Hi, a few inter-related questions regarding Flammable Liquids:
1. What are the best books/websites/other resources are there for reviewing an MSDS sheet to make an accurate determination of the water miscibility for each component chemical in the list in order to comfortably classify the...
Hi, are there any situations in the NFPA 101 (other than the exception in §42.2.8.2) or the California Fire Code where emergency power is not required the designated path of travel? For example, are there any warehouse conditions where emergency power is not required and a designated path would...
Hi, I am designing a "designated" exit path in a storage rack warehouse so the electrical contractor can determine which lights are required to have emergency power to meet the minimum 1-foot-candle requirement. I have included a 44" wide "designated" perimeter around the racks themselves, and...
Hi,
CFC Table 3206.2 calls for the use of draft curtains in non-sprinklered buildings. In what capacity would they actually be required? According to Table 910.3, draft curtains must contain a floor area of 10,000 SF max. for Class I-IV commodities <= 20' top of storage. My understanding is...
Hi,
We reviewed a metal framed building that stores 4'Wx8'Lx3'H bales of hay in grouped stacks, and they are looking to stack upward. The two high piled storage areas have a CMDA design density/area of .35/2,940 (Area #1) and a CMSA design of 25 heads @ 25 PSI (Area #2).
The 2013 California...
Hi,
I have a client that is storing stable unexpanded cartoned and exposed Group A plastics on single and back to back shelving units (not storage rack) with wire decks and solid shelving (which they are willing to remove if it helps). They have a 28'-6" ceiling height and top of storage at...
I found a very interesting article on the historical forming of the NFPA 13 design area curves:
http://magazine.sfpe.org/sprinklers/nfpa-13-sprinkler-system-design-density-curves-where-did-they-come
I have crunched through it and found very interesting points that really put the curves into...
Hi,
According to the 2010 CFC, this is the definition for High Piled Storage:
HIGH-PILED COMBUSTIBLE STORAGE. Storage of combustible materials in closely packed piles or combustible materials on pallets, in racks or on shelves where the top of storage is greater than 12 feet (3658 mm) in...
Hi,
In my site visits to commercial buildings, it's been a great challenge to find link temperatures on smoke and heat vents. I have tried the following strategies with no results:
1. Binoculars: Even 50x binoculars cannot clearly read the link temp on a smoke vent 25' high.
2. Climbing on...
CFC Table 2306.2 Note "a" states: "When automatic sprinklers are required for reasons other than those in Chapter 23, the portion of the sprinkler system protecting the high piled storage area shall be designed and installed in accordance with Sections 2307 and 2308. "
Why would it say that it...
Hi,
Are there any special storage containers or protected enclosed cabinets that can segregate combustible liquids, particularly Class I liquids, such that we can treat the separation of high piled storage area as if it were a 1-hour fire barrier (per CFC Section 2306.3.2.1)? My objective is...
Hi guys,
Chapter 23 Table 2308.3 requires a 6" transverse flue space for multi-row carpet rack high piled storage. I have a client that has rolled carpets stuffed in the rack bays at each level. Since rack columns are 3", he is violating the 6" flue rule. However, because carpets are so heavy...
Hi,
When visiting a site, I realized that there was no riser information giving the design density/area of the system and the owner cannot find any existing plans of the sprinkler system at all.
What is the next logical step to acquire a design density/area for this project? Do I hire an...
Hi,
I am currently working on a project where the client's high piled storage area is primarily tire rack storage, approx. 900 sq. ft. total. After analysis of the existing sprinkler system, there is no way the tire rack will be supported (existing = .20/1500 vs. required = .6/5000 or .4/3000...
Hi,
Figure 17.2.1.2.1(b) of the NFPA 13 shows in-rack sprinkler requirements for 0.60 gpm/ft^2 per 2000 ft^2 and 0.30 gpm/ft^2 per ft^2.
If I am analyzing an existing building that was designed for a 3,000 ft^2 design area, how can I find the equivalent gpm/ft^2 for this? Is it as easy as I...
Hi,
If there is a warehouse that contains primarily waterproofing agents (flammable/combustible liquids) but are contained in gallon size plastic and metal drums, is there somewhere in the NFPA or IFC that considers this a regular high hazard commodity and can bypass the MAQ requirements? This...
Hi,
Do multi-row racks have a difference in design when longer than 16 foot in total depth for ESFR systems like they do for the CDMA design method in 2010 NFPA 13 Section 16.2.1.3.3.2? I didn't see an equivalent mandate for ESFR systems in the NFPA 13. Thanks!
Hi,
According to 2007 CFC Section 2306.3.2.2, mixing High Hazard Commodities with Class I-IV Commodities results in classifying the entire storage area as High Hazard. However, Section 5.6.1.2.3 of 2002 NFPA 13 states that we can use the protection requirements for the lower commodity class as...
Hi,
The 1999 NFPA 13 Figure 7-3.2.2.2.1 vs. the equivalent 2010 NFPA 13 Figure 14.2.4.1. The 2010 edition only ranges between 2000 and 3000 sq. ft., whereas the 1999 edition ranges up to 6000 ft. of design area. What happened to the rest?
I am currently analyzing a sprinkler system designed...
