American Fire Sprinkler Association 12750 Merit Dr., Suite 350 Dallas TX 75251
Ph:(214) 349-5965 Fax:(214) 276-0908 ------------------------ August 13, 2009 ------------------------ "I have an interior canopy mounted in three different configurations; (1) on a wall,(2)on the face of a furred down ceiling with an EC sprinkler under the ceiling, and (3) on the fascia of a floating ceiling. Sprinkler deflectors at the ceiling are located more than 18 inches above the canopies. Are sprinklers required under the interior canopies that are noncombustible fabric and 30 inches wide?" In response to your question we have reviewed NFPA 13, 2007 Edition as the applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is that sprinklers are not required under the canopies. Section 8.15.7 addresses canopies but that is for "exterior" canopies on a building. The standard does not address interior canopies but the application is more suited for obstruction rules. Section 8.5.5.3.1 indicates that sprinklers shall be installed under fixed obstructions over 4 ft wide such as ducts, decks, open grate flooring, cutting tables, and overhead doors. Sprinklers are not required under the canopy since it is less than 4 ft wide. This would apply to all three situations you noted in the question above as long as the sprinklers are spaced according to NFPA 13. A similar situation was presented for shelf type obstructions located against the wall during the A2009 Report on Comments in 13-87 Log #21. New annex material and a figure will clarify that obstructions located against a wall and located entirely below the 18-inch plane from the sprinkler deflector should be in accordance with 8.6.5.3.3. Note this annex falls under standard pendent and upright sprinklers but it seems appropriate to apply this rationale to any sprinkler type that has obstruction rule wording similar to 8.5.5.3.1. ----------------- 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 ⌐ 2009, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All Rights Reserved -------------------------- If you'd rather not receive future faxes from AFSA, fax your removal request to Linda Dawson at Efax (214) 242-3155 or call toll free (888) 839-4830 or send e-mail request @ [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
