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  1. Dr. J

    Duct Smoke Detector not Tripping

    NFPA 72 Table 10.4.4.2 Smoke detector test method: "The detectors shall be tested in place to ensure smoke entry into the sensing chamber and an alarm response. Testing with smoke or listed aerosol approved by the manufacturer shall be permitted as acceptable test methods. Other methods listed...
  2. Dr. J

    No roof sprinklers

    The correct code reference is NFPA 55 Standard for the Storage, Use, and Handling of Compressed Gases and Cryogenic Fluids in Portable and Stationary Containers, Cylinders, and Tanks. This is what hospitals follow for liquid oxygen containers much larger than 1000 L, although the standard is...
  3. Dr. J

    MCC -occupancy type & separation

    1) I have never seen electrical rooms (or mechanical rooms for that matter) classified as anything other than the occupancy group they are part of. No need for an S2. 2) Code is clear – IBC requires a fully sprinklered building per NFPA 13. NFPA 13 requires a fully sprinklered building to...
  4. Dr. J

    Section 404 Atriums 2006 IBC

    Almost. You have to show that the new arrangement of furniture does not exceed the basis for the design fire for the original Rational Analysis. If this was originally designed in the olden days when all that was required was air changes, then there was no analysis, rational or not. Since no...
  5. Dr. J

    Section 404 Atriums 2006 IBC

    The way the AHJ SHOULD reply is to have the proposed occupancy be included in the Rational Analysis required by 909.4. \ Close - it does not limit the fire load, however the fire load MUST be taken into account in the design of the smoke control system. What is the design fire based on? There...
  6. Dr. J

    Seismic bracing NFPA 13 sprinkler sytem

    I guess I only answered Question 1. For Question 2, Ch 9 of 2007 NFPA 13 addresses support of piping which in general is intended to minimize movement of piping. In particular see 9.2.3.4.
  7. Dr. J

    Seismic bracing NFPA 13 sprinkler sytem

    There is no such thing as “Seismic B zone”. I assume you mean the building has been determined to be Seismic Design Category B, based upon things like the soil type, occupancy category of building, as well as S1 and Ss. From ASCE 7-05: 13.1.4 Exemptions. The following nonstructural components...
  8. Dr. J

    obstruction to shaft

    good point, I am a designer and come at these things from a design angle. The situation in the OP sounds like it is past the paper stage and reality must be dealt with. The structure needs to be protected if it is a shaft. However, perhaps that vertical assembly can be considered a wide wall...
  9. Dr. J

    obstruction to shaft

    Steveray - it does not matter where in the building the duct is, or how high the building is, as long as only 3 floors or less are penetrated. It could be the 3rd, 4th, and 5th floors, or the 43rd, 44th, and 45th (and then outside). MT - it does not matter what it should say, it does say...
  10. Dr. J

    obstruction to shaft

    1) are you sure they need to be rated shafts? Can IBC 716.6 be used (quoting 2006 code since I do not have electronic access to the 2003) 716.6.1 Through penetrations. In occupancies other than Groups I-2 and I-3, a duct constructed of approved materials in accordance with the International...
  11. Dr. J

    scald protection sink

    First of all, clarify what you are asking – tempering of water to protect against scalding or padding/shielding required to protect wheelchair users from sharp objects. If padding/shielding, not all sinks require padding/shielding. This is a subject of accessibility. From a code minimum...
  12. Dr. J

    Separation between different types of construction

    Are you worried about I code AHJs or NFPA AHJs? CMS/TJC/State enforce NFPA 101. NFPA 101 ch 19 does indeed allow EXISTING Type V construction, however it must be fully sprinklered, and is limited to 1 story for V(000) or 2 stories for V(111). This IS a retroactive provision. CMS/TJC WILL...
  13. Dr. J

    Separation between different types of construction

    There isn't. This is one of the major differences between IBC and NFPA 101. NFPA 101 allows a Fire Barrier to create a separate building. It takes a Fire Wall (structurally independent) to create a separate building in IBC. CDA's quotes are the evidence of that. Even under NFPA 101 there is...
  14. Dr. J

    Clean Utility Rooms as hazardous areas.

    Depends on size and what is in there, but probably yes. Assuming the clean utility/workroom is used for storage of linens, paper, and other combustibles, then it would fall under the combustible storage provisions of Table 18.3.2.1 or paragraph 19.3.2.1. Different requirements for less than 50...
  15. Dr. J

    Vent a hood duct

    There are a whole lot of requirements for a Type 1 Commercial Kitchen Hood Duct, see IMC ch 5. Among the requirement is that the duct be in a rated enclosure from the hood to the exterior. The enclosed duct is essentially a shaft, and one of the purposes is to extend the fire area of origin...
  16. Dr. J

    Vent a hood duct

    What is a commercial vent a hood?
  17. Dr. J

    Vent a hood duct

    Let's be sure what you are asking. If by "Vent a hood" you mean a residential grade hood above a residential grade (and utilized) appliance, then the duct is just an everyday duct, not Type I Commercial Kitchen Hood Duct. If so, then you don't need to apply the requirements for a Commercial...
  18. Dr. J

    Elevator Shaft Sprinklering

    One more thing - need to discuss IBC 903.1.1.1 Exempt Locations: ... 4. Rooms or areas that are of noncombustible construction with wholly noncombustible contents. ... In the context of an elevator hoistway, a passenger elevator car is probably not noncombustible - ANSI A17.1 allows cars to...
  19. Dr. J

    Elevator Shaft Sprinklering

    The 2009 IBC references the 2007 NFPA 13: 8.15.5 Elevator Hoistways and Machine Rooms. 8.15.5.1* Sidewall spray sprinklers shall be installed at the bottom of each elevator hoistway not more than 2 ft (0.61 m) above the floor of the pit. 8.15.5.2 The sprinkler required at the bottom of the...
  20. Dr. J

    Rated "Lid" ?

    I agree that “there is no such thing as a rated lid”, and also that “they are used all the time”. IBC 707 states: 707.5 Continuity. Fire barriers shall extend from the top of the floor/ceiling assembly below to the underside of the floor or roof sheathing, slab or deck above and shall be...
  21. Dr. J

    Stage Sprinklers

    The IBC reference is to require sprinklers specifically for the stage in an otherwise unsprinklered building.
  22. Dr. J

    Stage Sprinklers

    If the building is required to be sprinklered in accordance with NFPA 13, then all combustible concealed spaces need to be sprinklered. There are a some exceptions, and you should review NFPA 13 to see if you can make any of those work, but I doubt it. The main exceptions are for very small...
  23. Dr. J

    smoke dampers located in conjunction with barometric dampers

    UH, goes AGAINST all that is holy ...
  24. Dr. J

    smoke dampers located in conjunction with barometric dampers

    No. Big red flag. All ventilation equipment must be independent from the building and must be either external to the building, or be in a separate 2 hour enclosure to the building. It goes all that is holy about vertical exit enclosures to punch them with holes and then rely on a mechanical...
  25. Dr. J

    Fixture Unit Conversion

    The same way you would covert apples to oranges. Fixture unit is a rate, while gallons is a quantity. One could dump the 6000 gallons over an entire day, and it would be 6000/24/60 = 4 gpm = 2 fixture units. Or it could be dumped in one minute then the rate would be 6000 gpm = 12,000 FU...
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