American Fire Sprinkler Association
12750 Merit Dr., Suite 350 Dallas TX 75251
Ph: (214) 349-5965 Fax: (214) 276-0908
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TECHNICAL UPDATE
July 18, 2007
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"We have a 13R system with a 9 sq ft closet containing only a heat
pump evaporator unit. Is this closet required to be sprinkler
protected?"
We have reviewed NFPA 13R, 2002 edition that you identified as the
applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is that if it is a
readily accessed closet that is within the dwelling unit boundary,
sprinkler protection will be required.
If the mechanical equipment closet is located adjacent but outside
the dwelling unit, such as closets addressed in 13R: 6.8.6 then
protection would not be required. If the mechanical equipment were
within a concealed space, which could have a screwed-in place access
panel, it would not require protection except for gas-fired
equipment. The allowance to exclude protection in closets is limited
to the types of closets explicitly identified in 13R: 6.8.3. This is
supported by 13R: 6.6.7.1.4 providing guidance for mechanical
closets. Additionally, there was a proposal that was rejected for
the 02 edition that would have added mechanical closets to the list.
Since this issue keeps coming up, the 07 edition of 13R added section
6.9.4 that states, "Sprinklers shall be installed in any closet used
for heating and air conditioning equipment". Again, this addresses
closet INSIDE the dwelling unit boundary.
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Technical Update is prepared by the Technical
Services Dept. of the AFSA: Vice President of Engineering and
Technical Services Roland Huggins, a PE registered in fire protection
engineering; Phill Brown, a NICET IV certified automatic sprinkler
technician and NFPA Certified Fire Protection Specialist (CFPS) and
Tom Wellen, a degreed fire protection engineering technologist. This
is provided with the understanding that the AFSA assumes no liability
for this opinion or actions taken on it and they are not to be
considered the official position of the NFPA or its technical
committees.
Copyright (c) 2007, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All
Rights Reserved
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