Smoke Control Panel without UL or any other NRTL listing?

[DRWeig]

A UL 508a panel shop has been assigned to build a smoke control panel. They can't stick a 508a UL label on it, that is prohibited. UL 864, category code UUKL is what applies to smoke control panels. No panel shop can do UL 864 stuff, that is a standard that must be certified by submitting samples to UL and having extensive testing done.

Questions:

1) If the contractor for whom the panel is to be built gives a written waiver of responsibility for the non-label issue, would you build an unlabeled smoke panel?

2) If the local AHJ gives a written OK for the unlabeled smoke panel, would you build it?

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[stookeyfpe]

Nothing in Section 909.16 in the 2009 International Building Code requires that the smoke control panel be listed.

 

[DRWeig]

Thanks stookey,

I couldn't find anything in there either, but NFPA 92 is being enforced:

6.4 Smoke Control Systems

6.4.1 Control systems shall be listed in accordance with ANSI/UL 864, Standard for Control Units and Accessories for Fire Alarm Systems, category UUKL, for their intended purpose.



Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[stookeyfpe]

Dave:

I can't offer much more because my jurisdiction doesn't adopt NFPA 92. We have over 100 high-rise buildings and most have some active smoke control systems.

Given the fact that even with a prescriptive design that smoke control systems are engineered, the jurisdiction should understand the panel is nothing more than a control component for a system that will activate and respond before the FD is dispatched.

Is this a high-rise or a large Group A occupancy?

 

[DRWeig]

Thanks again Stookey. I'm mostly in agreement with you.

The building is this thing:

http://www.victorianweb.org/art/architecture/iron/25b.html

Sort of an ancient covered shopping mall that's being turned into apartments called "micro-lofts." It's three stories high.

I'm going to go ahead and ask the fire marshal. But our company's attorneys will have the final say-so...



Best to you,

Goober Dave

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[stookeyfpe]

Interesting. If was the Fire Protection Engineer on the project, I would present the analysis of applying the requirements in International Existing Building Code to avoid the atrium smoke control system. I think I could persuade the code official to allow a more robust sprinkler design to avoid attempting to retrofit smoke control in that building.

 

[DRWeig]

Wish you were here, stookey.

Thanks tons for your input!

Best to you,

Goober Dave

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