That is the correct way to do it and allow for future. However, unless it is 
specified you get what the low bidder quotes.   
  
  
  
  
Todd Williams     

  
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
  
Stonington, CT
  
860-608-4559
  
  
  
  
  

  
  
>   
> On May 22, 2026 at 8:44 AM,  <Michael Slaughter 
> (mailto:[email protected])>  wrote:
>   
>   
>   
>   
>   
> Sue,
>   
>
>   
> Well said.   Ordinary Hazard Group 2 with Quick Response Heads.
>   
> Works for Light Hazard and Ordinary Hazard occupancies. No need to go back 
> and modify the overall system.
>   
> I've yet to see a tenant finish out which didn't benefit from this approach.
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> Mike Slaughter
>   
> Risk Reduction Division
>   
> Travis County Emergency Services District 2
>   
> Office:        (512) 989-4531
>   
> [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])
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>   
>
>   
>
>                                         
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>   
> On Fri, May 22, 2026 at 7:10 AM Sue Stafford  <[email protected] 
> (mailto:[email protected])>  wrote:
>   
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> > I have had to come behind firms that design basic shell buildings as light 
> > hazard without consideration to future occupancy code compliance 
> > downstream, and it is  not  pleasant.
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > I have always had my designers standard shell type buildings at Ordinary 
> > Hazard Group 2 with 120 sf spacing at minimum.    Yes, there is a little 
> > more time and cost for design  &  material up front but is essential for 
> > future use consideration.
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > As noted in previous comments, opens the door for you to educate your 
> > client understand a shell building concept and it allows developers / 
> > tenants more flexibility to quickly fill these spaces.     
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > Give those who pay our bills that and we see more work from them!     
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > My 2 cents…😊
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >   
> >
> > Sue Stafford   |Design Manager     
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > 3141 Eagles Nest St., Suite 250, Round Rock, TX 78665
> >
> >   
> >
> > [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])   |  
> >
> >   
> >
> > www.caruthps.com (http://www.caruthps.com/)   |    O: 512-276-2774 | M: 
> > 281-910-7853
> >
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> >                          A Fire and Life Safety Company
> >
> >   
> >   
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> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> > From:   [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])   
> > <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])>
> >   Sent:  Sunday, May 10, 2026 4:34 PM
> >   To:  'Discussion list on issues relating to automatic fire sprinklers'  
> > <[email protected] 
> > (mailto:[email protected])>
> >   Subject:  [Sprinklerforum] Re: Shell space?
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
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> >
> >   
> >
> > My 2 cents:
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > I always encourage developers and municipalities to require minimum design 
> > criteria for speculative lease warehouse construction, based either on the 
> > potential storage height or at a minimum, the design criteria for 20 ft 
> > high pallet rack storage of Class IV commodities (.33/3000) or even 
> > .45/3000.
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > Now, you might ask yourself…. Self, why is that a good idea? Well, because 
> > when new businesses start up, cash is always limited, and if that business 
> > has the choice between moving into a facility that is ready for their 
> > occupancy needs, without having to invest $$$ into modifying the fire 
> > sprinkler system in a building they do not own, they’d rather pay a higher 
> > lease rate per sqft for a space that is ready to move into.
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > Where local policies require move-in-ready spaces, they attract more 
> > businesses and a larger tax base to support their community's needs. 
> > Additionally, while this may increase the size of the underground and 
> > backflow preventer, not having such a policy could result in having a 4” 
> > underground private fire service main and backflow, which would make any 
> > needed upgrades to the system for a tenant or new owner very much more 
> > expensive down the road.  
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > Again, just my opinion for protecting speculative lease buildings based on 
> > a minimum expectation…. They don’t build them 30 ft + tall so people can 
> > store 8 ft high. My opinion does not represent any organization or committee
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> > Bob Caputo
> >
> >   
> >   
> >
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> >   
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> >   
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> > From:   Rick Matsuda  <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])>
> >   Sent:  Saturday, May 9, 2026 5:42 PM
> >   To:   [email protected] 
> > (mailto:[email protected])
> >   Cc:   [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]);  
> > [email protected] 
> > (mailto:[email protected])
