daaguirre
Mechanical
- Jun 2, 2016
- 19
Hi
I am working on the design of a science lab building (NFPA 45) which includes several instructional laboratories and a dedicated liquid storage room. The labs will be designed for ordinary hazard II per NFPA 45 (Class C or D, Instructional laboratories) and the amount of flammable/combustible liquids in the dedicated storage room will be limited to the Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) for a Control Area to avoid complying with the requirements of NFPA 30 - Ch 16 (interior liquid storage room or warehouse). In order to maximize the MAQs, the control area will be sprinklered and NFPA 30 compliant storage cabinets will be used.
My question is, which fire hazard classification should I use for the sprinklers in the control area?. NFPA 13 suggest using a Extra Hazard II when substantial ammounts of flammable liquids are present. However, it seems counter-intuitive to use the Extra Hazard Water Densities since the purpose of using the MAQs was precisely to avoid complying with the more strict requirements of NFPA 30 - Ch 16 (Extra HAzard).
I checked Ch 50 and Ch 57 of the 2015 International Fire Code and I was unable to find any guidance for the water densities in areas that meet the MAQs (control areas) other than the notes in Table 5704.3.4.1 for Mercantile Occupancies. Note b.(1) of the table suggests using ordinary hazard II. In the absence of better guidance, I am planning to use Ordinary Hazard II
Please share your thoughts / suggestions.
Thanks!
I am working on the design of a science lab building (NFPA 45) which includes several instructional laboratories and a dedicated liquid storage room. The labs will be designed for ordinary hazard II per NFPA 45 (Class C or D, Instructional laboratories) and the amount of flammable/combustible liquids in the dedicated storage room will be limited to the Maximum Allowable Quantities (MAQs) for a Control Area to avoid complying with the requirements of NFPA 30 - Ch 16 (interior liquid storage room or warehouse). In order to maximize the MAQs, the control area will be sprinklered and NFPA 30 compliant storage cabinets will be used.
My question is, which fire hazard classification should I use for the sprinklers in the control area?. NFPA 13 suggest using a Extra Hazard II when substantial ammounts of flammable liquids are present. However, it seems counter-intuitive to use the Extra Hazard Water Densities since the purpose of using the MAQs was precisely to avoid complying with the more strict requirements of NFPA 30 - Ch 16 (Extra HAzard).
I checked Ch 50 and Ch 57 of the 2015 International Fire Code and I was unable to find any guidance for the water densities in areas that meet the MAQs (control areas) other than the notes in Table 5704.3.4.1 for Mercantile Occupancies. Note b.(1) of the table suggests using ordinary hazard II. In the absence of better guidance, I am planning to use Ordinary Hazard II
Please share your thoughts / suggestions.
Thanks!