Thank you to those who responded...Chris, Ron, and Jim. I wanted opinions to see if I was off-base when I insist on following the requirements of NFPA-13D as published...well, as closely as possible. While sometimes valid, I do not always agree with the arguments that "more is better" or "something is better than nothing". As Jim noted, there will be some "saves" from requiring the sprinklers in garages, but wouldn't adding sprinklers in attics also result in "saves"?...and would there be a significant difference in the outcome regarding any loss of life as Ron alluded? I don't think that we can require sprinklers in every part of the house because the cost of the systems would the increase which defeats the fight to have them installed as Chris mentioned.
With all that being said, I'm sure that if we had an increase in the number of deaths resulting from house fires starting in the garage, then the NFPA-13D committee will address this issue differently. Thanks again for your opinions. rick matsuda city of dallas -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Matsuda, Richard Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 2:56 PM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Residential Garages, 13R & me. Let me add more fuel to this discussion. 13D allows omitting the sprinklers from the garages...regardless of size...and regardless of whether or not additional living space is built above the garage. Here in Texas, they built everything bigger...houses with 4 to 10 car garages...and 2 or 3-story houses with living areas above the garages...and 13D doesn't require sprinklers in these garages. Several jurisdictions in the area already require sprinklers in the garages whenever there are living space above. Anyone wish to comment? rick matsuda city of dallas -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Roland Huggins Sent: Thursday, June 20, 2013 2:05 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Residential Garages, 13R & me. The repeat what John alluded to: 13D is focused solely on life safety (although property protection typically comes along for the ride for MOST fires) as portrayed by the 10 minutes supply. 13R intends a longer duration of life safety and a small bump in property protection with the 30 minute supply and larger design area. IN looking at section 1.2.1 - Purpose for both documents, the term property protection is not in 13D but is in 13R. Roland Roland Huggins, PE - VP Engineering American Fire Sprinkler Assn. --- Fire Sprinklers Saves Lives Dallas, TX http://www.firesprinkler.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
