Are column sprinklers required (or alternate rating)?

The prettiest pop-up nozzle floor plan layout I've ever done was in the
shape of the B2 Stealth ;) 

-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Don Lowry
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 1:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & HangArs

Thanks for the info and apologies for the misspelling (hangArs).  This is
not something I do on a regular basis. (I think I've only done 3 hangars
since the 80's).  

This reminds me of my first, Dyess Air Force base in Abilene, TX  back in
the 80s sometime when the B1 Bomber first came out, we did a hanger for it.
Very souped up foam systems(deluge), lots of monitors etc.  Impressive
during the tests, system refilled & left in service.  About a month later we
get a call that says they need more foam and their systems re-set up.  Seems
a private on guard duty had "accidently" pulled the manual trip
switch....The B1B in the hanger was opened up and needless to say had a lot
of soap suds on the electronics.  Talk about a mess ?. 

If I recall at that time the pop-up type sprinklers were not available and
maybe were invented because of this!!  Good times back then.

Anyway thanks to all for the help.
Don Lowry, CET, Texas RME


-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Bob Holland
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 12:28 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & HangArs

A few years ago while at URS I was part of a team doing hangars for
Executive Jet, Nationwide, US Air, Tenn. Nat'l Guard, Proctor and Gamble and
others, a bunch of them.  When we started NFPA 409 was only mentioned in a
list of related applicable codes.  IBC 412. 4 through .6  did not exist.
IBC 412.4.6 now lists what cannot happen in a hangar without foam.  I
strongly advised getting a copy of IBC 412 with the Commentary. It is based
on 409 but affords greater general clarity via the Commentary. Details
remain in 409.
  
I've not seen a mention of draft curtains in the dialogue below.  As I
recall these establish zones based upon allowable fire areas per
construction type and a 75' circle 'sets off' the zones. Worst case is an
interior zone (not left or right perimeter) where the 75' causes three zones
to activate.  Water calculations were based on this.

There were several ways to deliver foam, overhead gets into aircraft and
cannons can be obstructed or otherwise problematic.   The preferred method
after it was developed with the air force was the
'pop-up' sprinklers in the drainage trench.  It took a couple of years to
garner approval.  Sneaky aircraft prefer this method.  This system covers
the floor where most fuel fires originate and drains away quickly if the
floor is properly sloped and creates less mess.  A lot less.

There was a video in circulation many years ago of an overly concentrated
AFFF - water mix filling a hangar.  Ellsworth AFB as I recall.  Its real.

For the more advanced and fool proof systems IR/FR detectors were used and
abort buttons were located in numerous places.

Be aware of the pump redundancy requirement.

Effluent may be an issue.  We drained foam areas only through a weir with
automatic sluice gates, normally open to storm through an OWS, when
activated the OWS was by passed and the mess went to a rubber lined pond or
a lined concrete tank for containment and gradual release to the sanitary
sewer subsequent to communication with the local sewer district.  AFFF kills
good bugs in a treatment plant.  

At one point sharing the effluent pond came up and with the help of
actuaries determining the likelihood of two hangars on the same airfield in
the same 72 hour period was one to the negative eleventh.

Testing involves a dump unless otherwise accepted without it by the AHJ.
Usually they've not seen such an event so plan on it.  If its overhead,
cover the walls with plastic well secured.

ROBERT HOLLAND Jr. AIA, CDT, LEED AP, PMP ARCHITECTS / ENGINEERS / INTERIOR
DESIGNERS
7400 West Campus Rd.   Suite 150   New Albany, OH  43054
www.shremshock.com
t 614 545 4550 x 286     f 614 545 4555     [email protected]
Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Don Lowry
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 10:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & Hangers

Chris,
I believe this has already been hashed out with the owner / city but I have
pointed out the IBC quote in case they missed it and will await a response,
before I move forward in the design/pricing.
Thanks for all your help.

Don

-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Cahill, Christopher
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 9:23 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & Hangers

If you meet the letter of the code the City doesn't get a vote. AHJ don't
have to approve exception unless there is something to the effect of
'exception...where approved by the building official....'.  In this case the
exception doesn't say where approved. 

Are you storing only transient aircraft in a group II hangar?  Are there
separate repair facilities? If that is the case you don't need foam no
matter what the AHJ wants.  Now if you are storing aircraft based there (not
transient) for example you don't get the exception and the power position
shifts to the AHJ.  There really aren't a lot of these kinds of hangars so
you probably don't get the exception.  I was just offering another way out.


I've had a couple cities favorably rule based aircraft and light maintenance
still met the exception thus no foam. But that creative interpretation of
the meaning and intent is up to the AHJ.    

Chris Cahill, PE*
Associate Fire Protection Engineer
Burns & McDonnell
Phone:  952.656.3652
Fax:  952.229.2923
[email protected]
www.burnsmcd.com
*Registered in: MN


Proud to be #14 on FORTUNE's 2014 List of 100 Best Companies to Work For

-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Don Lowry
Sent: Tuesday, January 06, 2015 8:51 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & Hangers

Thanks to all for the response, I was just verifying I was reading that
correctly about the entire hanger being calced at once.

Chris,
Thanks for that reference, I will point that out to the project.  Awhile
back the builder told me they had found an exception in the IBC where it
didn't need foam but the city was not accepting that exception.  I will ask
if this is the case?

Thanks,
Don Lowry

-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Cahill, Christopher
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 5:43 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Foam & Hangers

Seems to me it reads all 16,900 sq.ft. which is not typical with multiple
systems in our world.  But do you even need foam?  See IBC:

[F] 412.4.6 Fire suppression.
Aircraft hangars shall be provided with a fire suppression system designed
in accordance with NFPA 409, based upon the classification for the hangar
given in Table 412.4.6.

Exception: Where a fixed base operator has separate repair facilities on
site, Group II hangars operated by a fixed base operator used for storage of
transient aircraft only shall have a fire suppression system, but the system
is exempt from foam requirements.

Chris Cahill, PE*
Associate Fire Protection Engineer
Burns & McDonnell
Phone:  952.656.3652
Fax:  952.229.2923
[email protected]
www.burnsmcd.com
*Registered in: MN


Proud to be #14 on FORTUNE's 2014 List of 100 Best Companies to Work For


-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]]
On Behalf Of Don Lowry
Sent: Monday, January 05, 2015 4:06 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Foam & Hangers

Ref 2004 NFPA-409

 

Situation:

Group II hanger

Option # 4, Closed-Head Foam-Water Sprinkler System 

 

16,900 Sq Ft total hanger size

 

So, per 7.6.4 we'll need 2 systems (8K and 8900) respectively so as not to
exceed 15k per system.

 

7.6.2 states minimum design density .16 gpm/sqft over entire storage and
service area.

 

Question; 

Based on 7.6.2  I've got to calc both systems at the same time, for the
entire hanger area. (lots of water).   Am I interpreting this correctly or
does this mean calc the entire area of each systems individual floor area?

 

Thanks in advance,

 

Don Lowry

 

 

 

 

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