This can be a difficult one to navigate. The starting point for most jurisdictions are the I-Codes and 2015 IFC section 903.3.1.1 in particular. If the building is being sprinklered to NFPA 13, 903.3.1.1 requires "sprinklers to be installed throughout", with the exceptions of 903.3.1.1-.2. Item 4 of 903.3.1.1.1 exempts "rooms or areas that are of noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible contents". IFC says no combustibles- NFPA recognizes "limited" combustible construction "fire retardant-treated wood", materials not exceeding 1000 Btu/ft2, etc . Every office building will have some combustible insulated wiring, etc. in the space. Most AHJ's won't get too concerned, as it's not enough combustibles to warrant protection- that is until then they walk in one day and there are low voltage cable bundles/trays above the ceiling (like above a hospital exit corridor I encountered). It's worth asking some questions and getting the AHJ's concurrence.
Travis E. Allen, PE Allen Engineering, PLLC On 4/3/2017 12:37 PM, Brian Harris wrote: Are you talking A8.15.1.2.16 (2013) since there's heads above in the attic? Brian Harris, CET BVS Systems Inc. bvssytemsinc.com <http://bvssystemsinc.com/> From: Sprinklerforum [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Travis Mack, SET Sent: Monday, April 03, 2017 3:35 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Concealed Space / Office Debate That is very similar to one of the diagrams in NFPA 13 that shows you do not need 3 levels of sprinklers. Travis Mack, SET MFP Design, LLC 2508 E Lodgepole Drive Gilbert, AZ 85298 480-505-9271 fax: 866-430-6107 email:[email protected] http://www.mfpdesign.com https://www.facebook.com/pages/MFP-Design-LLC/92218417692 Send large files to us via: https://www.hightail.com/u/MFPDesign LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/travismack On 4/3/2017 12:32 PM, Brian Harris wrote: There's a debate in house about whether the space above a drop ceiling and the drywall attached to wood joist above in an all wood building requires protection (please see link below). What say the forum? https://www.dropbox.com/s/6ltbo57nmi4wh7p/Concealed%20Space.pdf?dl=0 Brian Harris, CET BVS Systems Inc. Design Manager bvssystemsinc.com <http://bvssystemsinc.com/> Phone: 704.896.9989 Fax: 704.896.1935 _______________________________________________ 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
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