Lithium-ion battery pack storage

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Consolidate and adequately protect the lithium-ion battery packs.

Option No 1 - Relocate all battery packs to an isolated room. The ceiling level sprinkler system inside the room should be upgraded to operate 12 heads at 35 psi (or all heads, whichever is less) using minimum K22.4 or K25.2 sprinkler heads. Limit storage to 3 tiers high in racks or palletized storage.

The isolated room the owner wants to use measures 24'-10"x38'-8" (12 heads) and is under a mezzanine supporting offices above. Walls are 8" concrete block with a suspended ceiling. Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words:

The easiest thing for me to do is to run the pipe below the suspended ceiling but something tells me that won't fly with ESFR sprinklers.

I don't know what I was thinking when I visited the site but I didn't look above the ceiling so I am not sure what kind of obstructions above I would be dealing with if the ceiling was removed. Most likely bar joist with metal deck and I can picture all sorts of obstructions that would have to be dealt with. I got a feeling I will be traveling the 250 miles to visit the plant again on Tuesday.

But before I go I'll ask, would it be possible to run all the pipe exposed directly below the suspended ceiling mounting the ESFR sprinklers on the pipe? I am pretty sure the answer is no but am asking anyway in case one of you ran into a similar situation.

 

[UFT12]

I personally don't see an issue provided the following,

a) the client is OK with the aesthetics of bulky pipes running below the ceiling (this most likely is not going to be visually pleasant)

b) the various elements on the ceiling are not affected (illumination, air flow discharge etc, fire detectors if any etc)

c) the pipes will be coordinated well without affecting revision tiles (e.g. accesing valves above etc)

d) the hanging rods can reasonably find their way to the slab above.

e) you have the allowable clearance between top of storage and sprinkler deflector.

f) if in need of bracing, you have a concept in mind how the bracers are going to be attached.