Tom: Don't know what building code this I-2 is under, but assuming it is the IBC, see 2009 edition, Section 407.5, which requires a system per 903.3.1.1 throughout smoke compartments containing patient sleeping rooms. 903.3.1.1 is a 13 system. Also see 903.2.6 which requires an automatic sprinkler system throughout buildings with a Group I fire area. It then says I-1 can be 13R or 13D, implying that all other Group I occupancies must be 13.
*Dave* On Mon, Dec 12, 2011 at 5:17 PM, Don Lowry <[email protected]> wrote: > Don't think an I2 can be installed as 13R. > > Don > > -----Original Message----- > From: [email protected] > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Tom Duross > Sent: Monday, December 12, 2011 5:04 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: Changing Code Standards in an Existing Bldg. > > This is kind of a rant/long winded digression/request for opinion kinda > thingy.. > I have a group residence built in the late seventies with a dry system. > I-2, ranch style building with attic. > Steel pipe, attic and living space coverage, 13 design (closets, bathrooms, > concealed spaces, everything covered). > I've mentioned it to this forum before. The dry system has become a real > source of frustration this past month. > When we did our annual testing this summer all went well. This is our 3rd > year here so we did a full flood trip. > Been fine as far as I know since August. This past Saturday it tripped. > When I got there, reset it, noticed air pressure dropping and air > compressor > cycling every 30 minutes. > I climbed into the attic (more like lumbered) and found several locations > of > pinhole leaks in the underside of mains. > This is old 2 1/2"-3"-4" threaded pipe sitting on the bottoms of the > trusses. Great. > With it being a Saturday afternoon, the supply house is closed. > I managed to find a couple of plumbing supply houses ready to close and > bought three saddle type repair clamps. > Went back and installed them and once back up, the cycling dropped to about > every 90-100 minutes for about a 20 minute run. > I tightened up the differential on the pressure switch so it ran for only > 3-4 minutes but it started every 45 minutes or so. > I felt that better since it was a riser mount and got hot in that 20 minute > cycle. > The clients were all still out at a day program and needed to return, > feeling for them as I do I told the manager to bring them home. > I called the Deputy, told him I did a temporary patch and fix for the > weekend, pretty sure it would be OK, and would return Monday. > I returned Monday morning, still cycling every 45 minutes or so, squeezed > back up (with some lights this time!) and found one more. > Right under the pipe, as you slide your hand along the pipe, just a little > hiss of air. I had brought gas leak detector with me in a spray bottle. > I sent baby brother out for another repair saddle (I just wanted to get it > tight first) while I balanced across 24" OC roof joists with a trouble > light > in one hand and a flashlight in my mouth. I sprayed every fitting I could > see, even the high uprights, no bubbles. We put the 2" saddle on, > compressor started and stopped, we sat there in the attic for over an hour, > quiet as church mice. About ready to get up and pat each other on the > back, > the air compressor started again. UUGH! We climbed back down, watched the > gauge again, sprayed half a bottle of leak detector all over the dry pipe > valve, air supply, inspectors test, went in and sprayed the faces of the > dry > pendents. That's all that was left. Nothing found. > I think I'm just almost causing small leaks to appear after I stop the > larger ones. Almost chasing my own tail (if I had one). > Remember Curly standing in the bathtub putting one section of pipe into > another and the water won't stop? Am I a victim of circumstance? > > Well, it's still this way as I write this and thinking of options for the > Owner, I wanted to (get to the point Tom) run something by the forum. > I'm past the point of no return weather-wise, I don't want to flood it. It > was 28 degrees last night. > What if I pumped glycol (I know, I know) to not only maybe find a drip but > maybe to stabilize it for the winter? Has anyone done this? > The other question, and the reason behind the title, could I just abandon > the dry system? > Could I just change the system from a '78 NFPA 13 dry system to a '07 13R > in > an existing building that's already sprinklered? > The attic isn't used for living purposes, storage, has no mechanical > equipment or anything serviceable. Just an 18x18 access panel. > I think if it wasn't sprinklered and I was asked to install a system, > that's > what I'd do. A soffitted wet system with sidewalls. > > Scratching my head and removing splinters. > > TD > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum > -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: <http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/private/sprinklerforum/attachments/20111212/86c8047c/attachment.html> _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
