Please do update us, Tony- I can't think the 200*F heads- required in unventilated attic- are the cause. And the code DOES allow exposed CPVC in OH2 if <400 SF in light hazard building, and with spacing and elevation restrictions.
glc -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of A.P.Silva Sent: Thursday, December 17, 2009 3:40 AM To: [email protected] Subject: School fire To answer some of your questions: Personally, I don't think the exposed cpvc was at fault. I have seen a Blazemaster test report which indicates exposed cpvc with sprinkler heads being subject to a 30 minute fire test. Initially, temperature on pipe rises to 1560 deg.F. Sprinkler heads fuse in 50 seconds. Temperature drops to 700 deg.F in 5 minutes where it remains for entire 30 minute test. The scorched pipe subsequently withstands a 175 psi pressure test. The problem is it was not permitted by the building code to be installed exposed. The piping was run in a heated ceiling space. Some parts of the roof structure was combustible, so in these areas sprinklers were also provided in the ceiling space. Cpvc got installed in this ceiling space, as the sprinkler contractor requested approval for cpvc and the EOR issued an addendum permitting its use. As mentioned previously, the AHJ had issued a technical bulletin as following: "CPVC - Plastic Sprinkler Pipe The use of plastic (CPVC) sprinkler pipe is permitted in NFPA 13 and is approved for use in ----. In ---- installation of CPVC may be installed in accordance with its UL listing. Plastic (CPVC) sprinkler pipe can be used in EXPOSED piping systems in: (1) Residential occupancies defined in the Standard in One and Two Family Dwellings, NFPA 13D. (2) Residential occupancies defined in the Standard for Sprinkler Systems in Residential Occupancies up to and including Four Stories in Height, NFPA 13R. (3) Light Hazard occupancies as defined in the Standard for Installation of Sprinkler Systems, NFPA 13D. (4) Mercantile service and related storage areas, defined as Ordinary Group 1 or Group 2 type occupancies by NFPA 13, when restricted to limited portions of occupancies that are of the Light Hazard type defined by NFPA 13." The AHJ bulletin is as above, except I left blank the location of the jurisdiction. The "NFPA 13D" in (3) is not my typing error. That is how it was in the bulletin. Also note (4). Cpvc (exposed or protected) was never permitted in OH2 occupancies, by the manufacturer, but this bulletin permits it even exposed. The lawyer for the owner had a curious interpretation of (4). He stated (4) permits it exposed only in LIGHT HAZARD areas which are limited areas of OH1 and OH2 occupancies. Pursuant to this bulletin, the standard of practice in this area was to install exposed cpvc regardless of code requirements, as it was thought the AHJ could override the code. There are several buildings in this jurisdictions with exposed cpvc designed by different designers and installed by various sprinkler contractors. As the ceiling space (heated attic space) was not ventilated, I designed with 200 deg.F heads. One (of the two) "experts" claimed that due to the use of the 200 deg.F heads, there was a delay in sprinkler activation, and the piping burnt before the heads went off. If interested, I will give more on this later. Tony -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of å... .... Sent: December 16, 2009 12:57 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Drop Wood Ceiling [email protected]> Tony: You have my interest on the performance of the exposed cpcv piping. with what you know about this fire, and it seems you know quite a bit, with all respect, then was the exposed cpcv at fault in this fire? you mentioned the pump failed. if the pump did not fail, what do you think would have been the performance of the cpcv? did the roof have a non-combustible membrane separating it from the area below the roof, or was it a simple wood construction roof (somewhat odd for CA construction from my experiences). I will ask on-line and on-forum, if you feel it better for all to learn together. I do. but I want to ask your permission of what you would rather. scot deal excelsior fire On Wed, Dec 16, 2009 at 11:40, A.P.Silva <[email protected]> wrote: > I agree. It is the standard that determines what is needed, not the > AHJ. If the intent of the standard is clear, a ruling by the AHJ > different from the standard will not get you off the hook. > > Sometime back an AHJ issued a bullettin permitting the installation of > exposed cpvc, contrary to the requirements of the building code that > were applicable during that time. Many buildings in that locality were > installed with exposed cpvc. Everything was fine, till a school with > exposed cpvc had a fire. To cut a long story short, the fire started > at the roof, the pump stopped working, and the entire school burned down. However, the "expert" > hired by the owner claimed the system failed due to the burning of the > exposed cpvc pipe. In addition to the AHJ bullettin, the engineer for > the project issued an addendum permitting the use of exposed cpvc. > This engineer also provided inspections (for which I was not hired). > > When the lawyer for the owner asked me why I (working for the > sprinkler > contractor) designed for cpvc, I showed the addendum, and was told I > was the expert and have a responsibility to advise the engineer. When > I showed the bullettin, I was asked whether I did not know that the > AHJ was not an engineer. > > Interestingly, since then that bullettin has been rescinded. Also, > cpvc (exposed or protected) is now totally prohibited for schools in > that jurisdiction. > > The moral of the story is comply with the standard. > > Tony > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Richardson, R > Sent: December 15, 2009 3:01 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: RE: Drop Wood Ceiling > > I would suggest that in this case you do not check with the AHJ. NFPA > 13 clearly requires sprinklers in the space, unless the wood is FR. > Personally, I get annoyed with a phone call whose goal is to simply > confirm what NFPA clearly states. There are plenty of off-beat > situations not clearly addressed by NFPA where a phone inquiry is > required, this is not one of them. > > Rich Richardson > Seattle Fire Department > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > njarendt tds.net > Sent: Tuesday, December 15, 2009 13:44 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Drop Wood Ceiling > > Check with the authority having jurisdiction. They are the ones that > ultimately will determine what is needed. Contact up front with the > AHJ usually saves a lot in the long run. I do plan review for 2 fire > districts and time and energy can be saved by this up front discussion > on issues like this. > > Norm > On Tue, Dec 15, 2009 at 12:53 PM, Jimmy Waite > <[email protected]>wrote: > > > Gentlemen, > > > > > > > > We have a situation where an engineer in requiring sprinkler > > protection above a drop wood ceiling. The building is light hazard > > and noncombustible, and we have obviously provided protection below > > the ceiling. I can't place a code reference in defense of either > > side. It would seem that we have adequately protected the wood > > ceiling by protecting the floor space below it. On the other hand, > > the back of the wood ceiling would mean there are combustibles in a > > concealed space. What is everyone's opinion? > > > > > > > > Thanks, > > > > > > > > Jimmy Waite > > > > Design Engineer > > > > > > Piedmont Fire Protection Systems, LLC > > > > 3609 Bastion Lane > > > > Raleigh, NC 27604 > > > > > > o: 919.212.2356 > > > > f: 919.212.2357 > > > > <mailto:[email protected]> [email protected] > > > > web: <http://www.piedmontfire.com/> www.piedmontfire.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]<to%3ASprinklerforum-requ > > [email protected]> > <to%3ASprinklerforum-reques > > [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]<to%3ASprinklerforum-reques > [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]<to%3ASprinklerforum-reques > [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]<to%3ASprinklerforum-reques > [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) _______________________________________________ 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)
