Sprinkler heads

tommyoil

Does anyone here besides me install sprinkler heads as a matter of course on residential jobs? As per a local fire code enforcement officer, I install 210 degree uprights in the pendant position. The reason being this: if there is a fire,the upright in the pendant position will spray the wood in the ceiling/rafters as opposed to spraying steel and not making as much of a difference. Only exception will be public buildings where upright must be upright, pendants in pendant position,ect. While they are not code here in N.J. (yet) the inspectors LOVE to see them. Its a nice (and safety oriented) touch. What do Y'all say?

J.C.A._3

Tommyoil,

Sprinkler heads were done away with in the Ma. code 10+ years ago. I think that mostly,it was due to the Legionaires scare. Most were installed as "dead ends" and the silly firecode sheetrock overhead rule went away at the same time.I always put them in a "flow-by" position, but apprently, that wasn't the norm.

So many fire protection devices, so little time.Overkill is the word.(ever been hit by a "thermal valve, plug in type" when it goes off? Paint balls are a cakewalk compared to it!) A warm air installer we used, installed them on the ductwork above the burners for a while. After the first "shot" hit me while doing some troubleshooting, we asked them to move them to the rafters over the burners.In Ma. they are 160° rated. On oil equipment back in the day,plemumn temps. would reach that on most cycles.

Like I said to Steamhead earlier, things change. Move FORWARD with them. Make sure your safteys arent causing too many callbacks. We all know that we don't get fed from them. Chris

Robert O'Connor_5

tommyoil..

You must be in south Jersey. Jersey City ,Hoboken and (don't quote me) I also think Paterson might require them too. Its not in the I-Codes, but I belive there some mention in NFPA. Town(s) & Cities (get away)a.k.a. adopt by ordinance & resolution therefore require their installation (meaning, its a regional thing having home rule). If memory serves me correct (because of Legionella) your not allowed more than a 12" leg which can become problematic if the make up is far enough away to cause you to make a big ring-O-pipe around your install. I do however feel that it is not a bad requirement and many sharp mechanics install in their own homes or in your case, as a matter of practice...Robert O'Connor/NJ

tommyoil

Yes indeed

They came into question in Rutherford several years ago. Only one inspector"required" them. He's since retired ,and that was the end of that "requirement". Since then its always been included in the job weather it was required or not. Always tee'd in w/ a 1/2 copper x female tee w/ 1/2" head screwed into the f.m of the tee over the boiler. Never dead ended anything ever. Have never had a problem to date. Inspectors dont say much, but if they DO say something, its usually a commentary about the head. Nobody ever said take it off. I Never gave it much thought except to think it makes it safer and why WOULDN'T I want that. I know in most places they don't require it but I often wonder why. As you said Robert, it a locality thing. And as I found out, thats what it was. Should I only put them in if its "required'? I'd sure want one if I needed it. I have one in my basement. Also, do these things have a service life??? How about a shelf life???

Douglas Hicks

NFPA 13 is the accepted reference for installation of automatic fire suppression sprinklers. According to NFPA there has has not been a recorded death of more than 2 people in a fully sprinklered building where the sprinkler system is operational, except in an explosion or flash fire or where an insustrial fire brigade or dureing suppression activities. For more info
Sprinkler.net
NFSA.org
NFPA.org
Homefiresprinkler.org

Douglas Hicks
General Fire Equipment Co of Eastern Oregon, Inc