This just came across my email from NFSA'a top questions of 2009: Question 7 - Small Orifice Sprinklers in Ordinary Hazard Mechanical Room
Would NFPA 13 (2007 edition) Section 8.3.4.1 allow the installation of quick response 4.2 K-factor sprinklers on a wet pipe system in ordinary hazard storage and mechanical rooms with 8 ft flat ceilings in an otherwise light hazard (office) occupancy? Answer: No. Section 8.3.4.1 states that small orifice sprinklers can only be used in light hazard occupancies. The ordinary hazard spaces need to be protected with K-5.6 sprinklers or larger. -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 8:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Calcs-How much margin This is one of those cases where in racing we used to say that if the rules don't say you can, assume you can't. It would be harder to argue that the wording is permissive for use in OH when there's no direct text stating such and especially when the commentary takes a definitive position. 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 Ed Kramer Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 9:58 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Calcs-How much margin Ron, I'm with you. Nothing in 8.3.4.1 prohibits small orifice sprinks in OH. The commentary to section 8.3.4.1 then makes a leap of faith and says otherwise. There was a proposal in the 2010 ROP that would have changed 8.3.4.1. The committee rejected it and said "The submitter is correct, this [using small orifice sprinks in OH hazard] is not allowed, it violates the listing of the sprinklers." Yea, that helps. Another proposal was submitted at the ROC level and was also rejected. It seems to me the intent of 8.3.4.1 is to not allow small orifice sprinks in OH, but someone was on crack when they wrote it. Ed Kramer Littleton, CO > 8.3.4 doesn't say for light hazard "only" and it doesn't prohibit the > use of small orifice sprinklers in OH. The Tyco TY-FRB is UL Listed in > 2.8k,4.2k, 5.6k and 8k for light and ordinary hazard. If it's Listed > for OH why couldn't it be used? > > I would probably call the company that submitted the plans and ask for > supporting information like an area water main map with elevations > etc... With the right information the validity of the flow test could > be determined. It isn't unusual for a building to be near completion > before the extended water system is in place and ready to be tested. > > Ron Fletcher > Aero Automatic > Phoenix, AZ _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) __________ NOD32 4650 (20091130) Information __________ This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. http://www.eset.com _______________________________________________ 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)
