We have a similar question about the need for sprinklers below large
industrial equipment mounted on skids. Some are asking if we need
sprinklers below these chillers and compressors that are about 12-18
inches above the floor resting on structural steel skids. My belief is
that at the core of the need to sprinkler below an "obstruction" is what
is the hazard below the obstruction that needs additional sprinklers.
The concrete floor below a piece of machinery does not present a fire
hazard. The examples given in the standard of conveyors and cutting
tables are prone to have stuff under them that catch on fire in large
enough quantites to cause a problem. We put sprinkler over hazards,
not under them. Sprinkler coverage is to get water onto the
combustibles, not just the floor.
Kevin Law, PE
PTF Fire Protection Engineer
Bechtel National - WTP Project
Ph. 509-371-8296
Cell 509-531-0093
-----Original Message-----
From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org
[mailto:sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Ron
Greenman
Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 8:12 AM
To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org
Subject: Re: Sprinklers under platforms
I was going to say indoors does not make trash accumulation a non-issue,
we sprinkler under conveyors and cutting table, but once you say
moveable it becomes furniture and and sprinklering makes no sense. I
have four by four worktables in my lab that I'm constantly moving
around. Nobody has ever thought about sprinklering under them even
during discussions about many of the issues raised in this thread.
Should we sprinkler under those king size beds in hotel rooms? And
please don't say I'm bringing questions/issues into the discussion that
are obviously unrelated. I could say the same about many of the
"stretches" I think we all make in trying to apply Rule A to Situation
B. I personally think a large bed is a greater fire hazard than this
platform.
On Fri, Nov 30, 2012 at 7:51 AM, Todd Williams <t...@fpdc.com> wrote:
Since it is a moveable object, sprinkler protection is impractical.
However, if the hydraulic fluid is combustible and there is a leak,
fluid could end up under the platform and the potential does exist for
a shielded fire. What is the surrounding occupancy and what is there
for sprinkler protection? At what density/area?
At 10:32 AM 11/30/2012, you wrote:
>Let's review the conditions:
>
>This is indoors so trash accumulation is a non-issue.
>
>It is 8" off the floor and the space between the deck and the floor
>is
enclosed with sheet metal.
>
>The platform is movable by fork truck for equipment maintenance
>access,
it is not permanent.
>
>One small section (8ft x 4ft) does have a lift mechanism where there
>is a
small hydraulic cylinder with hydraulic fluid. (this just came up)
>
>There are no flammable or combustible liquids under or near the rest
>of
the platform.
>
>The platform is non-combustible throughout.
>
>The deck is perforated aluminum with 1/4" holes spaced on 1/2"
centers.
>
>
>I could see some justification of a sprinkler below the lift section
>due
to hydraulic fluid but the quantity is so small that if in any type of
building it would not require any kind of protection whatsoever, so I
would lean to exclude any sprinklers below the platform, period.
>
>
>
>Craig L. Prahl, CET
>Fire Protection
>CH2MHILL
>Lockwood Greene
>1500 International Drive
>Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491
>Direct - 864.599.4102
>Fax - 864.599.8439
>CH2MHILL Extension 74102
>craig.pr...@ch2m.com
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org [mailto:
sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of Rod DiBona
>Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 10:12 AM
>To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org
>Subject: RE: Sprinklers under platforms
>
>Craig,
>
>We just had a similar case yesterday where we successfully used this
section to eliminate coverage. This platform was not grated however. I
think the heart of the question is does this meet the 8.15.2 (3)
requirement of tight construction? I had it in my mind that this was
to slow fire moving from one are to the next. The trash issue was
already addressed in #1 so I didn't think that was the reasoning.
Based on Chris statement I am rethinking. Could this be to prevent
trash collection that isn't wind - borne? I will be interested to hear
others understanding of why and maybe that will help. My gut tells me
that the intent is to not sprinkler that area but by the letter it
doesn't seem to be of tight construction.
>
>Rod at Rapid
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org [mailto:
sprinklerforum-boun...@firesprinkler.org] On Behalf Of
craig.pr...@ch2m.com
>Sent: Friday, November 30, 2012 6:51 AM
>To: sprinklerforum@firesprinkler.org
>Subject: Sprinklers under platforms
>
>Got an elevated non-combustible equipment access platform that is 8"
>off
the floor. The contractor is informing the GC that because the
platform is over 48" wide there needs to be sprinklers below.
>
>Trying to put this fire out and it appears the NFPA 13-2007, 8.15.6.2
would cover it.
>
>However the deck is perforated aluminum plate with 1/4" holes on 1/2"
centers with a polyurethane non-slip coating on top and there is
question on whether 8.15.6.2 would nullify the permission to omit
sprinklers "(3) The floor over the space is of tight construction".
>
>There are no flammable of combustible liquids in the space.
>
>Craig L. Prahl, CET
>Fire Protection
>CH2MHILL
>Lockwood Greene
>1500 International Drive
>Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491
>Direct - 864.599.4102
>Fax - 864.599.8439
>CH2MHILL Extension 74102
>craig.pr...@ch2m.com
>
>
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Todd G. Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, CT
860.535.2080
www.fpdc.com
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--
Ron Greenman
Instructor
Fire Protection Engineering Technology
Bates Technical College
1101 So. Yakima Ave.
Tacoma, WA 98405
rgreen...@bates.ctc.edu
http://www.bates.ctc.edu/fireprotection/
253.680.7346
253.576.9700 (cell)
Member:
ASEE, SFPE, ASCET, NFPA, AFSA, NFSA, AFAA, NIBS, WSAFM, WFC, WFSC
They are happy men whose natures sort with their vocations. -Francis
Bacon, essayist, philosopher, and statesman (1561-1626)
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