RFDACM02
Bronze Member
Has anyone dealt with wood pellets being stored in bulk inside at the point of use? Not the bags stored on pallets (possible issue of their own), but large storage bins installed to feed a wood boiler.
Here's our situation: 4 story sprinklered mercantile/office building, single tenant. They properly install a wood pellet boiler in the basement, but they stick build (2x4's and OSB) a bin capable of holding 12-14 tones of pellets. This bin is about 10x12 ft and 7 ft tall (tapered at the bottom to feed an auger). I immediately have a few issues: the bin top is too close to the sprinkler heads, the sprinkler company has not been consulted to ensure their design will cover the fuel load, the room is not fully enclosed as there's a 6 ft opening to access the room from the basement mail room (I'm considering this a high hazard for separation purposes). Lastly, and this is a question for others, but I don't like fusible link fire dampers in sprinklered spaces as I doubt the link will trip as the sprinkler will typically activate first and cool the space, so this allows smoke and CO to pump out the damper/vent?
Wondering if others are dealing with these? Or have thoughts or ideas?
Here's our situation: 4 story sprinklered mercantile/office building, single tenant. They properly install a wood pellet boiler in the basement, but they stick build (2x4's and OSB) a bin capable of holding 12-14 tones of pellets. This bin is about 10x12 ft and 7 ft tall (tapered at the bottom to feed an auger). I immediately have a few issues: the bin top is too close to the sprinkler heads, the sprinkler company has not been consulted to ensure their design will cover the fuel load, the room is not fully enclosed as there's a 6 ft opening to access the room from the basement mail room (I'm considering this a high hazard for separation purposes). Lastly, and this is a question for others, but I don't like fusible link fire dampers in sprinklered spaces as I doubt the link will trip as the sprinkler will typically activate first and cool the space, so this allows smoke and CO to pump out the damper/vent?
Wondering if others are dealing with these? Or have thoughts or ideas?