American Fire Sprinkler Association
12750 Merit Drive, Suite 350 * Dallas, Texas 75251
Ph: (214) 349-5965 Fax: (214) 276-0908
------------
TECH TALK
APRIL 2009
------------
RETAIL CLASSIFICATION
Generally speaking, NFPA 13 expects the actual contents to be used
when determining the hazard classification of a facility and the rare
change to be treated like any other building that changes it?s use
sometime in its life span. On the other hand, retail is treated
differently since the contents of a retail facility typically change
on a regular basis (either from carrying new products or new
occupants). This is especially true in malls. There are situations,
though, where imposing a higher classification for likely change is
not warranted. For instance, if you had a manufacturing facility, say
for steel parts, that had a large sales area, light hazard would be
appropriate since it isn?t likely to change. Additionally, if it did
change, it would be viewed like any facility change whereby both the
IBC and IFC would require an evaluation of the system for the new use.
For a retail application, consider an individual building used
entirely as a jewelry store. There are limited combustibles that
clearly fall within the definition for light hazard. So, should the
sprinkler protection be based on the actual contents or must the annex
example in A.5.3.2 of ordinary hazard group II for retail be applied?
╙ It is reasonable to apply the actual contents for determining the
hazard classification.
Items to be considered when evaluating facilities are: ownership of
building, is it an individual building, and is it expected to remain
the same? Also, is the owner aware that major changes to the system
would probably be required for other uses? It is also worth
considering if the building is required to be protected since if it
isn╒t then the owner should be allowed to decide whether they want a
more costly system that allows the flexibility for other uses/
occupants. Again, in malls this is not an option but for many small,
individual retail facilities that seldom change, basing the design on
the current, actual hazard is appropriate. Naturally, this would
require approval by the AHJ.
UPDATING THE STANDARDS
The NFPA 14 committee is in the ROC stage but there is some work to be
done to coordinate with NFPA 20╒s new high-rise chapter. The NFPA 20
committee proposed when fire pumps are located in series that they be
located within the same room. This concept sounds good but this
presents some challenges or conflicts to the NFPA 14 standard. There
was insufficient time to address the impacts by the NFPA 14 committee
so the end result was that NITMAMs were submitted on the new NFPA 20
challenging the high-rise requirements. The NITMAMs will be address
during the floor vote during NFPA?s annual meeting. Watch for a
summary on the result of this topic in an upcoming issue in Sprinkler
Age.
---------------------------------------------
2009 AFSA DESIGN SCHOOLS
Beginning System Planning School
May 11-22, 2009 (Sold Out)
July 13-24, 2009
November 9-20, 2009
Registration Prices:
Member $1100
Non-Member $1600
NOTE: Enrollment open only to AFSA Contractor Members until 6 weeks
prior to each class.
WEBINAR EVENT
The Use of Specific Application Sprinklers in Combustible Attic
And Interstitial Spaces and Extended Coverage Sprinklers
May 7, 2009
11:00 AM CDT
Registration Prices:
Member $75
Non-Member $125
1.5 CPDs and 0.15 CEUs.
To register go to: www.firesprinkler.org/training/preactionseminar.html
AFSA/OSU FIRE SPRINKLER INSPECTION TRAINING & CERTIFICATE COURSE
Stillwater, OK
May 4-6, 2009
- Receive a $100 off any 2009 course
Contact Brandy Mays at 405-744-5369 for registration form.
AFSA 28TH ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBITION BOOTH RESERVATIONS
Booth reservations are available now till the end of May.
Reserve your booth today.
Go to: www.firesprinkler.org/convention/exhibition
NEW- FIRE SPRINKLER SYSTEMS NFPA CONFERENCE & EXPOSITION
JUNE 8-11, 2009
Chicago, IL
---------------------------------------------
TechTalk is prepared by the Technical Services Department of the
American Fire Sprinkler Association: Vice President of Engineering and
Technical Services, Roland Huggins, a PE registered in fire protection
engineering; Phill Brown, a CFPS and a NICET IV certified automatic
sprinkler technician, and Tom Wellen, a degreed fire protection-
engineering technologist. Opinions are provided with the understanding
that AFSA assumes no liability for the opinions or actions taken on
them and they are not to be considered the official interpretation of
the NFPA or that of its technical committees.
Copyright (c) 2009, American Fire Sprinkler Association, 12750 Merit
Drive, Ste 350, Dallas, TX 75251. Voice (214) 349-5965 ext 124 or Fax
(214) 276-0908. All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------
If you╒d rather not receive future faxes from AFSA, fax your removal
request to (888) 839-4830 or e-mail to [email protected].
Please include your company name and the specific fax numbers(s) at
which you do not wish to receive faxes from us. Our failure to comply
with your request may be unlawful.
_______________________________________________
Sprinklernotes mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklernotes
