Not to be mistaken with so called "furniture" that is actually building construction. When the framers of the standard exempted furniture its apparent that their intent was to exclude the need for sprinkler protection of factory manufactured filing and storage cabinets, desks, credenzas and the like. I've run across projects where a large closet that's been field finished with birch plywood, melamine, mdf or other such materials used in the fabrication of "furniture" are being deemed furniture and thus attempting to employ the sprinkler exemption.
Obviously there are provisions in the standard as to when a "closet" requires sprinkler protection and when it does not. Lets not allow a play on words to circumvent the technical requirements of the standard. If this is allowed to occur we will end up with large unprotected hazards that the standard never intended to exempt. Food for thought. John Drucker Fire Protection Subcode Official (AHJ) New Jersey -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Pinigis Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 11:38 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Sprinklers in office closets Furniture does not require internal sprinkler protection. Paul J. Pinigis, P.E. Chief Life Safety Engineer -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas Reinhardt Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 11:31 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Sprinklers in office closets Furniture.Thanks -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Paul Pinigis Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 10:30 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Sprinklers in office closets Are these stud-wall closets, or furniture? Paul J. Pinigis, P.E. Chief Life Safety Engineer -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Thomas Reinhardt Sent: Friday, March 16, 2007 11:27 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Sprinklers in office closets Hi Guys, I recently did an inspection of a sprinklered building. In the office setting the business has installed closets for each work cubicle (station).The closets are not floor to ceiling; however, each person can store files coats etc... We've adopted NFPA 13(2002 edition). I've looked at Chapter 8 section 8.1.1 and the annex A 8.1.1. NFPA 13 does talk about closets but that is in residential setting. In order to sprinkler the closets they would have to drop a feed from the branch lines above, which is a raised open ceiling. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Tom Tom Reinhardt Wheeling Fire Inspector Wheeling, IL 60090 Phone 1-847-459-2669 _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
