Sound booths for hearing examinations - sprinklered? 2

[ContractorDave]

Would a sound booth in a medical clinic require a sprinkler? I would assume yes, but can anyone think of an exception?

Regards
Dave

 

[SprinklerDesigner2]

I have FAA flight physicals every two years I've been in many such booths. These are really small 3'x3'x 6'6. Just a small chair or bench with earphones.

I would have to say not. Barely enough room to sit they resemble more of a piece of furniture than a room.

 

[ContractorDave]

Yes, I have seen those. And of course like some display type cabinets, they might be considered more furniture than say a closet space and therefore exempt from coverage. Nonetheless the latest one I came across was 5x6x7h. Where might you draw the line then? At perhaps the light hazard 55 sq ft rule for washrooms with non-combustible construction ...except this is of course not a washroom. And it's probably somewhat more combustible. While we're going in this direction, consider freezers and coolers in restaurants. Is there a volume / size rule at which an exemption occurs?

Regards
Dave

 

[cdafd]

would consider it a piece of equipment, if built soundly like metal outside skin.

Most of these things are soild and what ignition source is there inside???

 

[ContractorDave]

They have perforated walls with electrical wiring and insulation. But a piece of equipment indeed. Yet, as mentioned above, we still drop sprinklers into coolers and freezers, which on the face of it would appear substantially less combustible. Exploding turkeys aside.

Regards
Dave

 

[ContractorDave]

I'm surprised this post hasn't raised a little more interest. Believe it or not, we're still doing some CSC change-outs up here. We did a medical clinic today where there is a large audiology suite. It's two separate sound -proofed booths about 8x8x6.5'h attached to each other with a window to view into the patient side. Perforated walls with built in lights and computer gear etc., etc.. Theses can't be rare. This is Yellowknife fer crying out loud. We're still listening to Barry Manilow as if it was new and refreshing.

Regards
Dave

 

[stookeyfpe]

Dave,

We've moved beyond Barry Manilow here in South Texas (but that was funny). If you want to listen to some really good music and stream it into your computer, listen to

http://www.kgsr.com

. The program director is a good friend of mine.

As to the problem at hand, technically the enclosure would require sprinklers, as you indicated based on the threat of exploding animal parts in freezers. However, I recall that FM would exempt certain freezers and coolers when the insulating material was evaluated by FM for heat release rate and interior finish fire performance, and the insulating material was separated by a thermal barrier. You may be able to apply a similiar logic if it can be demonstrated by the manufacturer.

In the day when I was a responder, I was required to undergo an annual physical and toxics screening and as a part of this examination, I was subjected to an auditory test. I seem to recall that everything in the booth was essentially 24 VDC and any of the equipment that could contribute as an electrical source of ignition (110 VAC) was outside the booth. So yes, it technically requires sprinklers, but the probability is so low given the lack of ignition sources and available fuel in the typical booth that not many people consider them to be that great of a hazard.

In the end it would just be easier to drop a 1/2 inch SR sprinkler in the enclosure and call it compliant. However, you asked the question so I offered you my opinion.