Engineering requirements for tenant improvements

[ContractorDave]

As AHJs, when do you draw the line for tenant improvements and require engineered calcs?

Regards
D

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be
Thomas Paine

http://www.ykfireprevention.ca

 

[ContractorDave]

Apologies for the lack of clarity. When having to modify a sprinkler system and add sprinkler heads to accommodate TIs, when do you require engineering?

Regards
D

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be
Thomas Paine

http://www.ykfireprevention.ca

 

[MGXFP]

I am not an AHJ. However some AHJ's locally require calculations anywhere between a minimum of 5 to 20 sprinklers affected by changes in the system.

It is worth noting that some bid shell spaces light hazard to get the job and when the tenants move in the system needs demolished and replaced with a system capable of accommodating the new hazard.

 

[cdafd]

hate to say rarely, but where I am at now it is mainly just moving heads, and adding a couple.

Now if it was a storage situation, or change of use for the space, that would change the game plan.

 

[stookeyfpe]

I always require calculations if the designer uses Special Sprinklers, as defined in NFPA 13. I had a TI last month that was using EC sidewalls for an OH Group 1 design. The required starting pressure was 55 PSIG, which ended up increasing some branch line diameters. This is why the jurisdiction's I support have a requirement that for <20 sprinkler TIs, calculations are not required for K= 5.6 sprinklers and existing pipe schedule systems. Anything else generally requires calculations.