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
OCTOBER 17, 2007
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"I have a building of light hazard occupancy with skylights that are
24 sq. ft. with a depth of 48 in. and all skylights are separated by
10 ft. Is it the intent of NFPA 13 to separate skylights under 32
sq. ft. from ceiling pockets?"
We have reviewed the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13 that you indicated as
the applicable Standard. Our informal interpretation is that
skylights and ceiling pockets must be separated by 10 ft.
These two sections have different applications regarding sprinkler
installations. Section 8.5.7 for skylights and similar ceiling
pockets has no depth limitation. There is also no requirement for
quick response sprinklers throughout the skylight compartment (unless
it is light hazard) as long as the area does not exceed 32 sq. ft.,
and there is no regard of hazard classification of the space. There
is also no requirement of the skylight to be noncombustible. When the
skylight or similar ceiling pocket exceeds 32 sq. ft., then the
ceiling pocket rules of 8.6.7 must be applied. For example, if you
have a 4 ft by 4 ft skylight that has a depth of 4 ft, then apply
section 8.5.7 where it permits the omission of sprinklers. If you
have a skylight or similar ceiling pocket is 52 sq. ft. in area and 3
ft in depth, apply section 8.6.7. If the skylight or similar ceiling
pocket is 52 sq. ft. in area and 4 ft in depth, the omission criteria
for sprinklers cannot be accomplished for either section. The area
exceeds the limit of 32 sq. ft. for section 8.5.7, and the depth
exceeds the limit of 3 ft for section 8.6.7. Thus a sprinkler would
be required in each skylight or ceiling pocket. As you noted, each
unprotected pocket or skylight must be separated by 10 ft. There is
some overlap between sections 8.5.7 and 8.6.7, but 8.6.7 does allow
for larger pockets if all seven criteria are accomplished.
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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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