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  1. FM William Burns

    Storage Egress

    In a typical business occupancy the storage room would be permitted to have the shelving with a 24” aisle for general storage IFC (315.3). It would be a stretch to try to enforce the exception of IFC (1018.5) of 28” since the 4’x10’ storage room and aisle typically would not be considered an...
  2. FM William Burns

    Digital Plans

    Safety Cloud app. It allowed me to develop forms for all the different types of inspections we did. It catered to that type of inspection (fire sprinkler, fire pump test, fire alarm, and water supply commissioning and building fire inspection ). It was a very reasonable monthly fee on a FP...
  3. FM William Burns

    Digital Plans

    So glad I was able to keep my private BB license when I left the jurisdiction. Must have done a good job for them. PCI I had a program I snagged that allowed me to create my own forms with drop downs etc. I was able to create separate report forms for fire alarm, sprinkler, clean agent...
  4. FM William Burns

    Foam in Rated Walls

    A term often used in the regulatory industry is “it depends”. As in the application and approval of the material used. We require any cellular foam product exposed to meet the the code(s) referenced for finish locations where exposed. We also require the actual listing, flame spread and smoke...
  5. FM William Burns

    Clarification on two distinct groups of synchronized strobes

    Totally understand the ballroom and lobby outside the ballroom on different flash sequences. That’s the intent of compliance point. Your post suggests your issue is in a “common corridors(s)”. If the corridors are covered by 2 strobes that don’t share the same flash rate or are not synchronized...
  6. FM William Burns

    Clarification on two distinct groups of synchronized strobes

    NFPA 72, 2013 18.5.5.4.2 Handbook indicates the purpose of the synchronized requirements are guided by the human eye and its ability to view a flash of light at a 120/135 degree field of vision. The code’s revision in 07 clarified the intent of the multiple detectors two/ groups. Handbook...
  7. FM William Burns

    Digital Plans

    I have using Bluebeam for over 10 years. Hands down the best out there for what your trying to do. Tip, make yourself a fraction to decimal conversion cheat sheet to use the measurement tool. The tutorials are easy and back in the day I learned to be proficient in about 4 hours. Once you get...
  8. FM William Burns

    Fire code ratings for fixtures and display walls

    Our Homework Assignment - Let’s read IBC/IFC or NFPA1/101 applicable sections for interior wall and ceiling finishes for use/occupancy types. Continue to read section on decorative material(s) references if applicable. For clinical occupancies where no one gets knocked out (ability for...
  9. FM William Burns

    Does the Health Department have authority?

    MOE is not permitted to be compromised due to viruses. Some large national chain mercantile have tried to argue this and “security” but like RGLA alluded if required, lock from access as you wish but can’t lock against egress.....
  10. FM William Burns

    Help! Question on vertical space clearance between sprinkler deflector and AHUs

    Sprinkler Obstruction NFPA 13, [8.5.5.3] Continuous and noncontinuous obstructions less than or equal to 18 in. below the sprinkler deflector that prevent the pattern from fully developing shall comply with 8.5.5.3. So depending on the obstruction being below or horizontally to the head there...
  11. FM William Burns

    fire sprinkler main flush

    A chart could only be used as a hydraulic guide. Without physical or electronic measurement I could not accept. Since this discussion, I have traveled to many presentations that I gave on fire protection systems maintenance and testing with my box. The box holds physical aids for the...
  12. FM William Burns

    Saw this commercial - see anything wrong with it?

    Love them and all exit doors are non-compliant.
  13. FM William Burns

    Saw this commercial - see anything wrong with it?

    Should have seen some of the stuff back in the Art Deco days on Collins Ave. in Miami Beach.......
  14. FM William Burns

    Saw this commercial - see anything wrong with it?

    My opinion is non-compliant in either ICC or NFPA due to the door not being distinguishable regardless of the illuminated exit sign. I’ve seen bookshelf murals in museums and even at 50’ with lighting the exit sign was hard to make out by the trained eye. While the IBC/IFC addresses situations...
  15. FM William Burns

    Electric oven and hoods

    Recommend documenting and verifying that the occupancy does not cook food that produces grease laden vapor or a fire suppression system would be required, then the answer is Yes.
  16. FM William Burns

    Electric oven and hoods

    IFC/IBC [904.12.2] requires all fuel and power for commercial cooking equipment under an applicable hood with automatic fire suppression system to be inner connected to disable ALL fuel and power supply to equipment under the hood upon actuation of the system. The equipment must also have a...
  17. FM William Burns

    Fire Alarms on Wood TJI Ceiling (Exposed)

    The referenced code section being discussed and allegedly required NFPA 72 [17.7.3.2.4.2] and the sub-sectional criteria is correct. Don’t get hung up on the composite wood joist TJI v. solid. The material is considered solid (by mass) and as defined and if the area meets the sub-sectional...
  18. FM William Burns

    fire hose cabinets vs fully sprinklered buildingl

    And if the building has a sprinkler system required by an applicable building code the installation and design standard referenced by that building code allows the AHJ to have occupant intended hose to be removed in accordance with NFPA 13, 2016 or 2019 [8.17.5.1.2.2]. The maintenance testing...
  19. FM William Burns

    Aw S??t, ..wonder what went wrong here?

    Initially I didn’t realize it was only 600,000 s.f. I was thinking it was >1 mil. good news the investigation is more manageable.
  20. FM William Burns

    Aw S??t, ..wonder what went wrong here?

    Thanks, ADA! I do miss (some) of the investigation work but not the 2 am jobs when its -10 and winds at 25 mph. There will be a lot of folks involved in this one and hopefully there is a good lead and they can all play in the sandbox together and be productive.
  21. FM William Burns

    Aw S??t, ..wonder what went wrong here?

    In situations such as these you work out to in such as system(s) certification and testing records verification and review, since there could have been up to 50 or more sprinkler system types in many combinations in this type of facility. Water supply, pump failures, obstructed/closed valves and...
  22. FM William Burns

    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    MK, I totally understand your viewpoint associated to the interpretation. Personally, my viewpoint was offered and served through historical references from the AHJ in my household growing up to serving municipalities in governmental work and could relate to a study of formal semantics (probably...
  23. FM William Burns

    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    MK, While usually the AHJ is a governmental representative tasked with the enforcement of adopted ordinances, rules and codes . There can be other authorities having jurisdiction and are legally evaluated as equal (here is the key) in the scopes of one’s authority. I read a bulletin or code...
  24. FM William Burns

    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    Tom, I have been and still am a principal TC member on the most widely used code in the Quincy folks arsenal. I’m ready to give up my seat on this one after 11 years and 10 on FP features. Being blessed to have been chosen as an enforcer allowed me to learn how the codes and standards work...
  25. FM William Burns

    Demanding fire chief with no authority

    The bottom line is a sprinkler system and design standard is typically required/driven by the adopted building code. The sprinkler system is then designed and inspected to that standard as referenced by the building code as would be auxiliary components (if required) by that standard. In this...
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