16' HIGH RACK STORAGE

[bob smith]

Looking for some insight on this. We have a 16' high storage facility with metal products being stored. Looking at Figure 16.2.1.3.2b with high temp heads which brings the density to .325 over 2000. i am locking to apply figure 16.2.1.3.4.1 and I want to make sure I am right on this. It would 65% of the design curve right? So my new density would be .2112 over 2000?

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

What edition of NFPA #13 are you using?

I looked in 2019 but can't find it.

So looking at the 2019 edition, and making a few assumptions, we find FIGURE 21.4.1.2(a) Sprinkler System Design Curves — 20 ft (6.1 m) High Rack Storage — Class I Nonencapsulated Commodities — Conventional Pallets with 4' aisles your density would be .315 over 2,000

Looking at FIGURE 21.4.1.4.1 Ceiling Sprinkler Density vs. Storage Height. with a maximum 16' storage height you can reduce the density to 65% or .315*.65=.205 or I would call it .21 over 2,000 sq ft.

 

[TravisMack]

And with the beauty of getting the density below 0.25 gpm / sq ft, you can increase the sprinkler coverage from 100 sq ft to 130 sq ft and the max distance between sprinklers can be 15'. This could be a real money saver if the density Art was showing is correct for your application.

There are a 1000 ways to solve almost any sprinkler problem. If you give the situation to 1000 engineering technician, you will often get 1000 correct answers, but all are different.


Travis Mack, SET, RME-G,
MEPCad, Inc
AutoSPRINK | AutoSPRINK FAB | AutoSPRINK RVT

 

[skdesigner]

Is the product stored 16' high, or is the building 16' high? The title of the post seems to conflict with the second sentence.

Travis - I agree with your sentiment, but good luck finding 1000 designers to give that question to these days lol. I don't know if there are even 1000 of us left in the industry. Talk about job security.

 

[LCREP]

Oh the joy of warehouse fire protection, so many things to consider with just a few changes causing problems. I will add any idle wood pallet storage most times this will have a higher sprinkler demand higher than 6 feet of storage on the ground. Put them in the racks….it gets even more interesting….. If they are plastic pallets it is even more fun…..

So glad I am retired…lol

Tom

 

[bob smith]

The building is 20' or so higher maybe 24' at the peak. 16' high storage and that is it.

Also I was looking at NFPA 13 2013. SOrry for the confusion