firewalls

[fireguy]

I was in a 2 story motel build in 1997 or 1998. I was repairing frozen and broken sprinkler piping today and the maintanence man asked me to look at a hole that is covered by a grille. I could see 3 layers of sheet rock on the other side of the stud wall. I looked in the space and saw what appeared to be the underside of stairs. I asked what was on the other side of the stairs and was told a hall. We found another grille under the stairs, but with just one layer of sheet rock. The stairs are the fire exit from the 2nd floor. There is another staircase on the other end of the upper hall.

Question 1:Shouldn't the stairs be protected by continuous sheet rock, w/o holes in it? Is it to be one layer of sheet rock each side of the studs or 2 layers? The room we are working in houses 2 boilers for the pool.

Question 2: There is a 12 x 12" hole in the outside wall. I think the hole is make-up air for the pool boilers. But when it is 11°F outside, the cold air pulled in to the room freezes my sprinkler pipe. Can we use heat strips that operate by a thermostat and when the intake air is working?

 

[hlfireinspector]

Question 1:

1020.1.2 Penetrations.

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Penetrations into and openingsthrough an exit enclosure are prohibited except for requiredexit doors, equipment and ductwork necessary for independentpressurization, sprinkler piping, standpipes, electricalraceway for fire department communication systemsand electrical raceway serving the exit enclosure and terminatingat a steel box not exceeding 16 square inches (0.010m2). Such penetrations shall be protected in accordance withSection 712 of the International Building Code. There shallbe no penetrations or communication openings, whether

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protected or not, between adjacent exit enclosures.

Qustion 2: The Heat tape must be monitered by the fire alarm to ensure that it is working at all times.

 

[cda]

Can the sprinkler be converted to a sidewall and put all pipe in a wall with heat on one side?

 

[hlfireinspector]

Or put in a dry head from a heated space

 

[fireguy]

1050.1.2 was what I was looking for. Thanks

I don't think we can use heat tape on CPVC. I should have mentioned the piping in this area is plastic.

There are 3 dry heads in the attic area. I will be replacing them, as they are 16 years old.

I thought of changing to dry sidewalls, but that would require changing the supply pipe enough that I would need to have new sprinkler calcs done. And there are no records of the original install and the original contractor is out of business.

I also thought of changing to an antifreeze loop. I have done that in the past, where there was access. The supply pipe for this area is in the attic, with limited access.

I have contacted an insulation contractor. We meet this morning to find out about upgrading the insulation.

Thanks for the help.

 

[cda]

Well the pipe should already behind Sheetrock

Put I was going to say box around the pipe and open one end to conditioned/ heat space.

Might look at this anyway so the pipe is getting some heat from the building

 

[cda]

How about changing to a concealed head so it is not directly exposed to the air