Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
(OP)
Hello
New to this Forum.
We have a 45,000 sq/ft building that is fully sprinkled wet system,
There's a loading dock area with (2) 8' x 8' doors with twelve foot high ceilings, The fire Marshal wants us to install sprinkler heads under the garage door, as this would not work as the forklifts will hit the sprinkler do to the height of garage doors when open are at 8' 2" from floor, this would leave the sprinkler heads around 7' 10" from floor with a 8' door opening. (Per The sprinkler code NFPA 13 8.5.5.3.1 Shall be installed under fix obstruction over 4 ft wide) We can put a wall mount sprinkler for sidewall protection.
Is there anything in the code if we put a heat detector between both doors, (Center that would be level with garage doors when they are open, the heat detector would be protected by the garage door brackets, if fire occurs the heat detector would active the fire alarm, or can we put one sprinkler head in that same location that would do the same converge.
Thank You
New to this Forum.
We have a 45,000 sq/ft building that is fully sprinkled wet system,
There's a loading dock area with (2) 8' x 8' doors with twelve foot high ceilings, The fire Marshal wants us to install sprinkler heads under the garage door, as this would not work as the forklifts will hit the sprinkler do to the height of garage doors when open are at 8' 2" from floor, this would leave the sprinkler heads around 7' 10" from floor with a 8' door opening. (Per The sprinkler code NFPA 13 8.5.5.3.1 Shall be installed under fix obstruction over 4 ft wide) We can put a wall mount sprinkler for sidewall protection.
Is there anything in the code if we put a heat detector between both doors, (Center that would be level with garage doors when they are open, the heat detector would be protected by the garage door brackets, if fire occurs the heat detector would active the fire alarm, or can we put one sprinkler head in that same location that would do the same converge.
Thank You





RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
If the door is at 8 and sprinkler may be around 7'10"
The forklifts only have two inches to play with, so if they hit something at 7'10" they will hit the door....
Have them install doors that go straight up or coil
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
I agree with CDA but this may be an existing building so the doors may already be a legal installation.
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
The area was modified in 1987, with installation of Garage doors, we replaced with new insulated doors in 2007.
A correction on the height, (Height of ceiling is 10' 8" )
Included is a photo.
There's been change of use in the building in last several years, The building is being used as mixed use, from a machine shop, fitness center grooming business, office space and start up business.
The entire building was built in 1907 and addition in 1987.
The Fire Marshal, are asking me to install sprinkler heads below the garage door, change the hand rails that was built in 1987 to comply with today standards,
plus, the existing stairwells they want us to fire rate to 1hour for the three floors and the four floors for 2 hour rated…. and a bunch of other items.
Can they make us comply to the up to date code or do I fall back when it was built.
The only floors that are occupied is the 1st and 2nd floor, They are accessible to ground floor for ADA access, We do not have a passenger elevator in the building. The third and fourth floor are not occupied.
Any suggestions in the code would be helpful.
Thank You
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
Annual inspection
Complaint
Remodel going on or will be??
What building code and year edition has the city adopted??
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
It has been in nfpa 13 forever
If installed properly there is no problem
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
Conversely, the FM may be correct on the fire-resistance of vertical shafts. The IFC does nave retroactive requirements for shafts.
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
R M Arsenault Engineering Inc.
www.rmae.ca
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors
Only needed on overhead doors that roll into the space, blocking the heads above. If the door goes straight up or coils into itself, not needed.
There is always the process to change that section of NFPA 13 if you want
RE: Sprinkler or Heat under Garage Doors