High Temp Sprinklers 1

[TravisMack]

Maybe y'all can help settle a discussion I am having with a colleague:

Scenario:

There is a 40'x100' area used for storage that is protected with high temp sprinklers. Adjacent to that is a "corridor" that is about 40'x100'. It is essentially an "L" shape. There is no real physical separation between the areas. The ceiling is higher in the storage area - 15' ceiling vs the 14' ceiling in the corridor. There is also a wall that is located at the bend in the "L", but it does not go the full width to completely separate. The wall stops about 15' short of closing off the space.

Since the storage area is protected with 286F sprinklers, is the rest of the corridor required to be protected with 286F sprinklers since there is no true complete separation of the area.

Is there a reference somewhere that confirms yes or no?

 

[LCREP]

See NFPA 13, 2002, section 12.1.5 or in the 2007 edition, section 12.3 Adjacent Occupancies. Extend the 286 heads for 15'beyond the perimeter of the storage. BUT if u look at the Annex A, it indicates use 30' not 15' if the design area is 2000, 40' if 3000, etc. Clear as mud...

 

[TravisMack]

This was my line of reasoning as well. You just extend it 15' beyond (or more from the annex)...But, my friend swears that it has to be high temp throughout. I will try to explain again. I just wanted another opinion to confirm what I thought...Thanks!!

T

 

[cdafd]

I aggre with the fifteen foot rule. I thought there was something in NFPA 13 about mixing and matching heads, but cannot find it.

 

[TravisMack]

cdafd:

You can't find it about temps because it is not there. I have "argued" till I was blue in the face with my friend, but he says that he is right and there is no persuading change.

Now the question begs, is there an inherent danger in placing high temp (286F) sprinklers in an area with max ambient temps <100F and no storage or unit heaters to trigger a requirement for high temp heads? What is the time delay of activating sprinklers because they are 100F+ higher than should be? Would it negatively impact the system?

Thanks!!

 

[cdafd]

TravisMack

BIG FIRE

Would have to research that one, but after reading the post again could see using lower temp heads in the corridor, what ever temp nfpa 13 requires, if there is NO STORAGE in the corridor. Why is the corridor so wide???

 

[AegisFPE]

If your "corridor" really needs to be a Corridor (per the building code), then you may not be able to reduce the fire rating of the Corridor to zero (as it sounds like is the case now) based on the presence of high-temperature sprinklers, as the corridor should probably be QR to get that reduction.

So...you separate it, then it gets normal light hazard heads!