Water Wall in lieu of Fire Rated Door

[LGreene]

Thanks for info on the different electric strikes. Always learning new things.

Any time!

 

[FM William Burns]

maybe if you added food coloring to the water wall, it would cut down on the energy transfer.

BB,

NFPA 15 Annex A has some good information on heat vaporization with water for exposure protection.

 

[Builder Bob]

FM --- I would assume that it is still based upon water actually hitting the exposure to provide the cooling off effect and still would allow heat transfer thru the water acting as the water wall?

 

[FM William Burns]

Yep, and I may have to do some testing with purple FC to see if it has an effect

BTW....I like that you called it what it is "curtain"

 

[Builder Bob]

Thanks FM.... So in summary, a water curtain wall must have a surface to hit in order to act as a barrier........ sprinkler heads with a case opening are almost worthless.

 

[FM William Burns]

That's the way I've always looked at it. If used they are required to be deisgned with specific heads on both sides of the "glass" or object and they can't just spray water in the opening area. They have to empinge at a certain application rate and coverage area on the glass or object being protected and as permitted.

 

[north star]

* * *

FMWB ( and others ),

Is there a section in the IBC or IFC that I can review for the "water

curtain wall" requirements? I have a project where the contractor

is proposing to use sprinkler heads on both sides of a non-rated

sheet of glass, in a rated Exit Passgeway. Section 1021.3

[ in the `06 IBC ] requires a min. of 1 hr. fire resistance

rating of the walls, ceiling & floors.

At this early stage of Plans Review ...they are only ' PROPOSING

TO USE IT '. I am seeking to find out if it is allowable,

...more details, etc. Thanks!

* * *

 

[Dr. J]

See the first couple of responses to this thread regarding the Tyco WS sprinkler. http://www.icc-es.org/reports/pdf_files/ICC-ES/ESR-2397.pdf This is the only way to create a fire resistance rated wall with non-rated glass.

I really wish people would stop calling for a "water curtain" in this application. "Water curtain" implies a series of open sprinklers controlled through a deluge valve. The Tyco WS sprinkler is simply a QR sprinkler with a special deflector to evenly coat the protected glass. It is still is a closed sprinkler with a fusible element, only one goes off at a time - just like any other sprinkler. MacGyver can't use a match to set them all off.

 

[Examiner]

I think it was already established that you cannot use the so called "water curtain". It is only allowed in an Atrium condition. It is not an alternate to the protected EXIT Passageway protection. That item is a part of your "EXIT", either before or after the EXIT. It has to have the same rating and requirements as the "EXIT". In my opinion the Water Curtain is not allowed and has issues with glazing horizontal bars that hinder water flow down the glazing.

 

[Coug Dad]

The Tyco UL Listed and ES Report documented sprinkler and glass assembly would be acceptable in that condition.

 

[Christian Huls]

What you are asking about is NOT in the IBC, but it IS found in NFPA 13. It's referred to as a water curtain (see NFPA 2016, section 11.3.3).

It allows you to install sprinklers 6 feet apart along a rated wall (on both sides) where there are unrated openings such as unrated glass or doors.

 

[cda]

What you are asking about is NOT in the IBC, but it IS found in NFPA 13. It's referred to as a water curtain (see NFPA 2016, section 11.3.3).

It allows you to install sprinklers 6 feet apart along a rated wall (on both sides) where there are unrated openings such as unrated glass or doors.

Finally professional Fire sprinkler help!!
Welcome

 

[cda]

What you are asking about is NOT in the IBC, but it IS found in NFPA 13. It's referred to as a water curtain (see NFPA 2016, section 11.3.3).

It allows you to install sprinklers 6 feet apart along a rated wall (on both sides) where there are unrated openings such as unrated glass or doors.

Maybe You can answer a question:::


The question is a backwards question


Exterior projection 8.15.7 2016

If you are presented with drawings showing a combustible walk canopy connected to the building and over four feet.

If asked and they were willing to take out a section so it is not directly connected to the building,, how big of gap would you be comfortable with??

one inch, one foot, three feet or other gap?? to basically call in "separated"


For example this picture, the canopy is attached to the building and is combustible:::



https://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl=https%3A%2F%2...


What separation would you be comfortable with?