Sprinkler in Washer/Dryer Closet

[jpmorla]

Hi all, I am a structural engineer in the process of renovating the kitchen in my personal residence. The configuration of the new kitchen conflicts with two of the existing pendant sprinkler heads so I indicated in the drawings that two sprinkler heads in the kitchen/dining area be relocated (within the kitchen and dining areas themselves). I recently submitted drawings to obtain a building permit and got some comments back from the mechanical/fire protection reviewer reviewer:

Sprinkler required in washer/dryer closet. Per NFPA 1 Section 13.3.2.16.2 "Closets that contain equipment such as washers, dryers, furnaces or water heaters shall be sprinklered regardless of size."

It turns out my unit has a small closet with the washer and dryer. The closet is away from the kitchen area and totally outside the area included in the scope of work. My question is whether the relocation of the two sprinkler heads in the kitchen triggers a requirement to sprinkle the small washer/dryer closet?

I noted that there is a pendant sprinkler head right outside the louvered wood bi-fold doors in the closet. If a sprinkler is indeed required in the closet, would this existing head count? I dont think there is even room inside the closet for a sprinkler since the dryer is stacked on top of the washer and its top is very close to the ceiling.

Thank you in advance for your feedback!

 

[cdafd]

So how did they know there was no head there??

I wonder why it was not the originally ??

Is this a condo or townhouse or similar ??

 

[jpmorla]

@cdafd:

The unit is a condo in a highrise building built in the early 90's. I have no idea why there is no head inside the closet, just on right outside of it. The building department knows because in my mechanical/fire sprinkler plan I included the entire layout of the existing sprinkler system. in retrospect, I should perhaps not have shown much beyond the area of work. But know I have to address the reviewers comment to move forward with the permit.

 

[cdafd]

Well since you are already going to have to do sprinkler work, adding that one head should not be that much trouble. Will have to replace some Sheetrock

do you know if it steel sprinkler pipe or cvpc??

I would just for my own knowledge check with other owners to see if there is a sprinkler head in third wash room.

The doors create an obstruction to the sprinkler spray

 

[stookeyfpe]

JP

Most likely your AHJ is enforcing the edition of NFPA 13 in effect at the time of building permit application. By the fact you have a door without a fire-resistance rating generated the comment. You could remove the door and possibly avoid the added sprinkler protection.

For my record you are in a NFPA 1 jurisdiction and I don't have a great deal of familiarity with that code (my world is ICC codes). But because your new home is in a high rise, and the fact the laundry room is not separated by a fire-rated door assembly, sprinkler protection is required.