It's a munitions maintenance facility for missiles. I suppose once the mushroom 
cloud clears the type of sprinkler system wouldn't really matter.

Ron Fletcher
Aero Automatic
Phoenix, AZ

-----Original Message-----
From: [email protected] 
[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of 
[email protected]
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 2:13 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: RE: Occupancy vs Hazard

H-1 is a detonation hazard.  Fireworks, explosives, organic compounds, etc. 
could all fall under that category.  But you would also need to consider other 
materials used such as paper for casings of fireworks or plastics for storage 
of peroxides, etc.   It's not a simple one point analysis.  So you could 
actually have multiple NFPA 13 classification within the facility.


I've got an H-4, that's due to dust issues, no flammables or combustible 
liquids present.  No fire threat from the process.  An EX classification would 
be gross overkill and provide nothing except extra cost.  

The one problem with the Occupancy listings in NFPA 13 is that when used by a 
novice, they can result in a wrong conclusion.  This case in point.  The EOR 
probably looked at OHII for chemical plants and said BINGO!  Now I'm not saying 
that his conclusion is wrong, it might be dead on.  

Unfortunately he could be way off if he did not look at everything going into 
this plant, the locations, the quantities, use, storage, handling, 
compatibilities, etc....

Hazardous occupancy classification for fire protection systems is one area that 
probably has more screw-ups than any other due to the complexity of the 
analysis and lack of black and white direction.  If the facility is not in the 
list in A.5.2 then most just make a wild guess based on the first thing the 
owner tells them.  

Industrial occupancies need an experienced "engineer" who can make the 
determination because there are cases when NFPA 13 is NOT the applicable 
primary Standard.  Unfortunately there are many who don't realize that NFPA has 
anything other than the 13 Standard.  


Craig L. Prahl, CET   
Fire Protection Specialist
Mechanical Department
CH2MHILL
Lockwood Greene
1500 International Drive
Spartanburg, SCĀ  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 Fletcher, Ron
Sent: Wednesday, May 26, 2010 4:53 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Occupancy vs Hazard

Is there a correlation between the IBC occupancy and NFPA #13 Hazard? I
have a set of plans where the building occupancy classification is H-1
and the EOR has specified OH-II for the sprinkler system. I have always
thought (maybe mistakenly) that any H occupancy would be EH-I minimum.

Ron Fletcher
Aero Automatic
Phoenix, AZ
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