I think I have mentioned this before. In a sprinklered building a fire started from the roof (they think a fan was too close to the combustible roof), resulting in the entire building been burnt to the ground and a $14 million law suit. The water supply was a fire pump and tanks. A report mentions the fire pump starting and then stopping after a few minutes. Then starting again about 15 minutes later when the generator kicks in. So it is a no-brainer why the sprinkler system failed, specially when the fire starts on the roof above the sprinklers. Also, this was a steep roof, but it was designed in the early nineties before the 30% area increase. Anyway, totally disregarding possible pump failure, the reports cite different reasons. One of them was using exposed cpvc in the attic.
The contract documents specified steel or copper, but the contractor requested to use cpvc, as at the time the fire marshall had issued a technical bulletin allowing the use of exposed cpvc. Then the mechanical engineer issued an addendum permitting cpvc. That was how exposed cpvc got to be installed. During discoveries, when I was asked why I designed for using exposed cpvc I pointed to the addendum and the fire marshall's bulletin. I was told by the lawyer for the owner that I was the expert and asked why I relied on the Fire Marshall's technical bulletin, knowing that the Fire Marshall was not an engineer. This case is going for the last ten years, so will have to wait to see how it pans out. I'm writing this to say, sometimes having written documents may also not help. Tony -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Norm and Lucie Arendt Sent: August 22, 2010 7:26 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Removal of fire sprinkler system The fire marshal represents the fire department which in most jurisdictions is the authority having jurisdiction in fire protection related issues. Questions I would ask would center on; is the canopy sprinkler system required in the first place. If it is not required then the fire marshal is correct. I would have the fire marshal put it in writing and remove it from service. If it is required by the municipality adopted fire code or state code depending on jurisdiction I would follow up with the fire marshal on the issue. In either case get it in writing. Norm Arendt Plan Reviewer Fire District At 08:12 PM 8/22/2010, you wrote: >Question: >A customer has an outside canopy partially sprinklered. >The piping is corroded and the local fire marshal has told the property >mgr, in the presence of my foreman, that in lieu of replacing the >corroded piping they could remove it from service. >I dont think the Fire Dept has this authority, i believe a permit would >be needed from the Building Official. >Now, i do not want to expose Cherokee to risk by applying for such a permit. >It seems the best practice would be to recommend maintaining the >existing system and if they insist on removing it, they should apply >for the permit using their design professional. >Any disagreements or suggestions? > >Forest >Cherokee Fire > > >Sent from my Verizon Wireless Phone > >----- Reply message ----- >From: "Lussier, David" <[email protected]> >Date: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:24 am >Subject: Another fine piece of journalism - NOT! >To: <[email protected]> > >This article makes it sound like activation of the sprinkler was a bad >thing. It's more than likely the reason that the fire only damaged a >rug and shower curtain (could be the reason no one was seriously >injured >- or worse)! > >Thanks for the article... > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] >[mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of >[email protected] >Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 1:31 PM >To: [email protected] >Subject: Another fine piece of journalism - NOT! > >Bethlehem police and fire officials are investigating a fire at a >woman's apartment Thursday morning that has been ruled an arson. > >The fire happened around 8:30 am at a third-floor apartment at the >Moravian House, 70 W. North St. No one was injured and police and fire >officials > >declined to release the woman's name, pending completion of the >investigation. > >The fire was set on the floor of the woman's bathroom and while the >flames only damaged a rug and shower curtain, there was extensive >damage because a sprinkler was activated, Bethlehem Fire Marshal Robert >Novatnack said. > >Water from the sprinkler went from the third floor all the way into the > >building's basement and damaged other apartments and offices, Novatnack > >said. He estimated damage from the fire at around $1,000. > >- Pamela Lehman > >(from the Morning Call Allentown, Pa.) >_______________________________________________ >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)
