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
DECEMBER 3, 2008
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I am working on a 13R system for a hotel that has exterior walkways
that is type V construction so the exterior walkways would require
sprinkler protection. We want to use dry sidewalls beneath the
walkways. They do not make a residential dry sidewall. What design
criteria would this walkway fall under?
We have reviewed NFPA 13R, 2002 Edition and the 2003 Edition of the
IBC that you indicated as the applicable standard. Our informal
interpretation is that sprinkler protection is not required by NFPA
13R but will be required by the IBC. The criterion for the sprinkler
protection is not defined by the IBC but should be the same as 13R for
inside the dwelling unit.
IBC Section [F] 903.3.1.2.1 Balconies, patios and decks indicates that
sprinkler protection shall be provided for exterior balconies where
the building is of Type V construction. Sidewall sprinklers that are
used to protect such areas shall be permitted to be located such that
their deflectors are within 1 inch to 6 inches below the structural
members, and a maximum distance of 14 inches below the deck of the
exterior balconies that are constructed of open wood joist
construction. Section 903.3.2 requires the use of residential or quick
response sprinklers in dwelling units and sleeping units in Group R
and light-hazard occupancies as defined in NFPA 13. This criteria is
intended to ensure that within the dwelling unit a fast response
sprinkler is used, which is now unnecessary since it is required by
NFPA 13 and 13R. Additionally it's not intended to delete the
allowance to use the residential sprinkler criteria identified in NFPA
13 and 13R.
The bottom line is that the hydraulic design criteria for the
balconies will be per NFPA 13R. The main question is do we apply the
criteria for "within" or "outside" the dwelling unit. Although, NFPA
13R does not provide guidance for exterior, open corridors or
balconies, garages are addressed. This, plus NFPA 13 criteria on
corridors, shows us that it is appropriate to treat balconies as being
"within" the dwelling unit. It would be reasonable to use the
protection requirement of 6.8.3.3 for garages. NFPA 13R allows garages
to be sprinklered with quick-response sprinklers designed to provide a
density of 0.05 gpm/ft2 over the area of the garage or 7 psi (which
ever is greater), but not to exceed four sprinklers. The area would
not be applicable in this case but the four sprinklers would be. Since
this is not addressed in NFPA 13R, discuss it with the AHJ beforehand.
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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 ⌐ 2008, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All Rights
Reserved
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