10 for a few heads in a rest room 
when the adjacent areas could be 0.20 or 0.30?  


Craig L. Prahl, CET   
Fire Protection Specialist
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 Greg McGahan
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2009 3:15 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Laborotories

Just checking in with this one...

If you have a lab in a stand alone building - regardless of class - all of the 
other rooms, etc should still be able to be protected per normal NFPA 13 
requirements, correct? Bathrooms would be Light Hazard and so forth? We have an 
engineer that is not sure. And I am just making sure I am correct and that a 
lab is no different than any other mixed occupancy classification like retail, 
etc.. 

Thanks,

Greg McGahan
Operations Manager

Living Water Fire Protection
1160 McKenzie Road
P.O. Box 877
Cantonment, Florida 32533
(850) 937.1850 | Fax (850) 937.1852 | Cell (850) 554.3231 [email protected]

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