Dormer1975
Mechanical
- Aug 31, 2007
- 25
I wanted to share a recent experience I had and get commentary. In the past few months I worked on an NFPA 13R project for a 7-building 3-story each apartment complex. Each unit had a bathroom that was less than 55 ft^2, and thus, according to the 2007 edition of NFPA 13R, not required to be sprinklered (NFPA 13R 6.9.2).
So, the project goes on, and the time comes that the GC wants to get his framing inspection done. To get that done we have to be finished with our install except for drops, along with other subs. So, we have the AHJ come out and do a cover inspection and she notices that the walls behind the bathtubs aren't sheet rocked, they're just fixed to the frame. So, she quotes the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13R (6.8.2) that states that a condition to the 55 ft^2 rule is the walls and ceilings, including behind fixtures, are of noncombustible or limited-combustible materials providing a 15-minute thermal barrier.
So, we explain that we design to the latest edition of NFPA, but the AHJ's argument is they approve based on the 2006 edition of the IBC, which only recognizes the 2002 NFPA 13R. We contact AFSA, who provide their own informal interpretation recommending the AHJ accept the 2007 NFPA 13R code. The AHJ doesn't budge and we added roughly 150 sprinkler heads to the project. I can't fault the AHJ for enforcing the 2002 NFPA 13R code, but I didn't even think it'd be a question.
As far as I understand, the 2009 edition of the IBC should be coming out next month, in which the AFSA indicated to us, it adopts the 2007 NFPA 13R with no amendments. Granted, the state has 18 months to accept the latest edition of the IBC.
So, this whole experience makes me ask the question, "Should I be designing to the 2007 edition or 2002 until my state adopts the 2007?"
So, the project goes on, and the time comes that the GC wants to get his framing inspection done. To get that done we have to be finished with our install except for drops, along with other subs. So, we have the AHJ come out and do a cover inspection and she notices that the walls behind the bathtubs aren't sheet rocked, they're just fixed to the frame. So, she quotes the 2002 Edition of NFPA 13R (6.8.2) that states that a condition to the 55 ft^2 rule is the walls and ceilings, including behind fixtures, are of noncombustible or limited-combustible materials providing a 15-minute thermal barrier.
So, we explain that we design to the latest edition of NFPA, but the AHJ's argument is they approve based on the 2006 edition of the IBC, which only recognizes the 2002 NFPA 13R. We contact AFSA, who provide their own informal interpretation recommending the AHJ accept the 2007 NFPA 13R code. The AHJ doesn't budge and we added roughly 150 sprinkler heads to the project. I can't fault the AHJ for enforcing the 2002 NFPA 13R code, but I didn't even think it'd be a question.
As far as I understand, the 2009 edition of the IBC should be coming out next month, in which the AFSA indicated to us, it adopts the 2007 NFPA 13R with no amendments. Granted, the state has 18 months to accept the latest edition of the IBC.
So, this whole experience makes me ask the question, "Should I be designing to the 2007 edition or 2002 until my state adopts the 2007?"