If the building is a dedicated warehousing facility, I would disagree. Per the 
definition  (3.9.1.18) for Miscellaneous storage:


-        Storage height doesn't exceed 12 ft;

-        Is incidental to another occupancy use group (ie. manufacturing or 
assembly);

-        Doesn't exceed more than 10 percent of the building area or 4000 ft² 
(372 m²) of the sprinklered area;

-        Doesn't exceed 1000 ft² in one pile or area; and

-        Is separated from other storage areas by at least 25 ft.

If your truck parts supplier conforms to all of those points, sure Chapter 13 
applies. Otherwise I think you need to go to Chapter 15.

Larry

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of John Paulsen
Sent: December-08-16 2:11 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage

Right.

Metal truck parts in these plastic bin containers. Miscellaneous Storage still 
applies.

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of Larry Keeping
Sent: Thursday, December 8, 2016 2:07 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage

When I read your 1st e-mail/question, I thought the subject was relative to a 
truck parts supplier/warehousing operation.
If that is correct and the facility is dedicated to storage, and the Group A 
plastics are being stored at a height greater than 5 feet, I don't think you 
should be using the Miscellaneous Storage design criteria from Chapter 13. 
Shouldn't you be looking at Chapter 15?

Larry Keeping

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of John Paulsen
Sent: December-08-16 1:52 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage

Thanks Craig:

These bins are 48" square "folding pallet containers" stacked by two's. There 
is no shelving or racking involved, so as a percentage, there is far less 
plastic than metal.

My thinking is to apply 13.2.1 Group A Plastics - "unexpanded/Expanded" - >5' 
<10' = EH2 (.4 over 2,500)

The existing overhead system will provide .6/2,500 with a 40% safety margin.

Thoughts - Arguments?

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 [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Sent: Thursday, December 8, 2016 12:05 PM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage

Their concern is whether or not the plastic bins are being considered, not just 
the stored Class I (metal parts) commodity and it's a valid point if there are 
a considerable amount of bins.  If it's one or two short shelves maybe it's not 
a big issue with a .6 density, but that would be an AHJ and Insurer call.

HDPE falls into the Group A plastics category.

The metal parts are irrelevant to the case.  You have shelves full of plastic 
bins. If the bins were empty how would you classify the storage?

If you look at NFPA 13 (2013) Table 15.2.6(a), for storage >5ft but ≤12ft, 
Roof/Ceiling height at >20 to 32ft (you said system pipe was at 25 ft), the 
density shown is 0.7 gpm/sf for Nonexpanded, stable, exposed.

If in fact your final analysis of the design criteria does show a requirement 
of .7 gpm/sf, I'd calculate the existing systems as-is and see if it can meet 
that criteria.  You might not need to change anything other than prove it works 
as-is.  Then you'd also need to be sure the water supply is adequate for the 
increased flow demand.  The other thing to consider is the NFPA 13 criteria 
only requires calculating of a 2,500 sq. ft. hyd. area, the 3,000 sf area 
sounds like an insurer requirement so you may have some wiggle room there 
hydraulically if you compare the 0.6@3000<mailto:0.6@3000> to 
0.7@2500<mailto:0.7@2500> but you won't know for sure until you run the calc.

I would be looking at the plastics, not the metal parts.



Craig L. Prahl
Fire Protection Group Lead/SME
CH2M
200 Verdae Blvd.
Greenville, SC  29607
Direct - 864.920.7540
Fax - 864.920.7129
CH2MHILL Extension  77540
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>

From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On 
Behalf Of John Paulsen
Sent: Thursday, December 08, 2016 11:29 AM
To: 
[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>
Subject: RE: HDPE Plastic Bin Box Storage [EXTERNAL]

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]<mailto:[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

      [cid:[email protected]]
American Fire Protection, Inc.
5525 Eastcliff Industrial Loop | Birmingham, AL  35210
205-591-9111 ext. 1452 | 205-317-0918 (cell)
205-591-9990 (Fax)

          
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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


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