903.3.1.1 says that sprinklers shall be "installed in accordance with NFPA 13..." This tells me that the all provisions of NFPA 13 apply. Not requiring sprinklers in areas as Chris describes is a provision of NFPA 13. 903.3.1.1 does NOT have any language excising any provision of 13. 903.1.1.1 provides more "exempt locations" than 13, such as areas that can be protected by alarms only, or places with reactive chemicals that would be dangerous to douse with water, rather than eliminates already exempted locations. The two examples tend to support this argument whereas the fire marshal's interpretation tends to the other way and should therefore be that sprinklers are necessary with reactive chemicals because of the fire hazard regardless of any other concerns. So there's my logic which I'll admit is sometimes forced just to prove my point. In this case though I look to practice which then begs the question: Is this the first a a standard interpretation by all the fire marshals that ever read Chapter 9 of IFC? And if so then why are there so many (all) buildings of a similar description without sprinklers above a drop ceiling in non-combustible construction? If I'm not mistaken this is the guy that wanted a sprinkler over a deck on the top floor of a 13R, even though there wasn't even an eave over the deck. At least here he had the rule on his side even if common sense wasn't. In another event I think he measured an (about) 80 foot long soffit from the edge of the soffit, not 48" back to the wall, but to the face of the single door in the wall. There it measured about 49". Again the rule was on his side but.... In this case I think he's just pushing an argument that sounds good.
On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 9:21 AM, Chris Russel <[email protected]> wrote: > Hello, > > I have a disagreement with the fire marshal and I would like another > opinion. I have a prefabed metal building framed with sheet metal studs in > all areas but the elevator shaft which is a 2 hour fire wall made of wood > and sheetrock. > > > > We omitted sprinklers in the area above the t-bar lid per NFPA 13/2002 > 8.14.1.2.1 because this area is of noncombustible construction and limited > combustible construction. > > > > The fire marshal has stated that limited combustible construction is not > allowed per the IFC per the following code. > > IFC section 903.3.1.1 - NFPA 13 sprinkler systems. > > Where the provisions of this code require that a building or portion of > thereof be equipped throughout with an automatic sprinkler system in a > accordance with section 903.3.1.1, sprinklers shall be installed throughout > in accordance with NFPA 13 except as provided in Section 903.3.1.1.1. > > 903.3.1.1.1 - Exempt locations > > Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in the following rooms or areas > where such rooms or areas are protected with an approved automatic fire > detection system in accordance with section 907.2 that will respond to > visible or invisible particles of combustion. Sprinklers shall not be > omitted from any room merely because it is damp, of fire-resistance rated > construction or contains electrical equipment. #4 In rooms or areas that are > of noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible contents. > > > > It is my opinion that 903.3.1.1.1 addresses areas exempt from 903.3.1.1 i.e. > exceptions to the requirement of an NFPA 13 system. This does not mean that > areas exempt from coverage in NFPA 13 must conform to IFC 903.3.1.1.1. > > > > Thanks, > > > > Chris Russell > > > > t. 360.734.4940 > f. 360.647.9540 > > securitysolutionsnw.com > > > > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] > > To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] > (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) > -- Ron Greenman at home.... _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list http://lists.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: [email protected] To Unsubscribe, send an email to:[email protected] (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
