NFPA 13D vs 13R - and AHJ variances that put an installer at risk..

[ContractorDave]

Scenario:

A residential structure is designed as a 3 family dwelling that is basically 3 prefabbed and pre-sprinklered structures that are assembled on site one on top of the other. The local bylaws state "All two family dwellings and multiple family dwellings shall be sprinklered". (That's all it says). NFPA would require this to be a 13R installation. The city bylaw department has decided to relax the bylaw and permit a 13D installation.

Plausible future scenario:

The building burns down and lives are lost. Though the sprinkler contractor has documentation that a 13D installation was permissible by the cities bylaw enforcement division, it can be argued that they are not the experts in the matter, and that if a sprinkler system was installed, it should have been installed to 13R.

This is happening.

Thoughts?

 

[b1ueshift]

A lot of people in this industry seem to hate Tyco which is not entirely undeserved. Their former CEO is in prison for fraud and they have been accused of using creative accounting to boost their share price.

Anyway, I was in a presentation with Tyco trying to sell a high pressure water mist system for commercial buildings as an alternative to sprinklers. This system looked to be pretty darn expensive (because the pipework is all stainless steel and rated for about 2000psi) and I doubt it could compete with sprinklers on cost so he was talking up the environmental advantages because you use less water. Later he mentioned to me that Tyco is a very ethical company and they had just produced a publication on how ethical they are to help decision makers from prospective customers justify buying Tyco products.

Unfortunately I was just so surprised to hear 'Tyco' and 'Ethical' in the same sentence that I was unable to come up with a witty reply.

 

[NJ1]

Listen I have nothing against Tyco. They got me the most reputable-overpaid union book in the country year back however their biggest mistake is that a guy with a college degree is more likely to get hired than a 17-20 year field experience guy as a Project manager/department manager/operations manager. They wont even hire me because of parking tickets I used to get in NYC.
Their Human Resources Dpt is garbage. College will never replace experience but experience and education goes far beyond life itself.

They Just suck. Most part of the time their CEO's, CFO's, O.M's, are golfing at someone else expenses. That is the truth

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

NJ1,

I love Tyco/Simplex Grinnell and I hope they continue operating exactly as they have been.

Six months ago I was bidding on a rather large job where the customer had it narrowed down to two customers; Tyco and your truly and when I heard that news I just smiled.

I just wish more of my competition were like Tyco.

I got the project, my competition made me look good and it's a fantastic project.

 

[NJ1]

No offense but apparently you are lacking of background with Tyco. Dont believe the flowers and the bubble gum because I work for them for quite a while. Now everything changes from branch to branch so let me not point fingers as I already did. They where better when it was simplex and Grinnell as separate companies.

 

[ContractorDave]

SD2 was being facetious .... pretty sure.

 

[skdesigner]

ahhh sarcasm. Devilishly diffult to detect in print. We echo SD2's sentiments up North too.