IF (and only if) detection is required. If you look at Chapter 17 of NFPA 72, it states in 17.5.3.1, "Total (Complete) Coverage. Where required by other governing laws, codes or standards, and unless otherwise modified by 17.5.3.1.1 through 17.5.3.1.5, total coverage of a building or a portion thereof, shall include all rooms, halls, storage areas, basements, attics, lofts, spaces above suspended ceiling, and other subdivisions and accessible spaces."
We have had countless plan reviewers, electrical engineers and architect tell us that this section requires sprinklers because they chose not to put detection in the interstitial spaces. However, the charging statement in that section is, "Where required ..." and the IBC does NOT require detection in non-comb spaces any more than it does sprinklers, except where movement of combustion by-product can be conveyed. Such as return air plenums. I have spent dozens of hours of my life talking these folks off of their ledges. Steve From: Kyle.Montgomery [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 9:38 AM To: Steve Leyton; [email protected] Cc: Mike Hairfield Subject: RE: Interstitial Spaces OK. So the code doesn't require sprinklers, but they may want them in order to omit the detection. That's good to know. Thanks. -Kyle M From: Steve Leyton [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 9:33 AM To: [email protected] Cc: Kyle.Montgomery <[email protected]>; Mike Hairfield <[email protected]> Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Interstitial Spaces The building code requires detection in return air plenums but allows an exception if the space in furnished with fire sprinklers. Steve From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Kyle.Montgomery via Sprinklerforum Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 9:21 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: Kyle.Montgomery; Mike Hairfield; Steve Leyton Subject: RE: Interstitial Spaces Steve, Can you expound upon your question about if it is used as a return air plenum? How does that impact if sprinklers are required in a concealed space or not? -Kyle M From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton via Sprinklerforum Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 8:19 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: Steve Leyton <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>; Mike Hairfield <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: [EXTERNAL] RE: Interstitial Spaces Is the sprinkler system you're proposing in accordance with 13 or 13R? Is the architect focused specifically on the interstitial spaces or is it a twist of the 13/13R thing? Area and height increases can't be taken with 13R systems ... Steve From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Hairfield via Sprinklerforum Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 7:59 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> Cc: Mike Hairfield Subject: Re: Interstitial Spaces Non-Combustible and not a return air plenum without any storage. Mike ________________________________ From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> on behalf of Steve Leyton via Sprinklerforum <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 10:54 AM To: [email protected]<mailto:[email protected]> <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Cc: Steve Leyton <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>>; Mike Hairfield <[email protected]<mailto:[email protected]>> Subject: RE: Interstitial Spaces Are the "interstitial spaces" combustible? If not, are they being used as a return air plenum? Steve L. From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Mike Hairfield via Sprinklerforum Sent: Friday, October 18, 2019 7:53 AM To: Sprinkler Forum Cc: Mike Hairfield Subject: Interstitial Spaces Got a project that has a Interstitial Space and the Architect is stating that in order for the building to be considered fully sprinklered building the Interstitial spaces have to be protected. I've done numerous facilities in the past where the Interstitial Spaces were not protected. Is the architect correct or is he pulling this out of his butt? Mike
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