I have a warehouse that will store some exposed unexpanded Group A plastic (sheet plastic in rolls). The rest of the storage will be Class III commodities. All stored on racks. Building height is 35 ft and with racks up to 25 ft. NFPA 13 - 17.2.1.3 states, "For storage of Group A plastics between 5 ft and 12 ft in height, the installation requirements for extra hazard systems shall apply." We have the ability in this case to stipulate that the plastic storage be limited to 12 ft or less in height (I understand all of the human behavior questions that arise about warehouse workers actually abiding by this). My question is, does 17.2.1.3 give instruction only for installation guidance (sprinkler spacing, obstructions, etc.) or does this allow me to use AT LEAST extra hazard design criteria for protection of the low-piled plastic? Specifically, if the plastic is limited to 12 ft, could the rest of the warehouse be protected with a protection scheme adequate for the Class III comm odities and if that scheme exceeds the demands of extra hazard densities, the plastic is considered protected?
My gut is that the section refers only to installation procedures and I am stuck with the requirements of 17.2.1.4, 17.2.2, or 17.2.3 for design criteria even is the plastic storage is limited to 12 ft. Thank you, Micah Davis Dynamic Fire Designs, LLC _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
