David, I believe that the FM criteria is based on loss experience and fire testing of this type of storage. The NFPA criteria seems pretty general. I'm not sure that the type of rack you describe is even covered by NFPA 13 (see A.3.10.8 in 2002 edition). That storage arrangement may be outside of the scope of 13 and that criteria may not be applicable. The FM criteria is probably more appropriate.
Todd At 04:45 PM 1/6/2010, you wrote: >Hello, > > > >I am developing the protection criteria for a warehouse for hanging garments >on typical pipe racks and wondering about the huge discrepancy between the >requirements of FM Data Sheet 8-18 and NFPA 13 (I found nothing in NFPA 13 >that prevents me from treating this as a Class IV rack storage with 4 ft. >aisles). As an example, for 12 ft. storage, one option in the FM Data >Sheet is a density of 0.60 gpm/sq. ft. over 3,500 sq. ft. whereas for a >Class IV Commodity, NFPA 13 calls for 0.31 gpm/sq. ft. over 3,000 sq. ft. >using high temperature heads. Does anyone have any insights to explain the >huge discrepancy between these requirements? > > > >David Bitton, Eng. > >Quest Loss Control Services Inc. > >Les services de prévention des sinistres Quest inc. > >5100, rue de la Savane, Suite 200 > >Montréal, QC H4P 1T8 > >Tel.: (514) 341-4545 Fax: (514) 341-8228 > >www.questlosscontrol.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) Todd G. Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, Connecticut www.fpdc.com 860.535.2080 _______________________________________________ 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)
