sprinklernotes
Intermediate Temperature Sprinklers Installed Throughout a Light Hazard Occupancy.
You asked the following questions: “We have a customer who had Joint Commission inspection this week at his hospital. One of the inspectors has questioned us installing intermediate temperature QR sprinklers throughout a light hazard occupancy. I tried to explain that in 2010 the code was revised to allow for ordinary and intermediate temp QR sprinklers to be installed throughout the building. Unfortunately, the inspectors do not interpret section 8.3.2.1 like that. Are intermediate temperature sprinklers allowed to be installed throughout light hazard occupancies?” In response to your question, we have reviewed NFPA 13, 2010 edition as the applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is that intermediate temperature sprinklers can be installed throughout the premises. Historically, the base requirement per 8.3.2.1 was to use an ordinary temperature rating throughout all buildings unless higher localized temperatures required a higher rating. There was also the allowance to go to a high temperature rating for extra hazard occupancies and storage. This was changed in the 2010 edition whereby one could also install sprinklers with an intermediate temperature rating throughout all facilities. This section says unless the requirements of 8.3.2.2, 8.3.2.3, 8.3.2.4, or 8.3.2.5 are met, ordinary- and intermediate-temperature sprinklers shall be used throughout buildings. The substantiation for this change in the 2009 Report on Proposals in 13-125 Log #89 stated, Many commercial facilities are omitting a drop ceiling (simply painting the upper area black) and often installing many HVAC diffusers. This has led to some cases where 1/3 of the sprinklers have an intermediate rating in order to satisfy Table 8.3.2.5(a). With standard response sprinklers a lower temperature rating makes sense. Now that quick-response sprinklers are required, the difference in activation time between the two temperature ratings is not significant but the impact on installation is significant. The handbook commentary for this section says that traditionally, ordinary-temperature sprinklers have been required throughout a building unless the requirements of 8.3.2 required intermediate- or high-temperature sprinklers to be used. However, many buildings are built without suspended ceilings, resulting in a mix of ordinary with the intermediate-temperature-rated sprinklers needed around heating diffusers and other heat-producing areas. Since the response time of quick-response intermediate-temperature sprinklers are not that different from ordinary-temperature standard-response sprinklers, the standard now groups ordinary- and intermediate-temperature sprinklers together and allows intermediate-temperature sprinklers throughout the building, reducing the need for multiple types of sprinklers. Section 8.3.2.4 applies where sprinklers are installed in specific locations as required by 8.3.2.5.
