Pool areas without spectator seating is A-3 occupancy per IBC. A-3 Assembly uses intended for worship, recreation or amusement and other assembly uses not classified elsewhere in Group A including, but not limited to: -Indoor swimming pools (without spectator seating)
[F] 903.2.1 Group A. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout buildings and portions thereof used as Group A occupancies as provided in this section. For Group A-1, A-2, A-3 and A-4 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout the floor area where the Group A-1, A-2, A-3 or A-4 occupancy is located, and in all floors between the Group A occupancy and the level of exit discharge. For Group A-5 occupancies, the automatic sprinkler system shall be provided in the spaces indicated in Section 903.2.1.5. Specific to A-3: [F] 903.2.1.3 Group A-3. An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided for Group A-3 occupancies where one of the following conditions exists: 1. The fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet (1115 m2). 2. The fire area has an occupant load of 300 or more. 3. The fire area is located on a floor other than the level of exit discharge. Exception: Areas used exclusively as participant sports areas where the main floor area is located at the same level as the level of exit discharge of the main entrance and exit. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- So if you meet the requirement to provide sprinklers per 903.2.1.3 what do the terms "throughout" and "floor area" mean? "throughout" means "in or to every part, everywhere" according to Merriam-Webster; Floor Area, does that refer to the actual hard walkable floor or the floor level of the building on which the sprinklers will be located? Seems that it is the overall floor area of a level of a building, not just the hard floor as opposed to the water surface of a pool area. If you're required to provide sprinklers throughout and you omit them over the pool then your spacings are not compliant. If the room has a peaked roof line and the pool is beneath that, where will combustion products gather, over the pool. Several things to consider but there is no specific wording allowing the omission of sprinklers over a pool in the building code. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection Specialist Mechanical Department CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive PO Box 491, Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 [email protected] http://www.ch2m.com -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brown, Mike Sent: Thursday, October 22, 2009 8:51 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Protection over indoor swimming pools? Can someone point us in the right direction... we are being directed not to sprinkler over top the pools at an aquatic center they are only asking for the floor area around the pools? Has anyone had any experience with this situation? We can't find anything in nfpa? Mike Brown Project Designer Sunland Fire Protection 1218 Elon Place High Point, NC 27263 Ph. 336.886.7027 Ext. 140 Fax: 336.886.7024 WWW.SUNLANDFIRE.COM <http://WWW.SUNLANDFIRE.COM> _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.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 [email protected] http://fireball.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)
