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In-Rack Sprinklers section for Shelving not found in NFPA 13 Ch. 15?

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arion

Materials
Nov 22, 2010
42
Hi,

I have a client that is storing stable unexpanded cartoned and exposed Group A plastics on single and back to back shelving units (not storage rack) with wire decks and solid shelving (which they are willing to remove if it helps). They have a 28'-6" ceiling height and top of storage at 12'. Their design density/area is .45/3000. I am trying to find alternatives for them. Table 15.2.16(a) Column E simply says they need .7, which they do not have. I am trying to see what other alternatives may exist, but there is no information on an in-rack solution.

One option is to treat the shelving as Miscellaneous Storage, but I cannot keep it 25 feet from the rack (as required by Misc storage), thus they would have to separate the shelving area from the rack area by a fire wall instead to treat it as Misc Storage, which would override that 25 foot requirement.

The only in-rack idea that I can think to do is treat the shelving as a storage rack and analyze it with Ch. 17 requirements, which because of excess ceiling heights, pushes my configuration to be protected as a 18'-6" high top of storage instead of 12'. That means I have to go off Figure 17.2.1.2.1(c) requirements.

This is all I can see to do, but wanted to reach out to the community to see if there were other opportunities here.

Thanks in advance!
 
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