Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
(OP)
I searched the archives but could not find what I'm looking for. I need the code number and section number that relates to sprinkler system piping running through electric rooms containing equiptment of less than 600 volts. Would someone please point me in the right direction?
Thanks,
Russell Rewis
Thanks,
Russell Rewis





RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
If state or federal safety laws do not allow water to be used by employees to put out electrical or petroleum fires, the Fire Marshal cannot enforce a sprinkler system if the equipment is electrical or contains petroleum products.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Appendix B gives advice for avoiding a direct stream of water on live parts.
Yes, there was initial resistance by the electrical community to sprinklers over electrical switchgear but we learned to live with it.
respectfully
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Waross, We go by the same code wording as you do there in Canada.
But my question is not the requiremnt, but when systems are installed is there any code that you can quote that prohibits running the piping completely through the room?
Russell
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
I do not know of any such restriction in the electrical codes.
I would try the mechanical forums, or the mechanical code forums.
respectfully
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Not exactly, you see I'm the one that's gonna run the pipe through the room. I'm a fire sprinkler contractor, so I thought I'd ask the electrical experts.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
There may be some exemption for fire water piping, but I'm not aware of it, and a cursory review of Article 110 didn't turn one up.
But I'm not really a fire protection guy.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
(b) Foreign Systems. The area above the dedicated space required by 110.26(F)(1)(a) shall be permitted to contain foreign systems, provided protection is installed to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, leaks, or breaks in such foreign systems.
The dedicated space is the clear space requirement I mentioned above where nothing is allowed.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Actually the only way to extinguish an electrical fire is to stop the flow of current. After the current flow has stopped you are left with a Class A fire or as a number people in the fire service like to call it a solid Class B fire.
Don
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
NFPA 13
8.15.10.1 Unless the requirements of 8.15.10.3 are met, sprinkler protection shall be required in electrical equipment rooms.
8.15.10.3 Sprinklers shall not be required in electrical equipment rooms where all of the following conditions are met:
(1) The room is dedicated to electrical equipment only.
(2) Only dry-type electrical equipment is used.
(3) Equipment is installed in a 2-hour fire-rated enclosure including protection for penetrations.
(4) No combustible storage is permitted to be stored in the room.
NFPA 15
1.3.2 Water spray protection is acceptable for the protection of hazards involving each of the following groups:
(2) Electrical hazards such as transformers, oil switches, motors, cable trays, and cable runs
Table 6.1.2.2 Electrical Clearance from Water Spray Equipment to Live Uninsulated Electrical Components
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RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Thanks to all for taking the time to share your knowledge.
Another great forum,
Russell
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
Whether a sprinkler system is installed in an electrical room or not is not a decision made by the sprinkler contractor. As with most all construction projects there are several engineers, including electrical engineers, state and local authorites and insurance providers, for the various trades that are making those calls. The trades, such as myself, have to follow their requirements and only make suggestions. Sprinklers contractors would not require such an arrangement.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
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RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
While that is very true, a large number of other building construction produts, finishes and furnishings have the same issues with polution, and they exist in the building in far greater volumes than those that are a part of the electrical system. These other products will become involved in the fire if the fire is not confined to the electrical room. Water is the only reasonably available and effective extinguishment agent for most fires. Are you suggesting that those of us in the fire service should stand back and watch the building burn down because of the runoff from the use of hoselines? If the application of water by the sprinkler system confines the fire to the room of origin, then there will be much less total runoff as we will not have to use our large stream to extinguish the building fire. The smallest fire service hose line will operate at ~100 GPM, the largest hand line at 250-400 GPM and master steams at 1000 GPM and up, with a few in excess of 10,000 GPM. A number sprinkler heads would have to open to equal the flow rate of even the smallest fire service hose.
Don
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
After the AHJ, you have to make your underwriter happy.
As the national codes stand now, sprinklers are required in certain situations, as bad an idea as it might seem.
If the concern is the water quality of the effluent of a sprinkler event, I would think there would be other portions of almost any building that would be a bigger concern than the electrical room. Not to mention the fact that there are electrical circuits and panelboards throughout the entire facility.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems
One method of ensuring that there are no accidental discharges is a pre-action sprinkler system. In this arrangement the sprinker pipe in the room is empty unless a valve is open. This valve is actuated by the fire alarm system.
RE: Electrical rooms and sprinkler systems