Of course a leaking sprinkler system can be a risk, but at least you can dry
out a wet box. Not so easy to salvage and restore a pile of cinders!
Tod Chernikoff
Litton/PRC Inc.
1500 PRC Drive
McLean, VA 22102-5050
[CPK2/500/C-11]
Phone: 703-553-3834
Fax: 703-553-2066
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-----Original Message-----
From: Richard G. King Jr. [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2000 11:22
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Records Center In-Rack Shelving Sprinkler Systems
Glenn,
Haven't gotten through all my e-mail yet so don't know what occasioned this
e-mail but...I am going through this with fire marshall at my building. In
US there is National Fire Code and it has provision for "high stacked
storage". This apparently has provision that if shelving is over 12' high
you need in-rack sprinklers. We have 15'+ so first they wanted us to take
out all boxes above 12'. Then the fire marshall decided that if we had a
"nominal" flue of 6" between the end boxes on each shelf we didn't need to
reduce height. This meant that we could only have four boxes across the
length of each shelf which meant a loss of storage of 3 or 4 thousand boxes.
We are currently negotiating that the 4-5 inches of nominal flue is
sufficient. However, the University is completely rebuilding the sprinkler
system to increase density of heads. In order to increase head density the
entire system needs to be resized. What this all means is that 1) no one
here understands the fire code with regard to records storage (there is
separate code for this but fire marshall has ignored), 2) interpretation can
vary depending on who's shorts are in a twist, 3) what's true today may not
be true a few years form now. I'm currently working on universal solution
to this problem by designing storage boxes that each have a built in
sprinkler head such as used in drip irrigation systems for plants. One just
plugs the box into a water distribution system when the box is put on the
shelf. Each box has a built in heat and smoke detector and a synthetic
voice chip that screams loudly "Help! Help! Box (insert #) is on fire!"
This system can be installed for no more than $500 per box (exclusive of
storage charge). Let me know if you are interested. Dick "Candaleria"
King.
Glenn Sanders wrote:
G'dayHere in Sydney Aust the regulations require a minimum distance between
the ceiling mounted sprinklers and the tops of the shelves. I've not heard
of anyone having to put in bay mounted sprinklers.And anyway, if you look at
the potential threat to your records, the greatest risk is the sprinkler
system leaking. Fire? Ha. Get some big polytarps.CheersGlenn
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