Those thinking Thom and Ken having a drink together would be interesting to
watch, not to mention the ensuing conversation, might be interested in
knowing that it is likely to occur in the Providence, RI area in early
October. Coincidently, that's the AFSA Convention. And if you think they
might talk about fellow forumites and enjoy looking back at Chris's test
oven and other interesting events over the past year, you're absolutely
correct.

Come defend your honor from those that would make fun of you in your
absence- come to the AFSA Convention and we'll make fun of each other in
person and have a good time- while earning CEU credits and making new
friends, seeing new products, and avoiding letting Thom drive to the go-kart
track(he did, in his defense, flick the wheel at the last second and avoid
killing his PE wife, the Sornsin brothers, our resident 14 expert who got
the fastest lap award, a MI homebuilder and yours truly). 

It's certainly an annual event for a lot of us. Come see why!

glc

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of
ParsleyConsulting
Sent: Tuesday, May 04, 2010 1:37 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: boat storage

Tom,

I have to agree with my friend up in Steamboat Springs.  The information 
you've provided on the forum appears to be almost a textbook case of a 
disaster waiting to happen - for you.

Here are some conditions you've explained which would make he have no 
hesitation at all in turning down this project:

1 - the engineer of record has given you a boilerplate statement, 
"follow NFPA".  There is no specific NFPA guidance so the engineer has 
both not done their job in determining that information, and in not 
developing a protection design that they will stand behind with THEIR 
errors and omissions insurance when the codes and standards don't cover 
the configuration and commodity.  The last time I looked at my own 
certification from NICET, it didn't entitle me to make that sort of 
decision, however the laws may be different where you are.

2 - you're discussing utilizing ESFR sprinklers, which have very 
specific, narrow, and rigid listings for design and installation.  
Nothing I've seen in any listing data from three manufacturers, Tyco, 
Viking, and Reliable, seems to even remotely suggest that they 
manufacture ESFR's which are listed for rack storage of boats as you 
describe.  If you were to design such a system with ESFR's you are 
asking for them to be installed outside of the listing, meaning the 
manufacturer won't stand behind it when it gets to court.  Now, you've 
not only accepted the responsibility of the engineer of record, but the 
liability of the manufacturer as well.  That's two pretty huge lead 
weights to carry on your back.

3 - without testing or language from a code or standard to support your 
approach to this storage configuration you're making a guess as to what 
will work to control a fire in a very challenging environment without 
anything to support your conclusions.  If you don't have fire test or 
modeling done to test your theories of whether or not your approach has 
any chance of controlling such a fire, you're in effect acting as an 
engineer without being licensed or registered to do so.  I don't know 
about where you live, but here in California that's a huge violation of 
existing law. 

Oh, one other minor note, and I don't mention this to split hairs, but 
in one of your earlier posts you mentioned "density" when you were 
talking about ESFR sprinklers.  As I'm sure you know, density has 
nothing to do with ESFR technology.

Here's hoping you decide to pass on this project unless you get specific 
guidance from the EOR.

In summary, if this molten spud were dumped in my lap, I'd dump it right 
back, and drive straight to the bar with Thom McMahon.  And if you join 
us, I'll buy the first round.
-- 
PARSLEY CONSULTING
Ken Wagoner, SET
760.745.6181 voice
760.745.0537 fax
[email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> e-mail
www.ParsleyConsulting.com <http://www.ParsleyConsulting.com> website

> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of tom poisal
> Sent: Monday, May 03, 2010 6:43 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: boat storage
>
> okay Todd so today, what do I do?
>   
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