Certainly if someone is putting in a tire store it's game over, reset and start 
again. You'll obviously be putting in new piping, riser, valve and such so kind 
of an apples to oranges comparison in regards to the salon.  Around here I've 
never seen a tire store stuck in a strip shopping center, they are always stand 
alone buildings due to height and storage requirements.  


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 Bob Caputo
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 5:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Occupancy

Craig,

I didn't interpret the original post as describing a strip center however while 
I agree with you in general (mostly that hair salons should be at least an H-3 
based as much on the smells as the heat release rate of patrons I've witnessed 
exiting said establishments here in SoCal) but I've also seen some pretty big 
tire stores in strip centers, so I'm not so sure the broad brush of an M 
occupancy is appropriate in that case.  

bc


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
[email protected]
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 1:05 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Occupancy

If this is a strip shopping center it's in the owner's best interest to treat 
the entire shell as Mercantile and be done with it.  That way any retail or 
service type business can occupy the space.  If you try to dissect the 
categories of the occupants as to whether they may actually be a "B" or "M" 
occupancy it will only create problems down the road when the "B"/LH beauty 
shop moves out and the "M"/OH Granny's Knick-Knacks and Haberdashery goes into 
the space.

And yes, this is a Building Code issue, not an NFPA 13 issue.  The NFPA part is 
secondary to the BC issue.

But if the system is existing, leave it alone.  


But personally, shouldn't most beauty salons be considered an "H" occupancy and 
protected with foam-water deluge systems, I mean look at the chemical list, the 
smells make me think there are some serious toxics involved..............  ;)


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 Bob Caputo
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 3:44 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Occupancy

In my opinion, the question isn't directly an NFPA 13 issue but rather Building 
and Fire Code issues in terms of occupancy and allowable amounts of chemical or 
hazardous materials within a control area.  Normally, the code exempts (to a 
degree) mercantile occupancies where products containing flammables, 
combustibles or hazardous materials (irritants, toxics, carcinogens, etc) are 
stored in the same containers they are sold in.
That's why Costco, Sams, BJ's and similar can store more vegetable oils in 
quantity than a manufacturing or storage use building could have in storage of 
a product with the same flash point.

That said, at some point in the process of analysis  someone has to decide what 
the corresponding NFPA 13 occupancy use group or commodity and storage
arrangement is, so sprinkler design criteria can be established...   I
suggest this is a job for a consultant or an engineer of record - not the 
contractor.  (again - just stating my opinion)


Bob Caputo, CFPS, CET
657 Cantara Lane - Vista, CA 92081

Fire & Life Safety America Company
3017 Vernon Rd - Richmond, VA 23228
Office: (804) 222-1381  Cell: (804) 263-1577
                                         
 


    

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith Pepin
Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 8:23 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Occupancy

I am working on a project that doesn't have an Eng of Record. The building 
contains large individual shell spaces. The original sprinkler system was 
designed for a mercantile occupancy. A tenant has purchased a couple of spaces 
and is opening a beauty/hair salon. I don't see the fuel load as a normal 
mercantile occupancy would have. Light or ord. Please comment. 

 

 


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