I agree, in the absence of specific information, I would take the horizontal distance, the more conservative measurement. So a std. temp head can't be above a light fixture within 6" (horiz) of its edges. This is mostly encountered in washrooms with sidewalls located above the vanity. I have seen two cases where the heads in bathrooms have been set off due to the heat from light fixtures. One of them, I was not involved. The owner increased the wattage of the light, then put his unit up for sale. The real estate person turned on all the lights for a showing, then forgot to turn off the light in the bathroom. A std. temp sidewall head was about 5" horizontal from the 350 W light fixture (Guessing. Can't remember the exact numbers). I know, the diagonal distance was more than 12 inches. The head went off resulting in water damage. It happened in a top floor unit of a 4 storey condominium. So the water also damaged the units below it. The condo board sued the EOR (incidentally a rubber stamper) for $120,000. The EOR settled (don't know for how much) and sued third party the sprinkler contractor and designer, who settled for $24,000. I was involved in the second case. Lights were not installed when I inspected the sprinkler system. The builder wanted a compliance letter to obtain an occupancy permit. Lights were being installed by the individual tenants after each unit was sold. So my compliance letter was for the shell building, before the lights were installed. In any case, I'm keeping my fingers crossed as it is only about 7 months since the incident.
This same table is given in 13 for residential areas, and I follow it even for non-residential areas using non-residential sprinklers, in the absence of specific guidelines. A question I have is for heads beside hot air diffusers. 13, 2007 table 8.3.2.5(c) gives minimum distance to std. temp. heads as 24", whereas table 8.3.2.5(a) gives 12" for downward discharge. Why two measurements? When the diffuser is on the ceiling, I would take it as "downward discharge" even though a diffuser is designed to flow outwards. Is that correct? Tony -----Original Message----- From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org [mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Todd Williams Sent: November 12, 2010 5:57 AM To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org Subject: 13R sprinkler temperatures 13R (2002) Table 6.6.7.1.5.3 lists minimum distances for sprinklers from potential heat sources. Are these horizontal distances or distances in any direction? Todd G. Williams, PE Fire Protection Design/Consulting Stonington, CT 860.535.2080 www.fpdc.com _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: supp...@firesprinkler.org To Unsubscribe, send an email to:sprinklerforum-requ...@firesprinkler.org (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field) _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list Sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum For Technical Assistance, send an email to: supp...@firesprinkler.org To Unsubscribe, send an email to:sprinklerforum-requ...@firesprinkler.org (Put the word unsubscribe in the subject field)
