NFPA 13 - fuel-fired furnace in non-combustible space 1

[mstrfenix]

I wanted to ask you guys what the approved installation practice is for this scenario. I have a roughly 3,600^ft2 mezzanine built entirely with noncombustible materials inside a non-combustible building (steel columns, steel beams, z-purlins). The area above the mezzanine is not going to be used for storage (or so they say anyway) and the only thing that is going to be on the mezzanine are a couple fuel-fired furnaces. My coworker seems to think that they may decide to store up there and to simply put sprinklers up there to alleviate any issues down the road. There is no easy access to this space, but it would be an awful lot of space to simply "not use". NFPA 13 2007 edition doesn't really address this specific scenario unless I wanted to localize the protection, but if I went to that I might as well protect the entire space. I found a couple of AFSA informal interpretations that shed some light on the issue.

The first one was on 7/18/07 on the subject of "heat producing equipment in noncombustible concealed spaces" and in a nut shell stated that in my situation I would not need to sprinkler the space. The feeling is that without a fuel load to propagate the fire around the unit sprinklers are unnecessary.

The second interpretation was on 12/18/2008 on the subject of "non-combustible concealed space - electrical equipment" and has a statement that says "the lack of a fuel-fired equipment in a non-combustible space normally relives the requirement of sprinkler protection for that space"
which would lead me to the logic that if it is fuel fired I would need to sprinkler the space.

I'm unsure what is the correct method to protect this space, if it needs to be protected at all. With the absence of storage what is the right thing to do? I just want to know what is required.





Thanks,

Reed Barduhn, EIT
Inland Fire Protection, Inc.
1100 Ahtanum Road
Yakima, WA 98903

 

[cdafd]

3,600^ft2 mezzanine

so is this area open to the room???

or is it an enclosed area????

not sure on how you are using the term

how to you get to this area???

 

[stookeyfpe]

Is the appliance fired by cow crap, wood, waste camel hair or a fuel gas such as LP-Gas or methane? That's the real question.

 

[mstrfenix]

The area above the mezzanine is fully enclosed. The space will be accessed from a 2'x2' opening in the ceiling I believe. You would need a ladder to get to it.

 

[mstrfenix]

propane or natural gas is what is being used I believe.

 

[stookeyfpe]

It's a noncombustible fuel gas fired appliance with noncombustible fuel gas piping in a noncombustible space of the building. The appliance, if installed in accordance with its listing, will have adequate clearances. The fact the space has fuel gas piping is moot because the piping is (hopefully) properly designed, erected and tested.

Sprinkler protection is not required or warranted in this case.