Wouldn't 634 sq ft be partial?

Bill Brooks


-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Cahill,
Christopher
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 12:03 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: BK Design

Trying to figure out if you are disagreeing with Curtis other than the
reference to latest code.  You are right you follow the code in effect as to
whether you need sprinklers.  So there are differences in which edition in
whether they are required.  But if not required and you choose to go over
and above you are still obligated to follow the referenced standard (and
year) of the adopted code.  See IFC 2006 (and '03 and I still think it's in
'12) 901.4.2 Nonrequired fire protection systems. Any fire protection system
or portion thereof not required by this code or the International Building
Code shall be allowed to be furnished for partial or complete protection
provided such installed system meets the requirements of this code and the
International Building Code.

So you can't do a 634 sq ft system. Now there is a question about doing
above the ceiling with the phrase for partial...but generally AHJ's rule
either all of 13 or no sprinkler (when allowed to be non-sprinklered).
Could one say they are doing a full 13 design below the ceiling or I suppose
the same question is if you only do 634 sq ft in the building then you have
a 634 sq ft design (notwithstanding the phantom design area if in the '13
13).

Chris Cahill, PE*
Senior Fire Protection Engineer, Aviation & Facilities Group Burns &
McDonnell
8201 Norman Center Drive
Bloomington, MN 55437
Phone:  952.656.3652
Fax:  952.229.2923
[email protected]
www.burnsmcd.com

Proud to be one of FORTUNE's 100 Best Companies to Work For *Registered in:
MN




-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected]
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron
Greenman
Sent: Friday, July 26, 2013 10:36 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: BK Design

Curtis,

You're obligated to design to the current adopted code of the jurisdiction
which may or may not be the "latest codes and standards." And if this
building is a stand alone of <5000 sqft, with an occupancy of <100 it
doesn't need to be sprinklered at all per IBC (see requirements for an A-2
occupancy). If the applicable building code is IBC 2003 (I think it changed
in 2006 but maybe 2009--the prior threshold being <12K sqft and <300
people), or some earlier version, or one of the other model codes from the
Twentieth Century, or any code amended upon adoption by a state legislature,
or an amended municipal or county code (acceptable in home rule states), or
the code adopted in a major city, requirements can be wholly different
either requiring more or less protection. If BK has chosen to provide what
is essentially a volunteer life safety type system to provide customers
added egress protection in case of emergency (pretty standard thinking in A
and R type occupancies in the late seventies, through the eighties and into
the early nineties) in an otherwise non-required building I applaud them.
That it hasn't been revisited by the corporation since 1978 is troubling but
it's their decision. Personally I feel I'm pretty savvy as to how a fire
works and what threat I'm exposed to in the dining area of a stand alone
corporate fast food joint, and don't even give it a second thought as to
where I sit other than noting where the exits are.

Now if it's in a strip mall or a high rise or a full mall it's going to be
fully sprinklered because of the type of building it's in, first and
foremost because these buildings will already be sprinklered (at least
relatively new ones), and secondly because it poses a greater exposure
threat to it's neighbors, not necessarily its customers.

More prevalent on the fire alarm forum than here is an attitude of' "If a
little is good, then the most is best." This is eventually self defeating as
other interests have larger stakes in buildings than fire guys and fire
protection contractors , and the concept of cost/benefit and diminishing
returns has to be considered from the customers' point of view. The
engineers are supposed to be doing this, but while the design/build model is
prevalent it's incumbent upon the contractors and techs to study up on this
stuff and incorporate it into their thought processes. I'm not directing
these comments at you Curtis, even though it was your comment that put me on
this track, but rather just in general. Nothing makes my head explode more
than a spec calling for a double-interlock pre-action system covering a
closet with a single rack of five or six PC type "servers." Not only an
unnecessary expense in this case but the wrong system, spec'd because
someone thought if single-action is good double-action must be better. Damn
it Jim, I'm no accountant but even I know it's cheaper to have off-site
back-up than amortizing the cost of one of these things. What I do know is I
wouldn't even put a double-action over a $10M Cray. Wrong system altogether.
Rant over.


On Fri, Jul 26, 2013 at 7:09 AM, <[email protected]> wrote:

> I'm sure that you're quite aware that your obligation is to design and 
> protect this facility according to the latest codes and standards.
> The only way that I'm aware that you might justify a 653 s.f. is 
> through some application of the room design method in this instance.
> And, of course, the concealed combustible spaces would still need to 
> be addressed.
>
> BK must have drug some prints out of a closet, blew off the dust, and 
> said, "Here ya go...all signed and sealed!"  Bottom line is that codes 
> and standards trump owner "wants" all day long, so satisfy the code and
CYA.
>
> Curtis Tower
> Central Fire Protection
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Bob [mailto:[email protected]]
> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2013 12:58 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: BK Design
>
> I'm working on a Burger King.  I've never done a BK before, so what 
> I'm about to describe seems ridiculous.
> The design criteria is based on a PE proto type from 1978.  This is 
> what the contractor was given and told to use as "spec".
> There are combustible concealed spaces above ceilings throughout 
> premises, but no sprinkler protection is to be provided.  The design 
> criteria is 6 sprinklers over 653 sf in the dining area.  To be calc'ed
light hazard.
> That's it.  Has anyone out here in forum land provided the system for 
> a BK lately?  What was required/done?
>
> Thanks,
>
> Bob Knight, CET III
> 208-318-3057
> www.firebyknight.com
>
>
>
>
>
>
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> Sprinklerforum mailing list
> [email protected]
>
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> er.org
>



--
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, WFSC

They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon,
essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626)
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