sprinklernotes
Ordinary and Intermediate Temperature Sprinklers in the Same Compartment
You asked the following questions: “The Engineer of Record is stating the following comment. Do not mix intermediate temperature and ordinary temperature rating for sprinklers. It is out interpretation that if sprinklers are installed at 1 ft. away from the edge of the diffuser, If necessary, relocate the sprinklers so that they are not within 1 ft. from the diffuser edges.” In response to your question, we have reviewed NFPA 13, 2016 edition as the applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is an ordinary temperature sprinkler can be installed in the same compartment as an intermediate temperature sprinkler. NFPA 13, Chapter 8 provides multiple scenarios where high temperature rated sprinklers are required to be installed within the same compartment as ordinary temperature rated sprinklers, including near heat producing sources. While NFPA 13 does provide a restriction on mixing sprinklers with different response time indexes (ie: standard response and quick response) there is no restriction on mixing sprinklers of mixed temperature ratings within a system or within a compartment. I would also note, there is also no restriction on mixing sprinklers with differing orientations within a compartment (ie: upright; pendent and/or sidewall sprinklers) or even standard spray adjacent to extended coverage, provided they are all of the same RTI.
