I'll go out on the limb; it does seem like
overkill. We all know the benefits of sprinklers,
but economics has to come in at some point. A
blanket regulation without regards to occupancy,
exposure or other factors, to me, is, well,
overkill.. Section 903 of the ICC gives guidance
where sprinkler are required and it is based on
occupancy classification. I believe that with the
exception of Group H and I, that the minimum is
between 5000 sqft and 12000 sqft. That seems like
a realistic approach, although you could argue
with the area sizes may need to be looked at,
given the increase in values since they were
established, but a blanket 750 seems unreasonable.
I applaud the owner for actually building it and
Redondo Beach should consider themselves lucky he
built there. In this part of the world, that
could be a deal breaker. You sell the land and
build in the another town where regulations are
more in line with the Code models.
At 05:07 PM 10/15/2008, you wrote:
Redondo Beach has a sprinkler and standpipe ordinance. 1) Any new
construction greater than 750 square feet is required to have fire
sprinklers installed. 2) If any portion of a (new) building cannot be
reached with 150â of hose stretched from a fire engine parked on a
public way, fire standpipes shall be installed.
A business owner opened a garden center on a 40â x 200â lot. A
sales/display building sits with the rear of the building 180â from the
public way. The building is single story, 1100 sqft. The business owner
was required to put in a full blown 13 system with a single 2 ½â
standpipe half way down the lot. That means a 4â supply with a DCVA and
a 2 x 2 ½â FDC . The owner had to trench across the street to reach the
main ($30,000.00).
All said and done, $ 62,000.00 to protect a 1100 sqft., single story
garden center. Is that an AHJ run-a-muck or am I crazy for thinking so?
I would love to hear what you folks have to say.
BTW, the standpipe ordinance was written in 1991 when the fire trucks
carried 150' of preconnect, quick attack hose. In 2001 the fire trucks
were reconfigured with 200' and 300' preconnect hoses.
Owen Evans
Gone from the RBFD plan check office for 6 years.
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Todd G. Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, Connecticut
www.fpdc.com
860.535.2080
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