The existing system above the ceiling is OH2 and will remain that way. The question is about the space below the ceiling. If I interpret the problem correctly the 130 sqft requirement for OH will add significantly more sprinklers that would be required in LH spacing due to room layout. This also could have an impact on hydraulics. If the beauty shop moves out and the haberdasher moves in, chances are the store will be renovated and the sprinklers changed yet again. If the building owner and fire marshal are OK with protecting the space as LH, with the understanding that a change of occupancy will require another mod to the system, I don't see what the problem would be.
At 04:05 PM 1/21/2010, you wrote: >If this is a strip shopping center it's in the owner's best interest >to treat the entire shell as Mercantile and be done with it. That >way any retail or service type business can occupy the space. If >you try to dissect the categories of the occupants as to whether >they may actually be a "B" or "M" occupancy it will only create >problems down the road when the "B"/LH beauty shop moves out and the >"M"/OH Granny's Knick-Knacks and Haberdashery goes into the space. > >And yes, this is a Building Code issue, not an NFPA 13 issue. The >NFPA part is secondary to the BC issue. > >But if the system is existing, leave it alone. > > >But personally, shouldn't most beauty salons be considered an "H" >occupancy and protected with foam-water deluge systems, I mean look >at the chemical list, the smells make me think there are some >serious toxics involved.............. ;) > > >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 Bob Caputo >Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 3:44 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Occupancy > >In my opinion, the question isn't directly an NFPA 13 issue but >rather Building and Fire Code issues in terms of occupancy and >allowable amounts of chemical or hazardous materials within a >control area. Normally, the code exempts (to a degree) mercantile >occupancies where products containing flammables, combustibles or >hazardous materials (irritants, toxics, carcinogens, etc) are stored >in the same containers they are sold in. >That's why Costco, Sams, BJ's and similar can store more vegetable >oils in quantity than a manufacturing or storage use building could >have in storage of a product with the same flash point. > >That said, at some point in the process of analysis someone has to >decide what the corresponding NFPA 13 occupancy use group or >commodity and storage >arrangement is, so sprinkler design criteria can be established... I >suggest this is a job for a consultant or an engineer of record - >not the contractor. (again - just stating my opinion) > > >Bob Caputo, CFPS, CET >657 Cantara Lane - Vista, CA 92081 > >Fire & Life Safety America Company >3017 Vernon Rd - Richmond, VA 23228 >Office: (804) 222-1381 Cell: (804) 263-1577 > > > > > > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Keith Pepin >Sent: Thursday, January 21, 2010 8:23 AM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Occupancy > >I am working on a project that doesn't have an Eng of Record. The >building contains large individual shell spaces. The original >sprinkler system was designed for a mercantile occupancy. A tenant >has purchased a couple of spaces and is opening a beauty/hair salon. >I don't see the fuel load as a normal mercantile occupancy would >have. Light or ord. Please comment. > > > > > > >_______________________________________________ >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) 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)
