Telecom is low voltage and although many architects refer to these compartments as "Electrical Rooms", I don't believe it's the intent of the code to require the same restrictions and observation of dedicated space as in rooms containing switch gear, high voltage, etc.
________________________________ From: [email protected] on behalf of Brad Casterline Sent: Sun 1/30/2011 8:13 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Electrical Rooms-Dedicated Equipment Space,Sprinklers and IBC Exemptions Ron, I'll defer too, but the way I read it, it is even for telephone switchboard type panels! -----Original Message----- From: Ron Greenman [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 10:07 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Electrical Rooms-Dedicated Equipment Space,Sprinklers and IBC Exemptions Brad, I'll defer to John if he calls me on this, but I don't think those little electrical closets with a single lighting/general purpose sub-panel, a mop sink, and the custodian's collection of porn really count at all, and certainly not for sprinklers. On Sun, Jan 30, 2011 at 8:01 AM, Brad Casterline <[email protected]> wrote: > It always does help, John, thanks, far more than 'stay out of the air > space'...). I wanted to add for Brian's sake of the original post- it > sounded like he had the many small electrical closets in mind- I offset > around them and stub in a sidewall on my way by. I consider them OHI, and so > I can use standard response, intermediate temp. For the big elect. rooms, > (and elevator equipment) I go in once and never come out :) > > -----Original Message----- > From: John Drucker [mailto:[email protected]] > Sent: Sunday, January 30, 2011 6:37 AM > To: [email protected] > Subject: FW: Electrical Rooms-Dedicated Equipment Space,Sprinklers and IBC > Exemptions > > Members, > > Sprinkler piping is permitted in and through electrical rooms with two > provisions, first the piping cannot be located in the dedicated electrical > space, and second watersheds or other protective devices must be provided > for electrical equipment below when piping is located above the dedicated > electrical space. > > The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not prohibit the installation of > fire sprinklers in electrical rooms, the 2006 and 2009 Editions of the IBC > reinforce the sprinkler requirements; > > 903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations. "Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in > the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an > approved automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 > that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. > SPRINKLERS SHALL NOT BE OMITTED FROM ANY ROOM MERELY BECAUSE IT is damp, of > fire-resistance-rated construction OR CONTAINS ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT." > > However the 2006 and 2009 IBC provides the following sprinkler exemption for > separated and detected GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER rooms; > > 903.3.1.1. - 3. "GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER ROOMS separated from the > remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling > assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of NOT LESS THAN 2 HOURS." > > Keep in mind where this exemption is utilized a fire alarm system pursuant > to 907.2 utilizing smoke detectors located in the generator and or > transformer room(s) must be installed which means the space must be suitable > for smoke detectors in accordance with the products listing and NFPA-72. > > Hope this helps, > > John Drucker, CET > Fire Protection Subcode Official > Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector > > Not the official position of any agency, association, committee or > otherwise. Obtain required applications, permits, inspections and approvals > from Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction. > > -----Original Message----- > Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:55 PM > Subject: RE: Electrical Rooms > > 2008 NFPA-70 (NEC) 110.26(F) > > (F) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, panelboards, distribution > boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and > protected from damage. > > (1) Indoor. Indoor installations shall comply with 110.26(F)(1)(a) through > (F)(1)(d). > > (a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of > the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above > the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be > dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection > apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall > be located in this zone. > > Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted > within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone. > > (b) Foreign Systems. The AREA ABOVE THE DEDICATED SPACE required by > 110.26(F)(1)(a) SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CONTAIN FOREIGN SYSTEMS, provided > PROTECTION IS INSTALLED to > avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, LEAKS, OR BREAKS > IN SUCH FOREIGN SYSTEMS. > > (c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler PROTECTION shall be permitted for the > dedicated space where the piping complies with this section. > > (d) Suspended Ceilings. A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does > not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a > structural ceiling. > > > In other words the dedicated equipment space is a three dimensional > exclusion zone above and around switchboards, panelboards, distribution > boards, and motor control centers which is reserved for electrical wiring > only. The space begins at the floor, the width and depth of the equipment > and to a height of 6ft above the equipment or to the STRUCTURAL ceiling > whichever is LOWER. So keep out unless you're the electrician. > > Take heed of (C), the operative term is PROTECTION not PIPING. So you can > spray water in the dedicated space, just don't run the pipe in there. > > Hope this helps, > > John Drucker, CET > Fire Protection Subcode Official > Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector > > Not the official position of any agency, association, committee or > otherwise. Obtain required applications, permits, inspections and approvals > from Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction. > > > _______________________________________________ > 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) > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 [email protected] http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) _______________________________________________ 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)
