Are drop out ceiling tiles ok?

[Yev]

I am planning on putting a drop ceiling in a commercial space in Oakland. There are already sprinklers in the space. I don't want to drop down sprinklers so I was thinking of getting drop out tiles. I was looking at Ceilume tiles. On their page they say that they are rated Class A and UL94 V-0. They also have several certificates. Here is the website if you want to reference it. Would I be able to use these tiles and not have to drop down sprinklers?

I tried contacting the fire engineer in Oakland city dep, but he said that for drop out tiles I will still need to drop the sprinklers. Although, at first I didn't provide him the details on the drop out tiles. But now that I have, he stopped responding.. So I'm trying to get an expert opinion on this. Does anyone know what part of the code this would be under?

 

[cda]

Welcome

 

[cda]

It is in NFPA 13

Sorry would be tomorrow before could give you the section.

There are a few criteria to meet.

You did not post the link

 

[cda]

Read through this for some of the criteria

http://www.ceilume.com/static/pdfs/rja-drop-out-ceiling-panels.pdf

Also would highly suggest having a fire sprinkler company look at the area and help advise you.

 

[Yev]

It is in NFPA 13

Sorry would be tomorrow before could give you the section.

There are a few criteria to meet.

You did not post the link

I created a link with the word "website" and it made it a dark blue color.. not really apparent that's a link.. I just changed it to bright blue

 

[cda]

This comes from NFPA 13 the 2016 edition.

You need to find which year edition your city is using, but should not be much different.

You are required to comply with all the provisions of the section.

Once again my best advice is to have a fire sprinkler company look at the building, and write a response to each of the sections items, so when the city asks, you hand them the response letter along with the specs on the tile:::

Only way I could post was a pdf

 

[mtlogcabin]

http://www.ceilume.com/static/pdfs/ceilume-nfpa-13-analysis.pdf

Refer to NFPA 13 8.15.15 for limitations based on sprinkler heads and piping materials

 

[Michael Chusid RA FCSI]

Walls and Ceilings Magazine has an interesting article on just the situation you described - using drop-out ceilings in an existing building.

See:

https://digitaledition.wconline.com/may-2021/case-study-the-drop-out-ceiling-that-paid-for-itself/