JerSPK
Mechanical
- Jan 31, 2011
- 17
thread184-215775
I found the above thread asking the same question but wanted to get a bit more information on it.
The stairwell is only between the first and second floor of a building, and it's not a standard "stairwell." On the first floor it opens up to a larger entry area. Some of the walls on both floors are typical stud and drywall, others glass.
We have looked into the Tyco WS sprinkler but the architect is complaining about the aesthetics.
When using the index from NFPA 13(2010) under glass walls it references a section in Annex D (D.1.1.1) which is taken from the Life Safety Code. That section is specifically about atriums, but it talks about glass being allowable in lieu of fire barriers. My application isn't a typical stairwell or atrium but it seems like this annex reference may fit with it (or I may just be hoping it does and grasping at straws).
If that reference did apply, then it doesn't specifically mention needing to use sprinklers listed for glass protection (like the Tyco WS), but it does mention requiring the sprinkler be arranged to wet the entire surface of the glass. Can that even be proven if it isn't a specifically listed sprinkler?
Is there an arguement to be made to use standard spray sprinklers for this? It doesn't appear that a deluge system would be required based on the reference either, but other sections (and the above linked post) mention using them. The client wants to stick with concealed sprinklers for aesthetics and pay as little as possible to resolve this. Can he get both or does he just have to sacrifice one for the other?
I found the above thread asking the same question but wanted to get a bit more information on it.
The stairwell is only between the first and second floor of a building, and it's not a standard "stairwell." On the first floor it opens up to a larger entry area. Some of the walls on both floors are typical stud and drywall, others glass.
We have looked into the Tyco WS sprinkler but the architect is complaining about the aesthetics.
When using the index from NFPA 13(2010) under glass walls it references a section in Annex D (D.1.1.1) which is taken from the Life Safety Code. That section is specifically about atriums, but it talks about glass being allowable in lieu of fire barriers. My application isn't a typical stairwell or atrium but it seems like this annex reference may fit with it (or I may just be hoping it does and grasping at straws).
If that reference did apply, then it doesn't specifically mention needing to use sprinklers listed for glass protection (like the Tyco WS), but it does mention requiring the sprinkler be arranged to wet the entire surface of the glass. Can that even be proven if it isn't a specifically listed sprinkler?
Is there an arguement to be made to use standard spray sprinklers for this? It doesn't appear that a deluge system would be required based on the reference either, but other sections (and the above linked post) mention using them. The client wants to stick with concealed sprinklers for aesthetics and pay as little as possible to resolve this. Can he get both or does he just have to sacrifice one for the other?