Great points here. We've tried to maintain the philosophy from Ron and listed below with our sprinkler requirements. We do not require sprinklers in garages. The previous FM made the hard fight to get the sprinkler ordinance passed. I was "blessed" with the implementation when he retired. For those pushing for sprinkler legislation, please remember that legislation is only half the battle (maybe even less than half).
We tried to stay with NFPA13D - my fall back answer has been "we only require what is in the standard". We do highly recommend a flow alarm. All that said, there have been several sprinkler "saves" in nearby towns where the sprinkler in the garage activated and controlled the fire. Jim K. James M. Kettler, EFO, CFPS Director of Building and Codes/Fire Marshal PO Box 413 4613 Hughesian Drive Buckingham, PA 18912 215.794.8836 (office) -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Ron Greenman Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 11:06 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Residential Garages, 13R & me. AHJs tend to try to worry property and firefighter protection into 13D. Reasonable from their point of view, but the idea behind the standard is 1. get everyone out and 2. make it cheap enough to b attractive to all the naysayers. If the occupants escape and it burns to the ground no problem, met the performance spec (everybody got out). If it's too dangerous for firefighters to enter and people are inside then it failed. If it's dangerous and everyone is out leave it be. Don't get on the roof. Don't ventilate. Don't attempt a save. Surround and drown is the proper response. adding sprinklers too unoccupied spaces like garages won't help with 1 and will be detrimental to 2. _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
