Water Curtain

[NJ1]

Here’s my question:

We have a fully sprinkled building that has a tenant that has a glass door in the hallway partition. The wall is not rated.

Is it required to have a head on both sides of the door, centered, like a water curtain?

My answer after looking up all codes I could find was no, being it is not a rated wall and the building is fully sprinkled.

Anybody?

 

[skdesigner]

Sprinklers would be used in lieu of wired or otherwise rated glass to provide a FRR equal to the partition. Since the partition isn't rated, it seems unlikely the glass would need to be.

 

[pipesnpumps]

Just as an aside:
If it is a corridor in fully sprinklered building, NFPA 101 Life Safety Code requires the walls to be a smoke partition. This means it is capable of resisting the GROSS passage of smoke (i.e. no big gaping holes). Not nearly as stringent as a smoke barrier.

A drop ceiling is considered to form the roof of this smoke partition. The walls must form a reasonably tight seal with the ceiling. The door in question must typically be self closing and the clearance around the door must meet NFPA 80 clearances. At least that is NFPA 101, Stookey can comment on IFC/IBC.

Now I am curious though, what section of what code allows a water curtain as a substitute for a fire protection rated door or window?




Real world knowledge doesn't fall out of the sky on a parachute, but rather is gained in small increments during moments of panic or curiosity.