Mark,

When I first started with Factory Mutual, I saw a lot of textile cutting 
tables, back when SE MA had a textile industry. The combustible loading was 
obvious.

However, 13 says that anything over 4 ft wide has to have a sprinkler under it. 
The question here is can they be eliminated if the clearance to the floor is 
such that installing sprinklers is impractical, treating it as a concealed 
space instead of an obstruction.

Todd G Williams, PE
Fire Protection Design/Consulting
Stonington, CT
www.fpdc.com
860-535-2080 (ofc)

> On Dec 12, 2013, at 4:28 PM, "Mark A. Sornsin, P.E." <[email protected]> 
> wrote:
> 
> Textile cutting tables also tend to have significant combustibles (besides 
> their construction) under and around them (a la Triangle Shirtwaist factory). 
> Something else to figure into the mix.
> 
> Mark A. Sornsin, P.E. | Karges-Faulconbridge, Inc. | Fire Protection Engineer 
> | Fargo, ND | direct: 701.552.9905 | mobile: 701.371.5759 | 
> http://www.kfiengineers.com
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected] 
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Todd - 
> Work
> Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 3:22 PM
> To: [email protected]
> Subject: Re: obstruction vs concealed space.
> 
> However, a traditional "cutting table" as referenced in .1 comes from the 
> textile industry. The tables were 4 ft wide or wider and very long (some 
> around 40 ft). These tables were wooden and were heavily built. They could be 
> moved but generally remained in place since they were extremely heavy and 
> took significant manpower to do so. My guess is that these tables (9 ft x 20 
> ft framed with 2x8s) more likely resemble these than a piece of furniture. I 
> am trying to determine if they are being fixed to the floor.
> 
> Todd G Williams, PE
> Fire Protection Design/Consulting
> Stonington, CT
> www.fpdc.com
> 860-535-2080 (ofc)
> 
>> On Dec 12, 2013, at 4:03 PM, "Johnson, Duane (NIH/OD/ORS) [C]" 
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>> 
>> 8.5.5.3.2 Sprinklers shall not be required under obstructions that are not 
>> fixed in place, such as conference tables.
>> 
>> Duane Johnson, PE
>> Program Manager
>> Division of the Fire Marshal (Contractor) Office of Research Services
>> National Institutes of Health
>> 301-496-0487
>> 
>> "Protecting Science - One Sprinkler at a Time"
>> 
>> 
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Todd - Work [mailto:[email protected]]
>> Sent: Thursday, December 12, 2013 4:02 PM
>> To: [email protected]
>> Subject: Re: obstruction vs concealed space.
>> 
>> NFPA 13 (2002) section 8.5.5.3.1 and equivalent sections of subsequent 
>> editions.
>> 
>> Todd G Williams, PE
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