Sprinklers above ceiling in non-combustible space (shopping mall)

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Looking at a 3,600 SF jewelry store in an existing fully sprinkled shopping mall. Typical mall type construction with metal roof deck, bar joists, suspended ceiling and typical partition walls.

About 2,000 SF has suspended ceiling for sales area while the remainder is a stock room with the bathrooms at the back normally seen.

The only thing not typical is a note on the drawings that reads "Note: Stock wall does not go to the deck. Fire sprinkler system must be bid accordingly. No change orders given if not per code."

This should not be my call; I am a sprinkler layout technician and not the building professional. IMO the architect should have called for sprinklers to be installed above the suspended ceilings throughout and not leave it up to me but that is life in today's world.

While not my call it is my understanding that the IBC requires the partition wall between sales areas and stock rooms to go all the way up to the deck. Am I right?

If I am wrong, or this was installed long ago prior to the adoption of the IBC, am I right that the only right way is to install upright sprinklers throughout the space and not just a "single line or two" which would be based on a performance review by an FPE and not me? Since the space above is open to the stock room would the entire space be ordinary hazard?

 

[skdesigner]

I believe this first appeared in the 2010 edition:

NFPA 13-2010 8.15.22.3 Where there is a noncombustible space above a noncombustible or limited combustible drop ceiling that is sprinklered because it is open to an adjacent sprinklered space on only one side and where there is no possibility for storage above the drop ceiling, the sprinkler system shall be permitted to extend only as far into the space as 0.6 times the square root of the design area of the sprinkler system in the adjacent space.

8.15.22.3.1 The sprinkler system shall extend at least 24 ft into the space above the ceiling.

In a little TI like that, 24' probably means most of the space.

 

[stookeyfpe]

SD2:

Nope, the partition is not required to go to the deck. The Storage occupancy is accessory to the Mercantile occupancy. See IBC Table 508.4.

 

[cdafd]

13-2010 8.15.22.3

Agree either apply above or a barrier does not have to be rated.

My take is if the fire starts in the storage area it can extend heat and smoke into the non sprinkled area above the drop ceiling.

Where there are No sprinklers.

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

Thanks all,

Georgia is still working on NFPA 13 2002 edition and I missed that in the 2010.

 

[cdafd]

It is kind of like the office warehouse

Office has ten foot ceiling and warehouse had twenty

Office occupies say 1/4 of the building, so if no barrier or no sprinklers above the office area, kind of the same thing as the mall

Would you allow no sprinklers above the office or require them or let a barrier be installed if non combustible ????