Micah,
The requirement for clearance between the hole for a pendent sprinkler
and the adjacent ceiling around that penetration is clearly identified
in ASCE/SEI 7.
Specifically, those requirements are:
* In the event that the suspended ceilings are not rigidly braced per
ASME E580, the sprinklers are to be installed in the suspended
panels with either a 2” clearance around the penetration through the
panel, or the use of a flexible drop fitting, per ASCE7-10, section
13.5.6.2.1 through 15.6.3
o Please note that this reference to a "flexible drop fitting"
does not refer to a drop to a sprinkler with a flexible coupling
at some point in the drop. Rather it refers to a device like
that from Flex-Head, AquaFlex, Victaulic or other manufacturers
which hold the sprinkler tight in a bracket where the sprinkler
moves with the ceiling.
* Suspended ceilings with areas less than or equal to 144 ft² that are
surrounded by walls or soffits that are laterally braced to the
structure above are exempt from this requirement
* Suspended ceilings constructed of screw or nail attached gypsum
board on one level that are surrounded by and connected to walls or
soffits that are laterally braced to the structure above are exempt
from these requirements
We could argue the semantics that the hole only needs to be 1" larger
vs. a 2" diameter hole, and I can testify that this argument has been
made endlessly to me.
Now, my take on your question is this: If that ceiling is _*rigidly
braced*_ per the parameters of ASME E580, then there is no need for you
to provide either the 2" oversize ring or a flexible drop fitting. I
would suggest that it's the responsibility of the ceiling contractor to
provide that information not yours. Similarly, if you're dropping the
sprinklers into a gyp board ceiling there's no additional requirement.
As I'm a member of the hanging and bracing committee, see the disclaimer
below.
*Ken Wagoner, SET
*Parsley Consulting***
*350 West 9th Avenue, Suite 206
*Escondido, California 92025
*****Phone 760-745-6181*
Visit the website <http://www.parsleyconsulting.com/>
IMPORTANT NOTICE: This correspondence is not a Formal Interpretation
issued pursuant to NFPA Regulations. Any opinion expressed is the
personal opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the
official position of the NFPA or its Technical Committees. In addition,
this correspondence is neither intended, nor should it be relied upon,
to provide professional consultation or services
It should be noted that the above is my opinion as a member of the NFPA
Automatic Sprinkler System Hanging and Bracing Committee in accordance
with the NFPA Regulations Governing Committee Projects and should
therefore not be considered, nor relied upon, as the official position
of the NFPA or its Committees
***
On 08/17/2018 10:00 AM, Micah Davis, SET wrote:
On a seismic job, I have always designed such that there is either a
flexible drop or a hole 1" larger than required for the sprinkler head
in gypsum board ceilings. I was thinking that practice was based on
NFPA 13, but as I look for it now, I do not see it. Instead, it
appears this requirement is found in ASCE 7.
While NFPA 13 says nothing of ASCE 7 regarding seismic protection, the
IBC states that all non-structural components be protected in
accordance with ASCE 7. As I understand it, the protection
requirements of NFPA 13 were developed to comply with the ASCE 7
requirements. Soooo, my question is, am I required to provide this 1"
clearance at sprinkler drops in rigid ceilings or does NFPA 13's
silence mean I am not held to this?
Micah Davis, SET
NICET #124745
Water Based Systems Layout, Level IV Dynamic Fire Designs
Mail: [email protected]
Mobile: 931-242-1299
www.dynamicfiredesigns.com <http://dynamicfiredesigns.com>
Dynamic Fire Designs • 247 Winthrop Dr. • Spring Hill • FL • 34609
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