fire sprinkler protection picture

[cda]

Saw this on a recent visit. I know it is 99% of the time wrong in a few ways.But does it matter to anyone that this was an atrium???View attachment 1445

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[Coug Dad]

I wonder if they were aplying the 55 foot rule in a creative way.

 

[cda]

I wonder if they were aplying the 55 foot rule in a creative way.

Have not heard that one?? 55 ft rule???

 

[Coug Dad]

IBC (2006) Section 404.3 exception 2

 

[tmurray]

They may be measuring the distance in between sprinklers wrong as well. NFPA 13 requires the distance between sprinklers installed along sloped surfaces to be measured along the slope, not a straight line.

 

[cda]

that is neat, have not had to do a true atrium in a long time

This one was in a three story building, and seemed pertty high!!

Not a good judge on distance, but looks like those panels are 12 -15 feet each, I know that is on a slope

and learn something everyday,

set through all those silly classes, and I have not heard that exception mentioned.

can this be applied in combustible construction????

 

[FM William Burns]

Not an expert either but believe the old 55' notion had to do with the effectiveness of droplets at heights greater than 45 feet. The whole stratification thing! Recent studies according to NFSA, UL and FM are indicating that some sprinkler types can be effective in reducing the effects of fire even at heights of 100 feet.

 

[Coug Dad]

FMWB,

It is both the effectiveness of the droplets from that height plus sprinklers will often not activate at that height above the fire. You would need a very large fire to activate a sprinkler at 55 feet.

 

[FM William Burns]

CD, I agree the amount of heat energy necessary would influence far greater damage to any open areas to the atrium. In communications with NFSA and UL personnel, I have learned that there are some additional studies being done by those referenced interests using ELO, Deluge and interfacing with detection technoligies for these types of challenging scenarios. One interest believes something is better than nothing