Jeff:
I appreciate your "caution" on this and perhaps I am overreaching here. But in my view, I'm just trying to correctly interpret the commodity classification and arrangement as it relates to the storage provisions of NFPA-13, which should fall under my practice. In fact, I am working with a specifying engineer on this who is just as baffled by the insurance underwriter's concerns as I am. The problem is, this arrangement is not "specifically" addressed in 13. Is this bin box storage, (it's not cardboard or corrugated) or open container storage? From everything that I can tell, if it meet the OHII curve, that should be the governing requirement. Thanks, John Paulsen - SET Crown Fire System Design 6282 Seeds Rd. Grove City, OH 43123 P - 614-782-2438 F - 614-782-2374 C - 614-348-8206 From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Jeff Hewitt Sent: Thursday, December 8, 2016 11:03 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage John, I'm writing off on the forum because I don't want to stir up a hornets nest. Isn't this an engineering decision, not a NICET SET decision? I'm just saying, why would you want to take that liability as a NICET SET, and also potentially violate your NICET Certification by practicing engineering. Jeff Hewitt, PE, SET, PM.SFPE Corporate Engineer American Fire Protection, Inc. 5525 Eastcliff Industrial Loop | Birmingham, AL 35210 205-591-9111 ext. 1452 | 205-317-0918 (cell) 205-591-9990 (Fax) Licensed in AL, AR, FL, GA, IL, KY, MS, MO, NC, SC, TN, TX Fire sprinklers save lives. Can you live without them? Please note that any positions expressed above are my professional opinion only, as a member of the NFPA 13 Technical Committee, and do not represent an official interpretation of the NFPA 13 standard. From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Paulsen Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2016 9:43 AM To: [email protected] <mailto:[email protected]> Subject: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage Hello All! I am working with a truck parts supplier who has moved into an existing warehouse and I am providing a design study to them on the existing system. Pertinent Facts: 6"x6"x2" Grid with K-8.0 Upright Heads fed by a pump. Pipe is at 25' AFF. Metal truck parts storage in HDPE Plastic Bin Boxes stored no higher than 10' Existing system with 500 GPM hose calcs to .60 GPM / 3,000. Tokyo Mutual Insurance Personally I think the system provides adequate protection for the storage configuration. In fact it is MORE than sufficient according to NFPA 13, Ch 14. However the insurance company is maintaining that the plastic bin storage boxes represent an additional hazard. This is a new experience for me. My contention is that the Bin Boxes, even though they are made of HDPE Plastic, do not represent an increase to the commodity classification because of their higher flash point. (which is information I can't seem to find right now) Is there a fire test out there that indicates these bin boxes represent an increased hazard? John Paulsen - SET Crown Fire System Design 6282 Seeds Rd. Grove City, OH 43123 P - 614-782-2438 F - 614-782-2374 C - 614-348-8206
_______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
