Mike, You may want to use the following as possible justification for omitting the sprinklers in the "built in casework"/closet.
************* NFPA 13, 2010 Ed 8.1.1 (7) Furniture, such as portable wardrobe units, cabinets, trophy cases, and similar features not intended for occupancy, does not require sprinklers to be installed in them. This type of feature shall be permitted to be attached to the finished structure. ************* You may also want to take a look at the Healthcare Interpretations Task Force (HITF) Decision No. 2 of 12/08 [http://www.nfpa.org/assets/files/PDF/CodesStandards/HITFInterpretations1208.pdf] that may address the subject. The Joint Commission is a voting member on the HITF and will generally abide by the rulings. Hope this helps. Pete Larrimer VA -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Johnson, Duane (NIH/OD/ORS) [C] Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 1:44 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Hospital - Closets vs Lockers Be careful, the joint commission is still on the 2000 edition of NFPA 101, momentarily. Duane Johnson ________________________________________ From: Johnson, Duane (NIH/OD/ORS) [C] Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 1:38 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Hospital - Closets vs Lockers NFPA 101 (12 ed):19.3.5.10 Sprinklers shall not be required in clothes closets of patient sleeping rooms in hospitals where the area of the closet does not exceed 6 ft2 (0.55 m2), provided that the distance from the sprinkler in the patient sleeping room to the back wall of the closet does not exceed the maximum distance permitted by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems. A.19.3.5.10 Although this exception is currently not recognized by NFPA 13, Standard for the Installation of Sprinkler Systems, a proposal for such exemption has been submitted for consideration by the Technical Committee on Sprinkler System Installation Criteria. This exception is limited to hospitals, as nursing homes and many limited care facilities might have more combustibles within the closets. The limited amount of clothing found in the small clothes closets in hospital patient rooms is typically far less than the amount of combustibles in casework cabinets that do not require sprinkler protection, such as nurse servers. In many hospitals, especially new hospitals, it is difficult to make a distinction between clothes closets and cabinet work. The exception is far more restrictive than similar exceptions for hotels and apartment buildings. NFPA 13 already permits the omission of sprinklers in wardrobes [see 8.1.1(7) of NFPA 13]. It is not the intent of 19.3.5.10 to aff ect the wardrobe provisions of NFPA 13. It is the intent that the sprinkler protection in the room covers the closet as if there were no door on the closet. (See 8.5.3.2.3 of NFPA 13.) Duane Johnson ________________________________________ From: C&H Fire - Mike Gallello [[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, October 30, 2012 10:59 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Hospital - Closets vs Lockers Ok, stupid question of the day - Existing hospital, patient recovery rooms - there are existing "closets" that are going to be incredibly difficult to install fire sprinklers in. However, I'm not sure if these need to be protected at all. When is a closet not a closet, but a 'locker'? They are framed walls, lathe and plaster with a hard lid. 6'0 from the floor to the hard lid, 12x16 inch footprint. At the 5'-0 level is a shelf, at the 4'0 level is a clothes hanger rod. The closet floor is not at the level of the patient room floor, elevated appx 6" with a kick plate. The door does not have openings at the top or bottom, can be considered "full height" and does separate the floor area of the patient room from the "floor" of these closets, the door is solid, not self-closing and not rated. I'm not sure what other details would be pertinent, however feel free to ask. At the risk sounding pushy, time is a factor with this "challenge". Thanks, Mike Gallello C&H Fire _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://fireball.firesprinkler.org/mailman/listinfo/sprinklerforum
