Concern

[Joemaxfp]

So I am doing a job that needs some office sprinklers that need to be changed out and I received the old sprinkler plans. Well, not too old about a year ago installed. I noticed on one of the hydraulic areas that the system has a .385 density and has 8.0 k factor heads? Victaulic V3401 heads to be exact. In an area where there is 20' rack storage.

 

[LCREP]

Concerned oh yea warehousing is not always OK because they change what and how it is stored but never change the sprinkler system design. Oh the joys of fire protection of warehouses….lol

 

[Joemaxfp]

It was designed that way.

 

[LCREP]

Not sure what you getting at but if you have 20’double row racks of class 3 commodity, 8’aisles you need .37/2000 just as an example as per NFPA 13.

 

[TravisMack]

Well, if it was designed with that density and that k-factor, then it was wrong. For densities >0.34 you need a k-factor ≥11.2. So, you are correct to be concerned.

Travis Mack, SET, CWBSP, RME-G, CFPS
MFP Design, a Ferguson Enterprise

http://www.mfpdesign.com

 

[Joemaxfp]

Sorry, but to clarify they installed regular k8.0 uprights for a rack storage building. We are not working in that area but wanted some advise on what everyone else would do.

 

[TravisMack]

It is not something that would be part of an NFPA 25 inspection. You may just indicate to the company that something doesn't seem correct with the area you mentioned and that they should have an analysis of the area done by a fire sprinkler contractor or engineering firm.

It is always a grey area. You can't say it's wrong without making an engineering judgement. NFPA 25 won't pick it up as it is not a mechanical issue. It is one that slipped through the cracks in approval.

Travis Mack, SET, CWBSP, RME-G, CFPS
MFP Design, a Ferguson Enterprise

http://www.mfpdesign.com