I would say it depends on how many tiles are missing. Keep in mind that a new installation can have 2x4 openings (aka air return grills). Although 13 allows 20% of the overall plane to be open, they can’t be all in one portion of the ceiling. Fall back on the if the opening length is >4 ft the width can not exceed 8 inches.
Hopefully this ultra conservative requirement will change next cycle since it pretty much kills the allowance regarding floating clouds (and such a conservative position is not supported by the Research Foundation’s report). Roland Roland Huggins, PE - VP Engineering American Fire Sprinkler Assn. --- Fire Sprinklers Saves Lives Dallas, TX http://www.firesprinkler.org <http://www.firesprinkler.org/> > On Mar 31, 2016, at 5:32 AM, Jay Stough <[email protected]> wrote: > > We are having a discussion as to whether missing ceiling tiles are a > deficiency in NFPA 25. It does not specifically mention it, but it is a > non-critical deficiency if it is missing escutcheons and cover plates on > semi-recessed, recessed and concealed sprinklers. Wouldn't missing ceiling > tiles create the same problem in a room with a drop ceiling? I would think > it would really screw up the air flow of heat to the sprinklers if there > are 2' X 2' or 2' X 4' holes in the ceilings. > > *Jay Stough* > NICET IV LAYOUT > NICET III ITM > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
