John, Fun exercise. Think of hydro-electric plants. Dismiss that tin building external powerhouse that was such a disaster in Siberia when someone left the trash chute gates open. Also dismiss the the Hoover Dam model where there is a concrete powerhouse but it's also external (the following question will apply here but we'll dismiss it for this type of configuration for now). Now imagine the type like many on the Columbia (four hundred hydroelectric dams of lesser or greater stature on the Columbia River watershed for you guys in the East info) where the powerhouse is inside the dam structure itself. Now apply those rules?
On Sun, Jan 30, 2011 at 4:37 AM, John Drucker <[email protected]> wrote: > Members, > > Sprinkler piping is permitted in and through electrical rooms with two > provisions, first the piping cannot be located in the dedicated electrical > space, and second watersheds or other protective devices must be provided > for electrical equipment below when piping is located above the dedicated > electrical space. > > The National Electrical Code (NEC) does not prohibit the installation of > fire sprinklers in electrical rooms, the 2006 and 2009 Editions of the IBC > reinforce the sprinkler requirements; > > 903.3.1.1.1 Exempt locations. "Automatic sprinklers shall not be required in > the following rooms or areas where such rooms or areas are protected with an > approved automatic fire detection system in accordance with Section 907.2 > that will respond to visible or invisible particles of combustion. > SPRINKLERS SHALL NOT BE OMITTED FROM ANY ROOM MERELY BECAUSE IT is damp, of > fire-resistance-rated construction OR CONTAINS ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT." > > However the 2006 and 2009 IBC provides the following sprinkler exemption for > separated and detected GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER rooms; > > 903.3.1.1. - 3. "GENERATOR AND TRANSFORMER ROOMS separated from the > remainder of the building by walls and floor/ceiling or roof/ceiling > assemblies having a fire-resistance rating of NOT LESS THAN 2 HOURS." > > Keep in mind where this exemption is utilized a fire alarm system pursuant > to 907.2 utilizing smoke detectors located in the generator and or > transformer room(s) must be installed which means the space must be suitable > for smoke detectors in accordance with the products listing and NFPA-72. > > Hope this helps, > > John Drucker, CET > Fire Protection Subcode Official > Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector > > Not the official position of any agency, association, committee or > otherwise. Obtain required applications, permits, inspections and approvals > from Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction. > > -----Original Message----- > Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:55 PM > Subject: RE: Electrical Rooms > > 2008 NFPA-70 (NEC) 110.26(F) > > (F) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, panelboards, distribution > boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and > protected from damage. > > (1) Indoor. Indoor installations shall comply with 110.26(F)(1)(a) through > (F)(1)(d). > > (a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of > the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above > the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be > dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection > apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall > be located in this zone. > > Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted > within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone. > > (b) Foreign Systems. The AREA ABOVE THE DEDICATED SPACE required by > 110.26(F)(1)(a) SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CONTAIN FOREIGN SYSTEMS, provided > PROTECTION IS INSTALLED to > avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, LEAKS, OR BREAKS > IN SUCH FOREIGN SYSTEMS. > > (c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler PROTECTION shall be permitted for the > dedicated space where the piping complies with this section. > > (d) Suspended Ceilings. A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does > not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a > structural ceiling. > > > In other words the dedicated equipment space is a three dimensional > exclusion zone above and around switchboards, panelboards, distribution > boards, and motor control centers which is reserved for electrical wiring > only. The space begins at the floor, the width and depth of the equipment > and to a height of 6ft above the equipment or to the STRUCTURAL ceiling > whichever is LOWER. So keep out unless you're the electrician. > > Take heed of (C), the operative term is PROTECTION not PIPING. So you can > spray water in the dedicated space, just don't run the pipe in there. > > Hope this helps, > > John Drucker, CET > Fire Protection Subcode Official > Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector > > Not the official position of any agency, association, committee or > otherwise. Obtain required applications, permits, inspections and approvals > from Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction. > > > _______________________________________________ > 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) > -- Ron Greenman Instructor Fire Protection Engineering Technology Bates Technical College 1101 So. Yakima Ave. Tacoma, WA 98405 [email protected] http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/ 253.680.7346 253.576.9700 (cell) Member: ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626) _______________________________________________ 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)
