NFPA 13 sprinklers in attic 3

[FPCcode]

I have a building sprinklered with a NFPA 13 system. The attic is noncombustible construction but there are airhandling units installed in the attic space. Are sprinklers required in the attic because of the air handling units?

 

[cdafd]

If commercial

I believe the answer is no

Will let you know for sure monday

 

[chillylulu]

It depends on the type of unit.

Generally, if they are not fuel fired units, you do not provide sprinklers in the ceiling space.

If they are fuel fired units - they are a source of fuel and a source of heat. Gotta get sprinklers up there then.

Some units are designed for, and are safe for attic installation.

 

[cdafd]

all I can find::::



8.15.1 Concealed Spaces.

8.15.1.1 Concealed Spaces Requiring Sprinkler Protection. Concealed spaces of exposed combustible construction shall be protected by sprinklers except in concealed spaces where sprinklers are not required to be installed by 8.15.1.2.1 through 8.15.1.2.18 and 8.15.6.



8.15.1.2* Concealed Spaces Not Requiring Sprinkler Protection.

8.15.1.2.1* Concealed spaces of noncombustible and limited-combustible construction with minimal combustible loading having no access shall not require sprinkler protection.


8.15.1.2.1.1 The space shall be considered a concealed space even with small openings such as those used as return air for a plenum.




8.15.1.2.2 Concealed spaces of noncombustible and limited-combustible construction with limited access and not permitting occupancy or storage of combustibles shall not require sprinkler protection.


8.15.1.2.2.1 The space shall be considered a concealed space even with small openings such as those used as return air for a plenum.




8.15.1.2.3 Concealed spaces formed by studs or joists with less than 6 in. (152 mm) between the inside or near edges of the studs or joists shall not require sprinkler protection. (See 8.6.4.1.5.1.)



8.15.1.2.4 Concealed spaces formed by bar joists with less than 6 in. (152 mm) between the roof or floor deck and ceiling shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.5* Concealed spaces formed by ceilings attached directly to or within 6 in. (152 mm) of wood joist or similar solid member construction shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.6* Concealed spaces formed by ceilings attached to composite wood joist construction either directly or onto metal channels not exceeding 1 in. (25.4 mm) in depth, provided the joist channels are firestopped into volumes each not exceeding 160 ft3 (4.53 m3) using materials equivalent to the web construction and at least 3 1/2 in. (90 mm) of batt insulation is installed at the bottom of the joist channels when the ceiling is attached utilizing metal channels, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.7 Concealed spaces entirely filled with noncombustible insulation shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.8 Concealed spaces within wood joist construction and composite wood joist construction having noncombustible insulation filling the space from the ceiling up to the bottom edge of the joist of the roof or floor deck, provided that in composite wood joist construction the joist channels are firestopped into volumes each not exceeding 160 ft3 (4.53 m3) to the full depth of the joist with material equivalent to the web construction, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.9 Concealed spaces over isolated small rooms not exceeding 55 ft2 (5.1 m2) in area shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.10 Concealed spaces where rigid materials are used and the exposed surfaces have a flame spread index of 25 or less, and the materials have been demonstrated not to propagate fire more than 10.5 ft (3.2 m) when tested in accordance with ASTM E 84, Standard Test Method of Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, or ANSI/UL 723, Standard for Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials, extended for an additional 20 minutes in the form in which they are installed, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.11* Concealed spaces in which the exposed materials are constructed entirely of fire retardant–treated wood as defined by NFPA 703, Standard for Fire Retardant–Treated Wood and Fire-Retardant Coatings for Building Materials, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.12 Noncombustible concealed spaces having exposed combustible insulation where the heat content of the facing and substrate of the insulation material does not exceed 1000 Btu/ft2 (11,356 kJ/m2) shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.13 Concealed spaces below insulation that is laid directly on top of or within wood joists or composite wood joists used as ceiling joists in an otherwise sprinklered concealed space, with the ceiling attached directly to the bottom of the joists, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.14 Vertical pipe chases under 10 ft2 (0.93 m2), where provided in multifloor buildings where the chases are firestopped at each floor using materials equivalent to the floor construction, and where such pipe chases shall contain no sources of ignition, piping shall be water-filled or noncombustible and pipe penetrations at each floor shall be properly sealed and shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.15 Exterior columns under 10 ft2 (0.93 m2) in area, formed by studs or wood joist supporting exterior canopies that are fully protected with a sprinkler system, shall not require sprinkler protection.



8.15.1.2.16* Concealed spaces formed by noncombustible or limited-combustible ceilings suspended from the bottom of wood joists, composite wood joists, wood bar joists, or wood trusses that have insulation filling all of the gaps between the bottom of the trusses or joists, and where sprinklers are present in the space above the insulation within the trusses or joists, shall not require sprinkler protection.


8.15.1.2.16.1 The heat content of the facing, substrate, and support of the insulation material shall not exceed 1000 Btu/ft2 (11,356 kJ/m2).




8.15.1.2.17* Concealed spaces formed by noncombustible or limited-combustible ceilings suspended from the bottom of wood joists and composite wood joists with a maximum nominal chord width of 2 in. (50.8 mm), where joist spaces are full of noncombustible batt insulation with a maximum 2 in. (50.8 m) air space between the roof decking material and the top of the batt insulation. Facing that meets the requirements for noncombustible or limited-combustible material covering the surface of the bottom chord of each joist and secured in place per the manufacturer's recommendations shall not require sprinklers.



8.15.1.2.18 Sprinklers shall be permitted to be omitted from within combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements that are constructed in accordance with 8.15.1.2.18.1 through 8.15.1.2.18.4.


8.15.1.2.18.1 Combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements shall not exceed 4 ft 0 in. (1.2 m) in width.



8.15.1.2.18.2 Combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements shall be draftstopped, with a material equivalent to that of the soffit, into volumes not exceeding 160 ft3 (4.5 m3).



8.15.1.2.18.3 Combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements shall be separated from the interior of the building by walls or roofs of noncombustible or limited-combustible construction.



8.15.1.2.18.4 Combustible soffits, eaves, overhangs, and decorative frame elements shall have no openings or unprotected penetrations directly into the building.





and::::::::::::



8.15.1.4 Heat-Producing Devices with Composite Wood Joist Construction. Where heat-producing devices such as furnaces or process equipment are located in the joist channels above a ceiling attached directly to the underside of composite wood joist construction that would not otherwise require sprinkler protection of the spaces, the joist channel containing the heat-producing devices shall be sprinklered by installing sprinklers in each joist channel, on each side, adjacent to the heat-producing device.

 

[FPCcode]

There isn't any fuel fire equipment involved. Based on what I can determine the space and equipment is noncombustible except for fan motors and some wiring.

 

[chillylulu]

Yes, 8.15.1.2.2 (above) is the reason it does not require sprinklers, as long as the air handling unit is not fuel-fired. Then you run into the problem of "not permitting occupancy or storage of combustibles"