That is one area where the UFC does a good thing, and specifies that wet pipe sprinkler protection cannot be removed from a server room under any circumstances in lieu of a clean agent system or even a dry or preaction system.
On Thu, Feb 11, 2010 at 3:29 PM, Chris Cahill <[email protected]>wrote: > Every conversation I've had in this area goes like this. OK did you > consider > roof leaks, wind damage, toilet flooding, IT tech spilling coffee, roof > drain leak, smoke from a fire in another part of the building and every > other conceivable threat to the computer. If so and the sprinkler is the > last issue then clean agent is right for you otherwise you are probably > better served by making your computer system more redundant. Have yet to > have a clean agent put in. Now don't get me wrong there are good places > for > these just not these small rooms when overlooking the big picture. > > Chris Cahill, P.E. > Fire Protection Engineer > Sentry Fire Protection, Inc. > > 763-658-4483 > 763-658-4921 fax > > Email: [email protected] > > Mail: P.O. Box 69 > Waverly, MN 55390 > > Location: 4439 Hwy 12 SW > Waverly, MN 55390 > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > [email protected] > Sent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 11:11 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: Gas systems replacing sprinklers > > > My apologies for re-visiting this subject but I have been off of here for a > while. > > This was a general question. Not associated with one building type or room > size. It was brought to my attention by the sales person that the fire > marshals are making the contractors put in sprinklers with the gas systems > based on the following code; > > NFPA 13 2007 > 4.1 Level of Protection. A building, where protected by an > automatic sprinkler system installation, shall be provided with > sprinklers in all areas except where specific sections of this > standard permit the omission of sprinklers. > > An argument could be based on the following, but it still does not > specifically allow the omission of "water based sprinklers" > > NFPA 13 2007 > 1.5 Equivalency. Nothing in this standard is intended to prevent > the use of systems, methods, or devices of equivalent or > superior quality, strength, fire resistance, effectiveness, durability, > and safety over those prescribed by this standard. Technical > documentation shall be submitted to the authority having > jurisdiction to demonstrate equivalency. The system, > method, or device shall be approved for the intended purpose > by the authority having jurisdiction. > 1.6 New Technology. > 1.6.1 Nothing in this standard shall be intended to restrict > Nothing in this standard shall be intended to restrict > new technologies or alternate arrangements, provided the > level of safety prescribed by this standard is not lowered. > > > The Novec 1230 systems from Viking are basically designed for a single > room. I have multiple projects around the country that I can use this > system > on, small computer rooms around 12'x12'. The higher temp sprinkler in the > room would act as a backup to the system, but that defeats the purpose of > the gas system to eliminate the chance of a sprinkler accidentally going > off > in a room, I know that the odds are very slim, but tell that to building > owners who see them going off all the time in the movies. I guess what it > will come down to is a ruling from each individual fire Marshall. > > Thanks for the help! > > Aaron Johnson > Northwest Consulting, Inc. > > > > > > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > To: [email protected] > Sent: Thu, Feb 11, 2010 7:25 am > Subject: RE: Gas systems replacing sprinklers > > > Didn't we just visit this question or is my e-mail system doing something > funky? > Aaron, the consensus from the last time we discussed this was that the > building > ode is what governs whether you can make the substitution or not along with > pproval by the AHJ. NFPA has no preference. > You need to know if the architect took some of the allowances for area > increases > r egress or other things that were based on the building being fully > prinklered before attempting to omit sprinklers from any area. > > raig L. Prahl, CET > ire Protection Specialist > echanical Department > H2MHILL > ockwood Greene > 500 International Drive > O Box 491, Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 > irect - 864.599.4102 > ax - 864.599.8439 > [email protected] > ttp://www.ch2m.com > > ----Original Message----- > rom: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] > n Behalf Of Michael J. Ricks > ent: Thursday, February 11, 2010 9:38 AM > o: [email protected] > ubject: Gas systems replacing sprinklers > Does anyone know if NFPA specifically states that a gas fire suppression > system > an replace a fire sprinkler in a room, or rooms? I scanned and searched and > the > nly section it addresses that issue is in marine systems 25.1.5, partial > ystems. Section 1.5 possibly covers it but convincing a fire marshal of > that > > ould be a bit tough. Thanks. > > aron Johnson > orthwest Consulting, Inc. > > > Aaron: > > NFPA 13 2002 edition A.8.1.1 states: "This standard contemplates full > sprinkler > rotection for all areas..Other NFPA standard that mandate sprinkler > nstallation might not require sprinklers in certain areas. The > requirements > of > his standard should be used insofar as they are applicable. > he AHJ should be consulted in each case. A building is considered > sprinklered > hroughout when protected in accordance with the requirements of this > standard." > > It seems to me that you need to request a modification based on alternative > aterials and methods (see IFC 104.8 and 104.9). In short, you will need to > how the AHJ why there are practical difficulties involved in providing > prinklers in the area in question and show him that the proposed system > rovides an equivalent level of protection. If I were presenting it I would > be > eady to offer a minimum design area to 3000 sq. ft. and maybe a rated > enclosure > round the unsprinklered area. I think most AHJ's would go for that. > > > Michael Ricks > Katco Fire Sprinkler Design > P.O. 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