> >   Subject:  [Sprinklerforum] Re: Shell space?
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> >   
> >
> >   
> >   
> >
> > Steve, great point.   
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> > I was only an AHJ…not a smart contractor.   
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> > Rick
> >
> >   
> >   
> >   
> >
> >     
> >
> >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > On May 9, 2026, at 5:23 PM, Steve Leyton  <[email protected] 
> > > (mailto:[email protected])>  wrote:
> > >
> > >   
> >   
> >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >      
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > That's a big step forward for common sense, but what if the tenant is a 
> > > sales office with full height partitions for privacy?    Until you see a 
> > > plan for the fit-out, you don't know if sprinkler spacing will average 85 
> > > or 185 sq. ft.    My firm specifies and/or designs that sprinklers shall 
> > > be spaced at 100 sq. ft. and modeled for .20/1500.    Overkill? Perhaps, 
> > > but we always have enough outlets for a clean T.I. and the contractor of 
> > > that work doesn't fall into hydraulic black hole.
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
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> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Steve Leyton
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Sent from my "Smart" Phone, so apologies for any typos or voice-to-text 
> > > corruptions.
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
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> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > -------- Original message --------
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > From: Rick Matsuda  <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])>   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Date: 5/9/26 3:05 PM (GMT-08:00)  
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > To:  [email protected] 
> > > (mailto:[email protected])   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Cc:  [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]), 
> > > Sprinklerforum  <[email protected] 
> > > (mailto:[email protected])>   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Subject: [Sprinklerforum] Re: Shell space?  
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > As a former AHJ, I would accept the following.   
> > >  Get a signed letter from the owner and the architect stating that the 
> > > tenant improvement spaces will only be occupied by light hazard office 
> > > spaces and not ordinary hazard spaces like retail, manufacturing, or 
> > > storage.
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Inform all parties involved that any deviation from the letter will 
> > > result in costly upgrades. It will be cheaper for them to plan for 
> > > ordinary hazard now than to make changes in the future.
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > They are also limiting the types of tenants who might want to lease the 
> > > spaces.
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > > Good luck, Rick Matsuda   
> > >
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > >
> > >     
> > >
> > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > > On May 9, 2026, at 4:50 PM, daren welborn  <[email protected] 
> > > > (mailto:[email protected])>  wrote:
> > > >
> > > >   
> > >   
> > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   When I’m designing shell space in office buildings; it’s always been 
> > > > to light hazard.  
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > > Shell space in a future strip mall or industrial type areas, has always 
> > > > been to ordinary group I or II.
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > > Sincerely,  
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > > Daren Welborn
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >
> > > >     
> > > >
> > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > > On May 9, 2026, at 5:20 PM, Parsley Consulting  
> > > > > <[email protected] (mailto:[email protected])>  
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > >   
> > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > >      
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > > Friends,
> > > > >   
> > > > >  I'm in the process of a lengthy plan review of a -13 compliant 
> > > > > sprinkler system.
> > > > >   
> > > > >  The layout has shown large areas of "shell" space, and the 
> > > > > calculations show light hazard, for future TI.
> > > > >   
> > > > >  For a long time, perhaps to long to admit, I've had the impression 
> > > > > such spaces should be either OH1 or OH2.
> > > > >   
> > > > >  Any clarity?
> > > > >   
> > > > >  sincerely,  
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > > Ken Wagoner, SET
> > > > >   Parsley Consulting
> > > > >   3002 Younger Drive
> > > > >   Harrisonville, Missouri 64701-3909
> > > > >   Phone: (760) 745-6181
> > > > >   Visit the website 
> > > > > (https://url.avanan.click/v2/r01/___https:/linkprotect.cudasvc.com/url?a=http%3a%2f%2fwww.parsleyconsulting.com%2f&c=E,1,Y5zKJKPEh1mBEBqSR-VE9cUKl5y-eyP8BpvmE_5j9ZqW2eJbNphYzrCMBZ-2YuX6d-RRkHI4gQ1FV-cvOeCfRC58uZS9NiToZv2mx7909oCqLvCW_n5hDHeK&typo=1___.YXAzOnByb3RlY3Rpb25kZXNpZ25hbmRjb25zdWx0aW5nOmE6bzpiZjAzOTk0YWEzZWZlMzM2OTY5OTIxYmZjYmU3NmI3YTo3OjFmOWE6ZWMxN2ZlNzY3Mzk5NGVhNmJkNTFjYTMxZjEyMmI1M2I2YjMwMTQxYjlkYmJkMDJkZDIzNjJmNTQwNjM0MzQ2MjpoOlQ6Rg)
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > >   
> > > > >   
> > > > >
> > > > >
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