NFPA 13: A Summary And Analysis

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You have asked the following question: “A corridor with an 11-6, drop-in, ceiling has a suspended gyp board cloud 6 in. below at 11-0 above finished floor. Occupancy is light hazard and construction is non-combustible. The 6-in. separation does not allow space for a sprinkler covering above the cloud to operate. Is coverage above the cloud required?” In response to your question, we have reviewed NFPA 13, 2013 edition that you indicated as the applicable standard. Our informal interpretation is treat the cloud ceiling per the obstructions rules.
Although the NFPA 13, 2013 standard does not specifically call out ceiling clouds, they are treated as obstructions. The standard cannot begin to name every type of obstruction. There have been several attempts to provide guidance for ceiling …show more content…

Thus, the clouds will not function as a ceiling but acts simply as obstructions. Use the obstruction rules from NFPA 13 to address this issue. Sprinklers will be required at the ceiling/roof assembly and beneath any of the floating clouds that are wider than 4 ft in accordance with 8.5.5.3.1 and 8.6.5.3. Just like with ducts, it is not the length but the width that is applied. The widths are less than 4 ft thus sprinklers are not required in the clouds. The suspended ceiling panels will obstruct more than one sprinkler, thus the sprinkler protection is considered continuously obstructed. Technically, this does not meet the obstruction rules in NFPA 13 since all the sprinklers are continuously obstructed but the standard does not provide specific guidance on how to deal with this. Sprinklers provided above and below the clouds would be excessive. The question is, will a fire in the room be controlled with sprinklers above the ceiling clouds. This application is a light hazard occupancy where the quantity and/or combustibility of contents is low and fires with relatively low rates of heat

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