Greenhouse

[Sifu]

Excuse the ignorance on the subject of both light transmitting plastic and sprinklers:

Hopefully someone has some experience with greenhouses. '21 IBC 2606.11 permits any light transmitting plastic meeting the provisions of ch. 26 to be used in a greenhouse. IBC 2606.7.4 requires that a sprinkler system be installed above and below the light transmitting plastic. How is this accomplished with a light transmitting plastic rood panel?

 

[classicT]

IBC 2606.7.4 only applies to plastic light-diffusing systems. See the following definition.

My take, a greenhouse is unlikely to be using such a "light-diffusing system".

2021 IBC
[BF] LIGHT-DIFFUSING SYSTEM. Construction consisting in whole or in part of lenses, panels, grids or baffles made with light-transmitting plastics positioned below independently mounted electrical light sources, skylights or light-transmitting plastic roof panels. Lenses, panels, grids and baffles that are part of an electrical fixture shall not be considered as a light-diffusing system.

 

[classicT]

Basically, if you have the greenhouse roof, consisting of a light-transmitting plastic roof panel, and then have a light-diffusing system below that, then 2606.7.4 applies and sprinkler heads have to be provided between the roof and the diffusing system.

[BF] LIGHT-TRANSMITTING PLASTIC ROOF PANELS. Structural plastic panels other than skylights that are fastened to structural members, or panels or sheathing and that are used as light-transmitting media in the plane of the roof.

 

[Sifu]

OK that makes sense. I didn't read the words on the page and jumped to conflating light-diffusing systems and light-transmitting plastics. Appreciate the clarification that I shouldn't have needed.