I'm interested in feedback on a situation which is occurring fairly frequently.
The specifics may vary slightly, but the concept is always the same.
In this case, I have an entranceway to an apartment. The entranceway is roughly
5' x 5'. The ceiling has a soffit 7' above fin. floor. The main apartment
ceiling is 8' above fin. floor. There is a surface mounted light near the
center of the entranceway soffit. The light is 4 3/4" deep at the center & is a
domed light. The light is 1'-2" wide at the base. I located a recessed pendent
residential head within 6" of the edge of the soffit. My head is 1'-10" from
the center of the light.
The local inspector has stated that I am in violation of 13-R. Technically, he
is correct. My head is too close to the light given the difference in depth of
the light vs. the depth of my deflector. Now, there isn't enough room in the
soffit to locate my head & meet code. My head would be out of the soffit.
Rather counter-productive to say the least. In addition, if you look at the
domed profile of the light, there really isn't much of an obstruction. This,
especially considering the very small space that the head is covering.
I ask for two things:
1. Input - as in, is my view valid or am I really missing the big picture?
2. If I am correct, is there any documentation I can show the inspector? ( I
have already offered to provide the text from the 13-R handbook. To me, if you
read the intent & history of the obstructions rules, this really isn't an
issue. It's extremely similar to the 400 cubic foot closet exception.
Thank you in advance for any assistance that can be provided.
Regards,
Michael G. Haley
Rowe Sprinkler Systems, Inc.
7993 US Hwy 522
PO Box 407
Middleburg, PA 17842
570-837-7647
570-837-6335 fax
[email protected]
_______________________________________________
Sprinklerforum mailing list
[email protected]
http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
