Your question leads me to believe that you think only one head will operate if 
the door was up. I don't believe the door will act as a heat collector to 
prevent the head at the ceiling from operating. True, the door when raised will 
be an obstruction but the door being up or down won't have much of an effect on 
the operation of the sprinkler heads. So why make a difference in the method of 
calculation?

Tony  

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mike Hill" <[email protected]>
To: [email protected]
Sent: Monday, October 7, 2013 10:32:47 AM
Subject: Sprinklers Below Overhead Doors

Question: Are sprinklers below overhead doors required to be included in 
hydraulic calculations?

When I first started in the industry, I was told that heads below overhead 
doors were required to be included in the hydraulic calculations. The reason 
being, it was a temporary obstruction. The door could be up or down if a fire 
broke out, unlike a large duct which was a permanent obstruction.

I was recently questioned by a FPE as to why I included heads below the door in 
a hydraulic calculation. I explained my reasoning to him and he accepted it. In 
his eyes I had proven a more demanding situation than was needed so it didn't 
affect his stamping the plans. Flash forward a few weeks and to a different 
project. I now have a much larger operating area and removing these (11) heads 
from the calculation would help it greatly. I am providing protection for a 
firehouse expansion on a military base. This calculation is in the apparatus 
bay. UFC requirements are in effect, ceiling height over 20'-0" and it is 
sloped enough to require the 30% increase. The majority of the piping being 
calculated is existing and to remain as is (if at all possible).

Using 2007 Edition of NFPA-13 (only one I have handy at the moment).
8.5.5.3.1 Specifically mentions overhead doors need protection below. No 
problem here.

22.2.2.6.3 Does not mention overhead doors when providing situations where 
sprinklers can be omitted from hydraulic calculations. 

The wording in these sections seems to support what my mentors instilled in my 
soft pliable mind all those years ago.

What says the forum?

Mike Hill



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