Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
(OP)
Hello Eng-Tips,
I have a commercial (retail) space that has fire sprinklers installed.
I have an area with a standard 100amp circuit breaker panel, a small security alarm panel (DSC PC1832), and a light switch that I have enclosed to keep customers from disturbing this equipment (Children had a habit of flipping the light switch on/off) :]. So this is now enclosed in approx 4'W x 2'D x 7' H closet. The closet has a door, and the ceiling of this closet does not connect with the ceiling of the outside space.
Assuming combustibles are forbidden to be stored in this room, would NFPA code require me to add s sprinkler inside this area?
If yes, would removing the drywall making up the ceiling of the room change anything in that regard? This would effectively make it a framed & dry-walled partition and the nearest sprinkler would then be able to reach inside the partitioned area.
Thanks,
I have a commercial (retail) space that has fire sprinklers installed.
I have an area with a standard 100amp circuit breaker panel, a small security alarm panel (DSC PC1832), and a light switch that I have enclosed to keep customers from disturbing this equipment (Children had a habit of flipping the light switch on/off) :]. So this is now enclosed in approx 4'W x 2'D x 7' H closet. The closet has a door, and the ceiling of this closet does not connect with the ceiling of the outside space.
Assuming combustibles are forbidden to be stored in this room, would NFPA code require me to add s sprinkler inside this area?
If yes, would removing the drywall making up the ceiling of the room change anything in that regard? This would effectively make it a framed & dry-walled partition and the nearest sprinkler would then be able to reach inside the partitioned area.
Thanks,





RE: Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
RE: Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
Travis Mack
MFP Design, LLC
www.mfpdesign.com
RE: Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
http://www.nfpa.org/publicColumn.asp?categoryID=&a...
"So if rooms containing typical circuit breaker panels and small dry transformers do not require any special fire-resistive enclosures, what about sprinklers in these rooms?
Section 8.15.10.1 of NFPA 13, Installation of Sprinkler Systems, requires sprinklers in all spaces in a building protected with sprinklers, including electrical rooms. According to Section 8.15.10.3, however, sprinklers may be eliminated in electrical rooms if the room is dedicated solely to electrical equipment; only dry-type electrical equipment is used; the equipment is installed in a two-hour fire-rated enclosure including protection for penetrations; and no combustible storage is permitted in the room"
RE: Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
Besides more then likely if you ever have a fire with your luck it will start there
You can contact a fire sprinkler company and have them look at it for any options possible
RE: Sprinkler required? (NFPA + Sprinklers in "electrical" closets)
Sprinkler protection is required. The IFC provision takes precedence over the cited NFPA section.