I agree. There is a big difference in fire load between a theatrical stage (with the associated lights, curtains and props) and a stage or platform (however way you call it) found in a school gym or church.
The problem is terminology. The architect generally names the building spaces, and quite often all raised floors are termed stages. Then NFPA requires OH2 for stages, without giving any definitions. I designed a sprinkler system for a school. A fire originated in a fan room next to the gym and destroyed the entire school. NFPA conducted a fire investigation and produced a report authored by their Chief Fire Investigator. Under the subsection "Code Analysis" the NFPA report said the following: "the area over the stage where the fire was first observed would have been required to be provided with a sprinkler density designed to an ordinary Hazard 2 classification. The sprinkler system was designed for a light hazard occupancy." This is from the NFPA Chief Fire Investigator. The issues are more complicated. The contract specifications issued by the mechanical consultant (I was not the engineer on record) specified light hazard throughout the school "including mechanical rooms and all occupied spaces" to justify the limited water supply (fire pump and water storage tanks sized for light hazard, no municipal supply). I still designed the mech. rooms and other areas requiring OH design for an OH occupancy. But I did not design the gym area near the "stage" for OH. I won't mention the other issues as it is going off topic. -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Steve Leyton Sent: November 13, 2007 10:53 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: All the world's a stage Okay, seriously. A platform is a raised surface, that may be slab-on-grade, or framed up from a structural floor assembly. Generally, the ceiling over it is the same one that is above the seating/assembly areas of the larger room in which the platform is located. A stage has a proscenium that separates the back of house space from the seating/assembly space. Also generally, it has no suspended ceiling or a much higher ceiling over it, known in the theater biz as "bag and flag" space. Curtains, lighting, set pieces, etc., etc. are potentially stored/suspended in this space and it creates a unique and elevated fire load. Hence, stages are protected for Ordinary Hazard and assembly areas (and platforms) for Light. There is also a requirement that either the stage curtain be fire-rated, or that a "fire-curtain" assembly be provided, or that a water curtain or deluge system be provided at the proscenium to protect the separation between a legitimate "stage" and the A-group. Steve Leyton Protection Design & Consulting -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Randy Knutson Sent: Thursday, November 08, 2007 5:28 PM To: [email protected] Subject: All the worlds a stage Forum Members, What's the difference between a platform and a stage? I'm looking at a charter school auditorium/gym. The stage is a platform elevated 1'-6" above the concrete slab. There is ACT ceiling at 20 ft and a 12ft x 40ft opening to the auditorium. There doesn't appear to be room for drop scenery like in a professional theatre stage. Class III standpipes and OH group II seem excessive for this application. I fear what might happen if a 90 lb drama student decides to mess with 1½" fire hose with 100psi raging behind it. I've found some info in NFPA 101 but I still confused on the stage and platform definitions. Any help will be greatly appreciated Thanks, Randy Knutson Shilo Automatic Sprinkler, Inc. P.S. Bob I'm not ignoring you. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[EMAIL PROTECTED] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
