Is it required to install a sprinkler head in a small telecommunication closet (not located in a residential building)? Is there a minimum size to be considered according to NFPA 13?
Aside of residential occupancies, I cannot find anything in regards to it in NFPA 13.
Are sprinklers required in closets?
Yes. Section 8.5.5.4 requires sprinklers in all closets and compartments. There are limited exceptions specified in Section 8.15.8.2 for certain small closets (< 24ft2) (< 2.2m2) in clothes closets, linen closets and pantries within dwelling units of hotels and motels and in Section 8.15.9 in clothes closets in patient sleeping rooms in hospitals where the area of the closet does not exceed 6ft2 (0.5m2).
Is this in a regular business office, like a insurance, flower shop, or other??
What is actually in the telecommunication closet ??
Router, telephone lines, other?
It is a community center, adjacent to residences buildings used by our employees, (activity center such as gym, theatre, cafeteria, etc.).
The space (closet) is used for telecommunication equipment and terminations of telecommunications cables (telephone, line, cable TV, router, etc.). Each floor contains at least one telecommunications room (closet) and is dedicated to the telecommunications function, there is no electrical distribution equipment. They are intended to distribute all telecommunications signal (voice, data, image) to the area they serve.
Where in the building safety code adopted by an AHJ for new construction or existing buildings require an automatic sprinkler system for this occupancy? and what does it say? The discussion remains somewhat subject to debate, dispute, or uncertainty unless there is an answer for this.
If the rest of the building has a fire sprinkler system,,,
Those tele rooms Shall have sprinkler protection,,
No omissions or exceptions in the book
Sorry I can not relate to an AHJ making up a new regulation "If the rest of the building has a fire sprinkler system" on the fly. Show me the building safety code for new construction or existing building occupancy that requires an automatic sprinkler system for the occupancy classification for the community center in question. I have seen thousands of dollars ill spent on the fly regulations that could not be supported by the legally adopted building safety codes.
Good luck.
It depends. It is not a simple answer when the building safety codes are used correctly. Occupancy and special uses must analysed first for the automatic sprinkler requirements.
My first respond for this question is the closet is not required to be protected by an automatic sprinkler system unless required by the occupancies and special uses of the building safety codes.
NFPA 13 is an installation standard and does not specify which buildings or structures require a sprinkler system. NFPA 13 specifies how to properly design and install a sprinkler system using the proper components and materials after it has been determined that a sprinkler system is required. The administrative authority for requiring sprinklers within buildings rests with any of the following: the local building code; NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code®; NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®; International Building Code; or insurance regulations that typically specify which buildings and structures require sprinkler systems
The following IBC special uses and occupancies require fire sprinkler systems installed throughout the building or spaces where otherwise not indicated in the specific occupancy chapters. [Industrial occupancies were not include in the list below, but require automatic sprinkler system under certain conditions of the occupancy]
Factory and Industrial Occupancies:
Complete Sprinkler Requirements
The following paragraphs outline where complete sprinkler systems are required. Group F-1, 903.2.4: An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all buildings containing Group F-1 occupancy where one of the following conditions exists:
• A Group F-1 fire area exceeds 12,000 square feet
• A Group F-1 fire area is located more than three stories above grade plane.
• The combined area of all Group F-1 fire areas on all floors, including any mezzanines, exceeds 24,000 square feet.
• A Group F-1 occupancy used for the manufacture of upholstered furniture or mattresses exceeds 2,500 square feet.
Woodworking Operations, 903.2.4.1; An automatic sprinkler system shall be provided throughout all Group F-1 occupancy fire areas that contain woodworking operations more than 2,500 square feet in area which generate finely divided combustible waste or use finely divided combustible materials.
Allowable Heights and Areas:
The allowable heights, areas and stories are the information found in Chapter 5 of the IBC. The maximum area of multi story buildings depends on single occupancy, nonseparated occupancies or mixed occupancies. For multi-story, single or nonseparated occupancies, the allowable area, sprinklered or unsprinklered, is multiplied by three.
Above taken from the NFSA Fire Sprinkler Guide to Fire Sprinklers in the International Building Code® 2015 Edition
This forum allows for discourse on topics but should not be considered as your final answer for your application.
Seems the original question is
In this building that has a fire sprinkler system, for whatever reason, does the labeled telecom rooms have to have fire sprinkler protection.
Per NFPA 13 yes.
NFPA 13 is an installation standard and does not specify which buildings or structures require a sprinkler system. NFPA 13 specifies how to properly design and install a sprinkler system using the proper components and materials after it has been determined that a sprinkler system is required. The administrative authority for requiring sprinklers within buildings rests with any of the following: the local building code; NFPA 5000®, Building Construction and Safety Code®; NFPA 101®, Life Safety Code®; International Building Code; or insurance regulations that typically specify which buildings and structures require sprinkler systems
Based on this hierarchy of relationship of the standard NFPA 13 to the building safety codes, here is a quote from the Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems of the 2015 IBC:
The example building uses written in the post "activity center such as gym, theatre, cafeteria, etc." should be classified per the IBC as a Group A -1 and A-2 occupancy.
Motion picture theaters:
Dining rooms/cafeterias:
Gyms:
Importance of defining automatic sprinkler system and fire area for the application of the above:
In the case where fire areas were designed not to exceed those above criteria and the occupancy was designed to be located on the floor of the level of exit discharge. Section 903 Automatic Sprinkler Systems would not apply in those occupancy fire areas.
In conclusion, I can not get it into my head how an experienced user of the building safety codes and standards could immediately jump to NFPA 13 installation standard without first consulting the building safety codes adopted by AHJ.
Good day Milton,
Thank you so much for your reply. Before sending my question to the Xchange group, I did verified if a sprinkler system was required, according to the current building code. And based on the number of storey and building area (fire area), an automatic sprinkler system is required in the building in question.
However, I appreciate the time you took for this detailed information.
Thank you - as I am always trying to be thorough with my answers and support information based on the limited information provided in the post. It appears the basis for the the building to have a sprinkler system that is more of property protection than life safety. Which I believe gives AHJ's some leeway on the application of NFPA 13. Since NFPA 13 does not mention telecommunication closets, I would be curious why the sprinkler designer left the closets out of the sprinkler system. To me unless the closet does not have a propensity for extensive fuel load to spread a fire beyond those areas protected by the sprinkler system (more like a utility chase), based on sound judgement for circumstances, I would tend to take the designer's judgment and allow the sprinkler system as designed.
NFPA 13 does not address every condition. Technically, the language of NFPA 13 appears to ambiguous for these situations and open to more than one interpretation. The AHJ is legally responsible to interpret this language.
I will close any further comments on this subject now.
If the building is req’d to have a sprinkler system, and you have a question about whether a particular room or section needs additional, or an exception, use the common sense of a Hazard Analysis.
IN THAT VEIN, consider all the cables, all the connections to that room from throughout the building. Also, is there an electrical panel or mechanical equipment nearby or in the room, too? Consider what would happen if a fire started in that room- it would spread via the heat in the cabling. Without detection and potential suppression, you’d have no internet, no problem house phones, no TV. I’d strongly recommend detection here - get professional advice on the suppression method(s) because depending on the size/scope/loss potential, and your insurance carrier’s opinion, water might not be considered a wise or best solution.
Good Luck!
Thank you for your response.
NFPA 13
Sprinklers throughout...
If under IFC there are a few omissions, but your case would not be one.