I have a lumber storage building and am wondering if the ICC requires sprinklers 1

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Of the kind we have all seen behind lumber distributors and sometimes behind Home Depot's and Lowe's.

The building is stand alone and completely open on one side with its only use to store lumber on racks.

The building is not attached to another structure and I know we have some insurance company reps here and I would like their input as well.

 

[LCREP]

I can not read the drawing, how many sq. ft. Is the building and any idea how much the building and contents are worth? $$ always drives the insurance recommendations.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

275'-0"x36'-7"=10,060 sq ft

and if we sprinkle it I would take it as a Class III commodity on racks? The standard calls for Class II if solid pile but it's not solid pile it is on racks.

The jurisdiction still uses NFPA 13 2013 and FIGURE 16.2.1.3.2(c) Sprinkler System Design Curves — 20 ft (6.1 m) High Rack Storage
— Class III Nonencapsulated Commodities — Conventional Pallets.
With a max height of 20' it appears to need a density of .365/2,000 or 2,600 since it would be a dry system. Just seems heavy to me but that is what I came up with.... here's hoping someone can legitimately talk me into a lower density but that is what I came up with. Just seems high.

As to value of the product I have no idea.

Looking at it again it appears the highest storage we would have is 18' and that helps by dropping the density to .31/2,600.

 

[LCREP]

I looked on our insurance internal commodity classification document our staff used to determine commodity and it is listed as a class 2 on the floor or on racks. I have been retired for 5 years so that may have changed but unlikely!

 

[LCREP]

Also unlikely we would have recommended a sprinkler system for a 10k sq.ft. building unless the contents and building value was over $20 million. But every insurance company has different underwriting guidelines.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

LCREP, thank you that was helpful.

But I can see the local code officials.... for bidding I would stay with Class III just to be on the safe side.

 

[MGXFP]

If using the IBC it says for S-1 occupancy [lumber] the fire area must exceed 12,000 sq.ft. to require sprinklers strictly based on occupancy and size for a single story building. Insurance company may see it differently.

 

[cdafd]

Newton

Is it a building, since no fourth wall?

Is it a fire area, since no fourth wall?

Is it high piled combustible storage, since no fourth wall?

 

[MGXFP]

Yeah, its a building.

"Any structure utilized or intended for supporting or sheltering any occupancy"

it has fire area

"areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor next above"

storage is storage, don't need four walls to classify as such.

 

[cdafd]

If the project falls under IBC

FIRE AREA. The aggregate floor area enclosed and bounded by fire walls, fire barriers, exterior walls or horizontal assemblies of a building. Areas of the building not provided with surrounding walls shall be included in the fire area if such areas are included within the horizontal projection of the roof or floor next above.

 

[cdafd]

horizontal projection

 

[MGXFP]

Are you saying the building has zero fire area?

 

[chicopee]

A couple of items should be evaluated: one is the availability of "FUNCTIONAL" fire hydrants with adequate water supply and secondly fire detectors. Smoke detectors may not be advisable as they could be affected by air draft

 

[cdafd]

Hoping Stookey replies and tells me where I am wrong or maybe right

 

[stookeyfpe]

Automatic sprinkler protection is not required regardless if it's classified as a Group S-1 (Storage) or Group M (Mercantile) occupancy because the fire area is < 12,000 Ft.². See 2018 IFC Sections 903.2.7 and 903.2.9, respectively.

High Piled Combustible Storage does dictate sprinkler requirement because the commodity is Class II or Class III, depending on the wood product. See 2018 IFC Table 3203.8.

Requirements for automatic sprinkler protection of High Piled Combustible Storage are found in 2018 IFC Table 3206.2. Automatic sprinkler protection can be required if the building is open to the public because the noted table threshold for when automatic sprinkler protection is required is > 2,501 Ft.². If it is not open to the public, an automatic fire detection system is required when the fire area is > 2,501 Ft.². However, sprinkler protection is not required until the fire area is > 12,001 Ft.².

 

[cdafd]

Scott

Besides high piled,,

Does the Op original structure, with one open side have a fire area?

 

[stookeyfpe]

CDA:

Yes, it is a fire area. It has exterior walls that enclose and bound the roof.

 

[cdafd]

Thank you Scott,

I was wondering because of the front opening.