Also worth noting, FM is an insurance underwritter, not a fire official, they determine your insurance rate not your occupancy permit. We frequently challenge their requests and do not always comply with all of their requirements. Most owners when made aware of conflicts that will cost them serious money will back a challenge. That said, we do lots of things they require, and when those are questionable with NFPA we typically design and calculate both ways when reasonable and submit the more restrictive design noting that information. Here in Indiana they're also pretty permissive of FM Global as an "equivalent" protection code but we do frequently ensure we're compliant to both. During the fast paced changes to storage requirements era we actually had a couple systems where the NFPA design ended up being the more stringent of the two.
Mike Morey, CFPS, SET Planner Scheduler/Designer BMWC Constructors, Inc. 1740 W. Michigan St, Indianapolis, IN 46222 O: 317.651.0596 | C: 317.586.8111 [email protected] | www.bmwc.com ________________________________________ From: Sprinklerforum <[email protected]> on behalf of Cahill, Christopher <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 9:42 AM To: [email protected] Subject: RE: NFPA 13 & FM Mix I agree sort of without a specific example. I don't do a lot of FM work so I don't know of any place you can't comply with both. Less is not equivalent. Only the AHJ can determine equivalent. You don't have to comply with both if they conflict, you have to comply with NFPA 13. Like Ron said two submittals will often work to make everyone happy when FM is more. I get FM typically has more relevant data that often shows equivalency as far as the ability to suppress a fire. But all the pictures and video in the world don't help if the AHJ sticks with particular NFPA 13 design over an FM design. Chris Cahill, PE* Associate Fire Protection Engineer Burns & McDonnell Phone: 952.656.3652 Fax: 952.229.2923 [email protected] www.burnsmcd.com *Registered in: MN Proud to be #14 on FORTUNE's 2014 List of 100 Best Companies to Work For -----Original Message----- From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Denhardt Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2015 7:28 AM To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: NFPA 13 & FM Mix But in some-storage cases you not comply with both with out using NFPA's equivalency approach. Sent from my iPhone > On Feb 12, 2015, at 8:25 AM, "Cahill, Christopher" <[email protected]> > wrote: > > You are most likely legally obligated to provide the minimums of NFPA 13. > You may sign a contract to provide more, but not less. FM or silly PE > requirements might be examples. > > Chris Cahill, PE* > Associate Fire Protection Engineer > Burns & McDonnell > Phone: 952.656.3652 > Fax: 952.229.2923 > [email protected] > www.burnsmcd.com > *Registered in: MN > > > Proud to be #14 on FORTUNE's 2014 List of 100 Best Companies to Work > For > > > -----Original Message----- > From: Sprinklerforum > [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of > Gregg Fontes > Sent: Wednesday, February 11, 2015 6:03 PM > To: [email protected] > Subject: NFPA 13 & FM Mix > > I have a quick question that I need a fast answer to. Where is it in NFPA 13 > 2013 Edition that you cannot mix the two design standards? (I.E. you either > design per NFPA 13 or FM Global. You cannot pick and choose.) > > Thanks, > Gregg Fontes > Cen-Cal Fire Systems, Inc. > 209-334-9119 > > _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkl > er.org _______________________________________________ > Sprinklerforum mailing list > [email protected] > http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkl > er.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org _______________________________________________ Sprinklerforum mailing list [email protected] http://lists.firesprinkler.org/listinfo.cgi/sprinklerforum-firesprinkler.org
