Just want to make sure I'm not losing it...

[Glennman CBO]

I'm doing the International Code Campus practice exam for the 2009 Fire Plans Examiner test. There are several questions related to Table 2703.11.1 (control areas in group M, etc).

A typical question would be "What is the maximum number of gallons of a class 3 oxidizer would be allowed in indoor control areas in a 2 story type M occupancy where a sprinkler system is installed per 903.3.1.1 and the product is in approved storage cabinets in accordance with 2703.8?". Actually, I believe this is the actual question.

The base amount in the table is 115 gallons.

The number of control areas would be per Table 2703.8.3.2. I come up with (7) control areas.

4 on the main floor would = 460 gallons per area totaling 1840 (increasing footnotes b and c apply accumulatively).

3 on the 2nd floor would = 345 per area (due to the 75% above grade plane reduction) x 3 (control areas) = 1035.

Total amount I come up with is 2875 gallons. Their answer is 2415.

In the calcs they provide, they do not include the 'cabinet 100% increase' provision, but rather only 115 gallons (base amount only, with no 100% accumulation).

I've gone over it several times and come up with the same answer. The issue here is that there are 5 or 6 questions on this table, and their reasoning is the same on all of them. I recall working those tables before with no problem (while doing their other practice exams).

Am I losing my mind, or have they lost theirs (or both maybe)?

 

[mtlogcabin]

I believe you should be using Table 2703.11.1

 

[Glennman CBO]

OK. That's the table I'm using.

 

[mtlogcabin]

I have never used the Campus Code practice exams so I asked the 3 here that have for bldg plmb & mech and they all said they found 2 or 3 question that did not have a correct answer to choose from so maybe you are correct. I am not familiar with working this part of the fire code yet. It is on next years goal Fire Inspector I & II and then Fire Plans Examiner

 

[Glennman CBO]

A lofty goal. I'm working toward Fire Marshal, since I already have the technology portion through my CBO.

Just another addition to my cert wall.

 

[Glennman CBO]

Is the question too hard?

 

[peach]

maybe it's a bad question.

 

[Glennman CBO]

What's bad about it? It's actually a very good question that provides the test taker with an excersize in the use of the table.

The only question I have about it is whether or not the answer that I have for it is correct.

I didn't write the question. Someone with the International Code Campus wrote the question.