Roland,
I don't disagree but.....
If Section 404.6 (see below) of the IBC prescribes the closely spaced
sprinklers and the architect choses that instead of the other options listed to
protect the atrium, then is it that big of a jump to apply Sections 8.15.4 and
11.3.3 out of NFPA 13? (2007 edition.)
I only ask because the commentary in the 2007 handbook seems to allude that the
requirement to provide the curtains is driven by the building code(s) and the
NFPA 13 gives the how to.
404.6 Enclosure of atriums. Atrium spaces shall be separated
from adjacent spaces by a I-hour fire barrier constructed in
accordance with Section 707 or a horizontal assembly constructed
in accordance with Section 712, or both.
Exceptions:
1. A glass wall forming a smoke partition where automatic
sprinklers are spaced 6 feet (1829 mm) or less
along both sides of the separation wall, or on the room
side only if there is not a walkway on the atrium side,
and between 4 inches and 12 inches (102 mm and 305
mm) away from the glass and designed so that the
entire surface of the glass is wet upon activation of the
sprinkler system without obstruction. The glass shall
be installed in a gasketed frame so that the framing
system deflects without breaking (loading) the glass
before the sprinkler system operates.
2. A glass-block wall assembly in accordance with Section
2110 and having a 3/4-hour fire protection rating.
3. The adjacent spaces of any three floors of the atrium
shall not be required to be separated from the atrium
where such spaces are accounted for in the design of
the smoke control system.
Funny how the IBC doesn't mention how many sprinklers are required to be
calculated. Is a calc even necessary or is it implied that you go to NFPA 13
for that?
Best Regards,
Ken Holsopple
-----Original Message-----
From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On
Behalf Of Roland Huggins
Sent: Wednesday, September 02, 2015 10:57 AM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: Atrium
proceed with caution least you own the responsibility for something that might
leave a bad taste. This isn’t really defined by NFPA 13 so what is your basis?
The industry use to be (often still is) a little casual about extending the
age old guidance from NFPA 101 allowed ONLY for atrium glass to any and all
glass. Even there it does say the ENTIRE glass shall be wetted. It was amusing
that a couple of cycles ago NFPA 80A simply required a Water Curtain for
exterior exposure protection. That would work well on a 4 story structure.
13 refined it’s exposure protection criteria and part of that was to address
run down and associated ledges and mullions. It allows rather large
protrusions but the exposure will be different than an interior fire (so don’t
casual embrace the sizes it states). The Tyco WS sprinkler is rather
particular about mullions too. Sounds like a common thread not to be lightly
ignored.
So what level of insurance do you have for performing engineering since it is
not prescriptively defined by NFPA 13? If the architect wants it, let them
design/stamp it.
Roland
Roland Huggins, PE - VP Engineering
American Fire Sprinkler Assn. --- Fire Sprinklers Saves Lives
Dallas, TX
http://www.firesprinkler.org <http://www.firesprinkler.org/>
> On Sep 2, 2015, at 4:25 AM, Gregory Lindholm <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> We have a new school that has a three story atrium, and the Architect is
> asking for us to protect the third floor glass with sprinklers place a
> maximum of 6' on center, and not more than 12" off the glass.
> I originally assumed that we would use the Tyco Window Sprinklers, but the
> windows on this project has multiple horizontal mullions in the windows (4 or
> 5).lowed with the Tyco heads.
> I was thinking of just deigning it as a Water Curtain, with the regular heads
> at 6' on center, with 3 gpm per lineal foot.
> Thoughts?
>
> Greg Lindholm
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