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
NOVEMBER 14, 2007
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"We have a noncombustible steel and concrete building with a roof
height of between 22 ft and 23 ft. There is a drop ceiling being
installed at 14 ft above the finished floor. The concealed space
above the ceiling does not contain any combustible materials.
However, there will be hydrogen gas piping above the ceiling
contained in welded steel pipe and fittings. Does the presence of
combustible gases in piping require us to consider the space above
the ceiling as combustible? Does section 8.14.1.2.1 apply? Do we need
to provide sprinkler protection above the ceiling?"
We have reviewed the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13 that you indicated as
the applicable Standard. Our informal interpretation is that piping
containing flammable gases may be installed in non-sprinklered
concealed space as long as the concealed space is not used or is
accessible for storage.
Although the committee did not directly specify mechanical fuel
piping in noncombustible concealed spaces during the report on
proposal (ROP) process, the committee would have addressed this issue
at that time if the fuel gas pipes were a problem. Section 8.14.1.2.1
is the guiding criteria and states, "Noncombustible and limited
combustible concealed spaces with no combustible loading having no
access shall not require sprinkler protection. The space shall be
considered a concealed space even with small openings such as those
used as return air for a plenum." In addition, section 8.14.1.2.2 may
also apply and states, "Noncombustible and limited combustible
concealed spaces with limited access and not permitting occupancy or
storage of combustibles shall not require sprinkler protection. The
space shall be cosidered a concealed space even with small openings
such as those used as return air for a plenum." Thus sprinklers
would not be required for a noncombustible concealed space with fuel
gas contained within steel pipe and fittings. An example of a
noncombustible concealed space that would require sprinkler
protection if it contained features such as large quantities of
nonmetallic piping according to the text in the NFPA 13 Handbook.
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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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