As a friend and lurker said off forum - let the 4th alarm guys worry about the FDC.
>From my experience as a FF real world I'd say: 1. First on arrival nothing showing, go inside to investigate. 2. First on arrival light smoke, go inside with hose to investigate. 3. First on arrival heavy smoke, go inside with big hose to investigate. Or perhaps initiate rescue without line especially if 2nd is right on your heels and can get the line. 2nd secure water supply. 3rd help with big line or take a second line. At some point 4th or more think about FDC. 4. First on arrival through the roof, set up the ladder pipe. Or perhaps initiate rescue of some sort. 2nd secure water supply. 3rd set up big line, master streams. At some point 4th or more think about FDC. I think the text book would say: 1. Same 2. FDC first, the sprinklers know where the fire is. I'd say hard to argue but the fire is probably out/controlled and this residual smoke. 3. FDC first but I'd argue the sprinklers have failed in some way and probably won't be much of value. If they failed with the wrong density maybe FDC will help. But if I can reach the seat of the fire with a 2.5" I can knock a lot of fire down quick. Pumping a lot more water through the FDC through all the extra open heads or broken pipe most likely isn't reaching the seat of the fire. But until I go in I don't know if I can reach the seat of the fire. Remember the FF's are there 10-20 minutes average AFTER the fire started. 4. FDC first but the sprinklers have failed in a big way and you have closed valves or broken piping. A lot also depends on what you are bringing. 1 engine with 2 FF's with help 20 minutes away vs. a big city with 4 engine, rescue and a ladder or 2 all with at least 4 FF's per rig on the first alarm and a second complement 5 minutes behind them. You also have to think about the FF's don't see too many fires with sprinklers so altering first arrival tactics is hard considering certain things are engrained and FDC is the rare exception. Chris Cahill, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Sentry Fire Protection, Inc. 763-658-4483 763-658-4921 fax Email: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box 69 Waverly, MN 55390 Location: 4439 Hwy 12 SW Waverly, MN 55390 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brad Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 9:37 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Thanks Rich, What do you Fire Dept people think about taking the time to connect to an FDC that serves a limited area? Limited area does not require to be monitored- although there will be local audible alarm- I guess when you get there, if the bell is ringing, and you need to, go ahead and take the time to connect? -----Original Message----- From: Richardson, R [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 9:22 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers If the scenario is AHJ say so - we do it, no questions allowed, then make the AHJ decide this question as well. Seems kind of hard to consult for a project when there is an unbridled authority making up stuff in the first place. Personally if I were the consultant and was not inclined to question the AHJ, I would not specify an FDC in this situation. Rich Richardson Seattle Fire Department -----Original Message----- From: Brad [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 07:06 To: Richardson, R; [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Cooler/freezer with combustible insulating panels -----Original Message----- From: Richardson, R [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 9:03 AM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers If it is in the consulting stage maybe the client would be better served to have the AHJ questioned as to the "legality" of the requirement. Your statement that the "The bldg is 'too small to REQUIRE sprinks', but the AHJ wants some heads in a particular area." is worthy of further exploration. What exactly is the hazard at issue here anyways? Rich Richardson Seattle Fire Department -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brad Sent: Monday, May 10, 2010 06:43 To: [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Thanks Thom ,George, Chris, Sorry for the delayed reply- I do not have IAH (internet at home). The area is actually quite a bit less than 2000 SF. The bldg is 'too small to REQUIRE sprinks', but the AHJ wants some heads in a particular area. EC is correct to stay less than 20, though, bcoz there is some 'above and below'. All heads will be calc'd (on one level). It is in the consulting stage, so by the time it is bid, the Sprink will know whether or not to include the FDC. I took the '2000 SF building' to mean 2000 SF of sprinklers, remembered we deal with emergency situations, and thought about the 'probable waste of time' thing for Limited Area sprinklers. Thanks again, Brad -----Original Message----- From: George Church [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 3:55 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers What about the adjacent and unprotected combustible concealed space- doesn't that mean you calc 3,000 SF of that 2,000 SF area? -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Thom McMahon Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 4:35 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected]; 'Chris Cahill' Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Use EC heads and you'll still be under the 20 by a long way. Thom McMahon, SET Firetech, Inc. 2560 Copper Ridge Dr P.O. Box 882136 Steamboat Springs, CO 80488 Tel: 970-879-7952 Fax: 970-879-7926 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brad Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 11:55 AM To: 'Chris Cahill'; [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Good thoughts Chris, thanks. Now for a specific- Bldg code calls for 1 story, not over 2000 SQ FT - no FDC required-- what about a 4000 SF bldg (sprinklers not Required, but AHJ wants a limited area (less than 2000 SF) sprinklered)-- I know it is up to him/her on the FDC, what are your thoughts? -----Original Message----- From: Chris Cahill [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 12:40 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers Even if the fire isn't in the area it doesn't harm anything to hook up to it. They will bring the system pressure up to 150 psi and it will be static. The sign is already required. Now if you want to debate FDC's and are they really needed on any system then sure. Talking simple sprinklers not standpipes. Think if it this way how many times does an FDC make a difference in the outcome? I suspect not often. But in the grand scheme FDC's are not a big portion $$$ of a job so we'll just keep them. Chris Cahill, P.E. Fire Protection Engineer Sentry Fire Protection, Inc. 763-658-4483 763-658-4921 fax Email: [email protected] Mail: P.O. Box 69 Waverly, MN 55390 Location: 4439 Hwy 12 SW Waverly, MN 55390 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Brad Sent: Friday, May 07, 2010 12:30 PM To: [email protected] Subject: FDC on Limited Area Sprinklers What do you Forumites think about this? I think an fdc should be PROHIBITED on Limited Area systems- Probable waste of time is the reason. I guess an exception could be if there is a laminated diagram posted at the FDC- 'Attention Fireman- Unless the fire is in THIS area, do NOT connect' Thanks, Brad _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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) _______________________________________________ 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)
