Todd: This is a very good question that warrants further consideration. Looking back into earlier editions of 13 (like the 50's), there was a prohibition against installing used sprinklers. Now the text says only new sprinklers shall be installed. I think there is a difference in meaning. I can easily understand a case against buying used sprinklers at a garage sale, not knowing anything whatsoever about their history (like storage or installation close to their operating temp), and then relying on those sprinklers to operate when they are supposed to, and not operate when they are not supposed to. But where you install new sprinklers, then remove them temporarily for reconfiguring a ceiling or treating a room at elevated temps for bedbugs, I do not see the same problem. The installer knew they were new, not used when first installed, and only he handled those sprinklers since then. I have heard it said that torquing a sprinkler into place, removing it which relaxes the stress on the body and then reinstalling it, will cause damage. I have never seen any scientific studies that confirm that. If this were seriously an issue, would there not be a mfr's requirement to use a calibrated torque wrench for installing sprinklers so that they are not over- (or under-) tightened?
There may be a separate issue for sprinklers with QR glass bulbs which seem to be temperamental guys, but as a temporary installation in the bedbug situation, I could see using standard response sprinklers, even though QR/res sprinklers are required for the finished hotel. Dave David A. de Vries, P.E., CSP Firetech Engineering Incorporated 2715 Harrison St. Evanston, IL 60201 Tel: 847-733-0944 Fax: 847-866-6255 --- On Fri, 2/6/09, Todd Williams <[email protected]> wrote: From: Todd Williams <[email protected]> Subject: Re: Bedbug Treatment To: [email protected] Date: Friday, February 6, 2009, 1:04 PM If you read the commentary in the Handbook (NFPA 13-2002) under section 6.1.2.2, that seems to open up the idea of removing and replacing sprinklers in limited applications, to which this might apply. Also, if you remove the sprig/drop/arm over and replace it, but do not touch the sprinkler, would that be legal? I wonder what the "bad experiences" have been had with reconditioned sprinklers. What kind of reconditioning did they use? At 01:05 PM 2/6/2009, you wrote: >I know what the code says but it seems wasteful to use these heads >for 24 hours and then throw them away. I got the feeling that the >profit margin on this job was pretty slim already. >As far as firewatches go, having to rely on hotel staff for this >does not make me feel confident at all. Especially when the >management wants this all done quickly and quietly.(hush-hush) > > >----- Original Message ----- From: "Paul Pinigis" <[email protected]> >To: <[email protected]> >Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 11:40 AM >Subject: RE: * Possible Spam *Bedbug Treatment > > >Installing intermediate temperature sprinklers seems like the most >sensible approach, but you could not reinstall them elsewhere because >they are now "used". > >Paul Pinigis, P.E. >Life Safety Department Head > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thomas >Watt >Sent: Friday, February 06, 2009 8:21 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: * Possible Spam *Bedbug Treatment > >Hello group, > >Several months ago I was sent to remove the (12)sprinklers from a hotel >room so that it could be heat treated for a bedbug infestation. This >process involves heating the room to over 130 degrees. My instructions >were to remove the sprinklers and replace with nipple/caps until the >next day when the sprinklers could be replaced. > >I know in many cases the heating equipment is truck mounted and the >heating ducts are stretched into the unit to be treated. In this case, >the heater/blowers were all portable units. In retrospect, with all of >these appliances in this unprotected space in an occupied wing of this >hotel, this was a catastrophe waiting to happen. > >1) Could I have replaced the 155* heads with intermediate temp heads? >2) Could I reuse these heads for the next bedbug job? > >_______________________________________________ >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) >_______________________________________________ >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) > > >-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- > > > >Internal Virus Database is out of date. >Checked by AVG - http://www.avg.com >Version: 8.0.233 / Virus Database: 270.10.16/1930 - Release Date: >2/2/2009 7:51 AM > >_______________________________________________ >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) Todd G. Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, Connecticut www.fpdc.com 860.535.2080 _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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)
