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August 17, 2015
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Accessibility of Concealed Spaces
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"We are installing a NFPA 13 system. The attic is constructed with fire
retardant-treated
wood (with UL listing). Access to the attic requires removal of a drop ceiling
panel and the use of a ladder to reach a small metal hatch no larger than 2 ft x
2 ft. Is this considered a concealed space that qualifies for application of
the
omission of protection allowance or is it considered an accessible attic?"
We have reviewed the 1999 edition of NFPA 13 that you indicated as the
applicable
standards as well as the 2013 edition of NFPA 13. Our informal interpretation
is
that both statements apply.
Concealed spaces are portions of the building that do not have floor space that
is considered occupied. They can be completely inaccessible (like wall pockets,
pipe chases, and areas above solid gypsum ceilings) or have limited
accessibility
(like areas above lay-in acoustic tile ceilings, pipe chases with access
hatches,
and attics with access hatches). The main point is that NFPA 13 wants to ensure
that, although these areas are not part of the occupied portion of the
building,
when they are of combustible construction that they are protected with
sprinklers
(See section 5-13.1.1 of the 1999 edition). This section also has 12 exceptions
for when sprinkler protection can be omitted. Exception No. 9 allows omission
of protection when: "Concealed spaces in which the exposed materials are
constructed
entirely of fire retardant-treated wood as defined by NFPA 703, Standard for
Fire
Retardant Impregnated Wood and Fire retardant Coatings for Building Materials.".
It should be noted that this allowance was intended to apply only to the
impregnated
wood (pressure treated by the manufacturer) and not to the coated guidance in
NFPA
703 (see A.8.15.1.2.11 of the 2013 edition). The attic that you described fully
meets the intent of NFPA 13 (both the 1999 and 2013 editions) as a concealed
space
that does not require sprinkler protection.
The 1999 edition did not have restrictions on accessibility although I believe
it
was understood that there was limited access. The only guidance it provides is
when a concealed is protected, it can be treated as a light hazard occupancy
when
there is no access for storage or other use. This doesn't mean "no access" for
maintenance etc., but means it can't be readily accessible so as to use it for
storage
or other uses. The guidance on limited access was added to the 2002 edition
(see
section 8.15.1.2.2 of the 2013 edition). If a concealed space has a side-hinged
access door, it is generally not considered limited access. If there is no
actual
floor space, it is still a concealed space but there is a concern about flooring
being added after the fact. In other words, it becomes an enforcement issue
and
sprinklers could still be omitted with the approval of the AHJ. Fortunately
your
case is explicitly limited access. Attics and other concealed spaces are not
required
to be inaccessible. It's common to have HVAC and other equipment in attics that
must be maintained. NFPA 13 does not classify such access as grounds for
requiring
sprinkler protection. This attic meets the intent of sections 5-13.1.1
Exception
No. 9 of the 1999 edition and the corresponding 8.15.1.2.11 of the 2013 edition.
A final note is that the International Building Code considers a building fully
sprinklered when installed in accordance with NFPA 13 (or NFPA 13R) including
having
areas without sprinkler protection as allowed by the applicable standard.
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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 PE registered
in fire protection engineering. 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 2015, American Fire Sprinkler Association. All Rights Reserved
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