I read about a case involving circumstances very similar to those you describe. According to the article (from a major insurer of fire sprinkler contractors) a fire occurred under the unprotected canopy and flashed over into the store, resulting in a significant loss. Interestingly, the contractor who performed inspections there wound up taking the hit since he'd not noted the unprotected area on inspection reports, but HAD noted other, perhaps lesser, installation code observations in other areas of the shopping center.
That doesn't specifically answer your question, but it should provide some compelling evidence to support fully sprinklering the building. Paul S Johnson Bardane, Inc. Visioning a competitive workforce (407) 401-7154 - Office (407) 399-5081 - Mobile [email protected] www.bardane.net -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of [email protected] Sent: Monday, February 23, 2009 3:54 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Exterior canopies at grocery stores: do they need sprinklered? I have a question: Your typical grocery store with exterior canopy, noncombustible or limited-combustible construction. Code is NFPA 13 2007 edition. 8.15.7.2 permits omission of sprinklers if it is non-combustible. In commentary, the book gives a drive up bank windows, and hotel canopies as examples where they would likely be ommitted. 8.15.7.5 says sprinklers are required over areas where combustibles "are stored and handled." I see grocery stores with and without sprinklers in the outside canopies. Is placing a pallet of Christmas trees (during Christmas) outside or a pallett of BBQ Briquets during summer ouside constitute "Storage," or "handling of combustibles?" In your opinion, do these grocery stores meet the criteria for omission? Forest Wilson Cherokee Fire _______________________________________________ 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)
