NFPA 90A Applicability
NFPA 90A Applicability
(OP)
I have a general question regarding the application of NFPA 90A. In a peer review, I noted that smoke dampers are required on an AHU systems that are greater than 15,000 cfm and serve 3-4 floors. The engineer responded by indicating that NFPA is not a code and only a standard, therefore he was not obligated to design the system with smoke dampers. Can anyone identify where the "code" references NFPA 90A? Since I am not the EOR on the project, I am only making a recommendation, but the client is concerned that the system is not being designed to current best practices.





RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
any specs saying it has to comply with nfpa???
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Within the code, referenced standards are used, like NFPA 13 for sprinklers, 14 for standpipes, 70 for electrical, 72 for fire alarm, etc. Unless the IBC directly referenced that standard, it is typically not required nor can the building official require it.
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On the otherhand, the building code is only the minimum requirements and design professionals are permitted to exceed to code, based on their judgement, experience, or client needs. If you have information which supports using NFPA 90A (like NPFA data), perhaps that is should be part of your recommendation.
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Regarding the code reference, the engineer is referencing BOCA '99. As stated above, this code does not explicitly require these dampers. In addition, I cannot find a reference to the 90A.
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Am I missing something here?
This has hit me in the posterior in the past, when a design is started in one year and the permit is applied for the next year, but the plumbing code changed on Jan 1. I have had to make changes - not big ones - to my design.
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Have seen smoe cities if a project is in discussion stages accept under code that the discussions were around.
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
Don Phillips
http://worthingtonengineering.com
RE: NFPA 90A Applicability
the sprinkler section references NFPA 13 1994 addition