exterior opening protection - water curtain vs rated glazing

[Tim Mailloux]

I have an exterior glass door opening out of an egress stair that is required to be rated by code due to proximity of an adjacent exterior curtain wall. Instead of providing rated exterior glazing in the egress stair opening I would like to use a water curtain / deluge spinkler head to protect the opening. Is this still allowed by code? The only thing I can find is 716.4 Alternate methods for determining fire protection.

 

[RLGA]

Tyco has an ESR through ICC-ES that allows this for glazing systems up to a 2-hour rating (ESR-2397). However, it is for fixed glazing only. You could not use it for a glazed door.

 

[steveray]

Tyco has an ESR through ICC-ES that allows this for glazing systems up to a 2-hour rating (ESR-2397). However, it is for fixed glazing only. You could not use it for a glazed door.

But he could protect the opposing curtain wall?

 

[Yikes]

I have an exterior glass door opening out of an egress stair that is required to be rated by code due to proximity of an adjacent exterior curtain wall. Instead of providing rated exterior glazing in the egress stair opening I would like to use a water curtain / deluge spinkler head to protect the opening. Is this still allowed by code? The only thing I can find is 716.4 Alternate methods for determining fire protection.

Can you cite the code section that is triggering the rating?
For example, is it due to an area separation / assumed property line between the egress door and the adjacent curtain wall?
Is it due to an egress court being narrower than 10'?
Etc.

 

[steveray]

Not speaking for Tim but...

1023.7 Interior exit stairway and ramp exterior walls.
Exterior walls of the interior exit stairway or ramp shall
comply with the requirements of Section 705 for exterior
walls. Where nonrated walls or unprotected openings
enclose the exterior of the stairway or ramps and the walls or
openings are exposed by other parts of the building at an
angle of less than 180 degrees (3.14 rad), the building exterior
walls within 10 feet (3048 mm) horizontally of a
nonrated wall or unprotected opening shall have a fire-resistance
rating of not less than 1 hour. Openings within such
exterior walls shall be protected by opening protectives
having a fire protection rating of not less than 3/4 hour. This
construction shall extend vertically from the ground to a
point 10 feet (3048 mm) above the topmost landing of the
stairway or ramp, or to the roof line, whichever is lower.

 

[princeofpen]

My question , if I understand the layout of this all, is how is the sprinkler pump providing to the deluge going to know (pump in bldg "A") that building "B" is on fire and needs that protection?

 

[steveray]

My question , if I understand the layout of this all, is how is the sprinkler pump providing to the deluge going to know (pump in bldg "A") that building "B" is on fire and needs that protection?

Same building....The rest of the building is too close and a "threat" the the otherwise unprotected exterior wall of the stair....As the fire barrier/ stair separation requirements don't really apply to the exterior walls...Except here...