How about providing 1) building height in stories, 2) building construction type per IBC, 3) use groups per floor, 4) area per floor? All of these are important to giving you some internet guidance.
Bill Brooks William N. Brooks, P.E. Brooks Fire Protection Engineering Inc. 372 Wilett Drive Severna Park, MD 21146-1904 410-544-3620 410-544-3032 FAX 412-400-6528 Cell -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rod DiBona Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 12:33 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: building code tradeoff GC / Bill / Matt / Mike / Steve.....Thanks for responding. Sorry I forgot to include the code reference. 2009 IBC. Flow test of 38/32/854. Architect has verified that only the basement is required for this occupancy however he wants to sprinkler 1st and 2nd floor but not the attic. This is a county courthouse. I hear you on the EOR / architect stuff. We are not stamping these prints so there is some truth in what you are saying.....Probably should just pose my sprinkler questions to him and let him respond back to us. We have a conference call next week and I wanted to know if this is correct so I understood all of my options. Also wanted to understand for future design builds. Thought I understood it pretty well but now I am second guessing myself.... Specific questions: 1. If we do as requested and not protect the entire building per NFPA #13 would we then put per "architects instructions" on the plans? 2. IBC 2009 table 508.4 (required separations) says "buildings protected throughout with an automatic sprinkler system installed in accordance with section 903.3.1.1."....here is that text.... " Where the provisions of this code require that a building or portion thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in accordance with this section, sprinklers shall be installed throughout in accordance with NFPA 13 except as provided in section 903.3.1.1.1" ....When it states building or portion thereof be equipped throughout does that mean throughout the building or just the "portion thereof?" 3. Do we have to increase our area to 3,000 ft on the second floor due to unsprinklered combustible concealed space in the attic (NFPA 13 2007 - 11.2.3.1.4(3))? If we have to increase our area we don't have the pressure without a pump. I am afraid that the costs of the pump will outweigh the advantages of the tradeoffs and he will revert us back to a basement system only. Thanks Rod DiBona Rapid Fire -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of George Church Sent: Friday, May 27, 2011 4:01 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: building code tradeoff Are you asking: what is proper protection under the IBC as a minimum? What is required under #13? What is the scope of work that you are to include in your bid? >From the sound of your question, you're the BCO and wondering whether to accept this protection strategy; however, I'll bet you should focus on what they've asked for you to provide. DON'T take on the role of the EOR, the Architect has defined the work as he sees it in his professional opinion. You're not entitled to one. George L. Church, Jr., CET Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc. PO Box 407, Middleburg, PA 17842 877-324-ROWE 570-837-6335 fax [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Rod DiBona Sent: Thursday, May 26, 2011 8:08 PM To: [email protected] Subject: building code tradeoff We have a project where the architect has stated the following: 1. We have installed draftstops in the attic space to subdivide the space into areas less than 3000 sf. 2. We are installing the fire protection system in the basement according to 903.2.11.1. 3. We are installing fire protection on the first and second floors to allow a reduction in fire rating of the corridor walls, stairs, and the wall separating the courtroom A3 from the B occupancy. 4. We are installing the draftstops in the attic space and not accepting the reduction but utilitzing the exception to 901.2. 5. The architect has stated that only the basement is required to be sprinklered. This is a new courthouse. This is an architect that we have done work with and he is sharp but I don't see read the IBC the same way. First we were questioning not sprinklering the combustible attic. We don't have the water available to do a dry system in that attic without a fire pump. I don't think the reductions can be taken on first and second floor unless the entire building is sprinklered per NFPA 13. Can he subdivide with draftstops and then take the rating reductions on the first and second floor? I don't think so but even if I am wrong and this can be done, wouldn't we still have to increase our area on the second floor to 3,000ft? If so we would need the pump anyway. Thanks for your input. Rod DiBona Rapid Fire _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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)
