Micah, I agree with your conclusion. The only thing I would add, is that you may look at the definition of miscellaneous storage (3.9.1.18). If you can meet this, you could use the criteria from Chapter 13, which I think is essentially what you are trying to accomplish.
Plastic storage is tricky here, because less than 5 feet high, and you can go straight to Chapter 13 and apply much less restrictive criteria. From 5 to 12 feet, you have to meet the actual definition of Miscellaneous Storage. This scenario is probably one of the most misunderstood (and done incorrectly) storage scenarios I have seen out in the real world. Almost no one pays attention to the definition of Miscellaneous Storage, since for virtually all the other scenarios, they point you back to Chapter 13 for all storage under 12 feet. To my knowledge, this is the only scenario where the definition of Miscellaneous Storage actually matters. Thanks, Skyler Bilbo 1700 S. Raney Street Effingham, IL 62401 217-819-6404 Direct 217-347-7315 Fax [email protected] www.wenteplumbing.com On Thu, Apr 29, 2021 at 9:38 AM Micah Davis via Sprinklerforum < [email protected]> wrote: > 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 > _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
